The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-02
Literary Notes.


It is a great desideratum to put good, solid
reading matter within reach of the million. OF
late years books of all kinds have been dearer
than they used to be, and the ability to buy
them, especially among Southern people, has been
very much lessened. Any reasonable scheme,
therefore, that processes to be able to put a
library of the English Classics into the hands OF
plain, substantial people, who would read, were
they even within reach of that notable outcome
of our modern civilization, the Circulating Libra
ry-any such scheme is worthy of attention and
examination. OF late it seems to have come
over the public mind that the Dime Novel is a
bosom of destruction-a fact it is surprising 1t
had not arrived at long ago. Two publishing
firms in New York are now undertaking to
"cro,od out the Dime Novcl,'-a most laudable
work, which if done by substituting what is
really valuable for what is worthless, will de-
serve the support of all good people. One of
these is The American Book Exchange Tribune
Building, NeO York) of which Mr.. John b.
Alden-a lineal descendant of PriscillG's John" ?
is at the head. At any rate he speaks for him
self" as the hero of Miles Standish seemed so
backward in doing The Literary Revolution,
the new movement is styled, and its leading
principles as it publishes them in its monthly
organ, are,-Publish only books of real udlue
Work upon the basis Of the present cost of book
making Sell to buyers direct, and so save com
mission Adopt the loO price plan and aim at
large sales. Use good type, paper, ETC.. hare
careful printing-dUoid gdudy bindings. A
number of these cheap issues are before us
Dantes H1ferno-GulliUer's Travels-Don QUIZ
e--Baron Mpnchausen- good sized, we'll print
ed, substantially bound volumes, illustrated too
and each for 80 cents We had made up our
mind that if what printers call Nonpareil or
Minion type was used in these republications, so
that thereby the eyesight of the million might be
liable to be damaged as it certainly must be by
the nnleaded Agate type of the Dime Novel, not
a word of praise could be uttered Literature is
an excellent thing good eyesight, something in
comparably better. But the type is, fortunate
ly, of quality that can not offend or try any
healthy eye, and quite well spaced The paper
is not of course cream-laid" or "heavy toned :"
but it is fairly good, and the page is altogether
open and readiblei and again we say the books
are astonishing for the price Then the selec
tons are so varied and solid: Ritto's Cyclopedia.
Crlsden's Concordance: Smiths Bible Dictionary.
Shakespeare: Milton: MacauLay's E,,glarad.
Geikies life of Christ: ADDISON and all the
English Essayists, together with hundred more.
down to the latest English issue, may be had at
fourth of their regular cost. IfMr. John B.
Alden and his co-laborers of The american Book
Exchange, can keep up to the distinct work they
have set before themselves, we trust their books
will be sown broadcast among the cottages and
homesteads of the land
The other publishers who have the same idea
before them, are Messrs. 1. X. Funk & Co: ~
Deg Street, NelO York; They are issuing daily
standard works at sensational prices: Kingslev's
Io,0n Geology lin stiff boards) for Is cents
Knights England vols. 80 cents volume:
Farrar's Life Of st. Paul, in two parts, 25 cents
each; and we might go on cataloguing their list.
We have not seen any of the reprints of this
house, and so are not prepared to speak of any,
thing beyond their cheapness, and the careful
ness of the selections made Let our readers
send for the catalogues of these two firms, and
see how attractive their lists are If the lives
of the girls and boys on lonely plantations and
in isolated farm houses, could be vitalized and
illumined by the constant accession of such
standard books, country homes and rural living
would not be such lame things as they are com
ing to be considered Shelves full of fresh vol
umes of unquestioned value, (such as a few
bushels of corn and few pounds of butter can
buy would put new aspect upon evenings
hitherto given up to mere inanity NJ. P.