New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TIE LIFE OF A BOOKSELLER.


Int tho svmpathetic author of "Tom Browns
School Days presents it to us in several aspects
xhicb strongly engage our interest and admiration
Mr. Macmillan was not only an example of the sue
,essful man of business and friend and core
spondent Of distinguished writer's. but he was q
very earnest and consistent Christian, whose IT,
igcus principles governed his policy in trade anu
developed In him a singularly upright ana Simple
character. lie was born in poverty. one OF twei'e
children Of Scotch peasant who vas tacKSh"'''
that is "a sort of chief cotter. of farm Oh INC
island Of Arran. lie was apprcnticed 10 a snia'i
bookseller In the town of Irvine; no serNeu DO "
shopman in London and Cambridge; he eo' d
small shop of his own in Aldersgate, London, not
far from St. Pauls and at last IN 1915 through
the kindness of Archdeacon Hare. who had con-
col ed n sincere regard for him, he was enabled
with borrowed capital TO buy out a bookseller in
Cambridge his brother Alexander. the present head
of the firm. beng his partner. The business pros
pered fairly from the start. and the interest oil
Archdeacon Hare, the Rev. F. ID. Maurice. Dean
Stanley Dean Trench. Bishop Colenso, Charles
Kingsley and other Churchmcn of the same school
lthe Mncmans, however. were DlsSenteTsh gave
the establishment a standing at the University
which the persoual merits of the brothers rapidly
confirmed They were greatly hampered by want
Of CAPITAL but 10y industry economy and shrewhheSs
they overcame their difficulties and Ventured NJ aSt
upon the publication of n few books, puonshlnS
being that branch of the business in which their
homes and their ambition were chiefly placed
Maurice and Kingsley were among the earliest
names on their catalogue. "Westward HoW we
think must have been the first book by which they
made great commercial success. Daniel Maomil-
lan's relations with the Rev. +. ID. Maurice were
particularly ,lose and he engaged i'll the publica-
lion of that fascinating authors works with all
the enthusiasm of propaganda. No man who
ever sold books for livelihood says Mr.. hughes
"was more conscious of a vocation, more impressed
with the dignity of his craft, and OF its value TO
humanity; more anxious that 1t should su1cr no
shame or diminutiOn through him" We see proofs
all through his career of the high purpose and sense
of responsibility with which he pursued his calling
When he bought out the Cambridge shop he COLL
United to the flames books of loose character
which he found in stock; and his letters, up to the
end of his life. show an ardent desire TO make his
business the means Of doing good, especially TO
that class of the people to which he himself be-
longed The publishing house was hardly more
than well settled at Cambridge with future
clearly assured, when its founder who had long
been failing with consumption died in 1897, al the
age of forty-four.
Mr. Hughes tells the story of this sincere and in
dustrous life as far as possible in Mr. Macmillans
letters of which great number. addressed to his
literary and personal friends, have been preserved.
They are marked by deep religious feeling, strong
faith in fundamental dOgmaS, with more liberal
theological views than beitted Scotch Calvinistic
training, keen senslbilIty TO existing currents OF
thought a certain homely shrewdness in literary
criticism, and most engaging simplicity; and they
betray that strength of character which as the Di-
ographer assures us impressed all who came across
I, curtO riN vas
the following account of the manner in which the
brothers established their popularity in Cambridge
When the Mscmillans first established their shop
in the heart of the University, on u Well-cDOseh
site opposite the gates OF Tue Senate House we IN
lergraduates felt that with men hardly older than
ourselves there opened to us "a new sphere OF
interest. They the first booksellers whom L. Tor
nv own part had ever know to take enthusiastic
interest in their business and to have literary IN
sight below the binding of their books; Danlel
was a man like his Semitic namesake in whom
was found an excellent spirit" tall, but with a
frame already somewhat wasted pale face, aqul-
line nose, large mouth with full lips, DARK JUS
rous eyes with long lashes. He looked like one
whom God loved mean one who might pass away
from while yet young.
lie was fona of talking. especially on books, ana
soon groups of men would gather round MN III inc
shop and listen to criticisms full OF hum0r ana
knowledge on books and authors. 1t was he VINO
nrot told US of Young writer y Who looked IKE
aud the Saints Tragedy" and introduced many
of us to IIare's Victory Of Faith" and Gues,os
II,
and to Coerdges AID to Reflection" There
was a little snuggery at the top of the house. IN
which in the evenings many OF us hrst learnt 10 APP
preclate llttle-knOwn Scotch songs and ballads,
such as those of MOtherwell and Alex. Rodgers
lie gave NE little fat red volume of them, bearing
the characteristic title Of Z" " hlstle BlnkIe"
We have mentioned Mr.. Macmillan's friendship
with Archdeacon Hare 1t originated in the young
Scotchman's admiration for the Hares' Guesses at
Truth by Two Brothers" book which took such
cfr hold hat he q
the unknown AUTHORSHIP was then a London shop
man-urglng them to do something for s. class
very much overlooked, who very much stand in
need of guide bot ks to aid them in the formation
of opinions morality and religiOn-namely,
young men occupied in the different departments
OF commercial life" This led to a correspondence,
and some time aiterward 10 visit to Hare at Hurst
monceaux of which Mr.. Macmillan gives an excel
lent account:
The house is large. we-but, commodous
looking mansion, but does not display much archl-
tectural taste. When one goes into IT, II looks more
like "a library than dwelling house. 1t is literally
cTammed with bOOks-and such boVks-coilected !
with such wisdom and cafe Mr. Maurice says that |
he thinks il the best private library in England
contains the largest number of really valuable |
books selected with the widest and most catholic
judgment and taste. Carlyle says he never saw so |
large collection of really first rate German books
and CARLYLE IL an authority on such matters. But |
besides German lie has Greek, Latin. Italian, |
spanish, fItnCu, anu Luglsu OI COURSE. was |
quite astonished. | saw many, very many books, |
had never heard Of and many had only heard of. |
He has not merely large library, for though the |
room specially so-called Is large one, ana quite |
full of hooks, 1t contains only a small part of his |
books The dining and drawing rooms look more |
like libraries than dining and drawing rooms for !
the sides that are not shelved from bottom 10 top !
and flied with books, aIe covered with pictures. !
some of the very nobleSt pieces of art. Then the
hall is shelved and filled with books in the same
way and so are the starcases and the lobby of the
first floor and are some Of the bedrooms. 1t IS !
really quite wonderful; | was surprised. But all
this money could do with some good ad ice in the
selection. However. when began to look through
the books ! saw that Hare was something very
different from mere book collector All the most
yaiualle hooks had MARGINAL n0tes { notes al the