, 1884-04-15
STORIES
Tho Demand for such Literature ON
the Increase
New York Mail and Express

lNew Hork Mail and Express.
Two roughly attiroi boys, engaged in earn
est conversation, strolled up South street this
morning, directly in front OF a reporter.
: "Ahi git out" said ono in reply to the
others observation. "D'yer think that der
Fiend Detective is a SLOUGH. Betoher ho
sneaks out OF the ice-box, shows his badge an
Gays, Drop der guryll Dor Fiend Detective
is on handr"
"How kin he" replied the other youth, in
dignantly. "Aint ho gagged In a louder
key) Amt der counterfeiter chief sittin' on
der top Of der ice-boIl Still louder:) An
amt der williams ready to slug him il he
movesl Aw-come Off"
By this timo a stationery establishment had
been reached, and presently the two youths
emerged from its dingy interior, porting
eagerly over the contents of a story paper
which they had just purchased.
GDere," said the first speaker, "wot was /
a-givin' yerl See wot it ses. Der lid Of der
ice-boI shot open an der eagle eye OF der
prisoner flashed upon der bloodthirsty will
lians. Back, scs he, 4 am der Fieud Detec
tive. Touch not one hair of yon Innocent
gurylr"
Having a curiosity to know how many
other budding specimens of manhood wero
afflicted with a desire to follow the Fiend and
other detectives in their thrilling escapades,
the reporter called upon the manage of a
prominent news company.
@The demand for papers of a sensational
character, said this gentlamen, "has been on
the increase for several years. There are
now a half dozen boys papers published
weekly In this city that have a circulation of
over 5o0,o 00. They are sold throughout the
United States and Canada. Then we have
the half-dime libraries Several publishers
make those n specially and work on nothing
aIan 1904 -".,L.. . G.t-.
weekly or semi-weekly. Their circula-
ton depends altogether on the stories
which they contain. One week some
thing very thrilling appears and perhaps co.
OO0 or 1900 copies are sold; tho next week
n novel OF every day life appears, no blood
is shed, no assassinaIions AXE place and the
circulation drops down to 10000 or Is, 90
copies. But the greatest -circulations are not
attained by papers that arc intended for
boys perusal. Another class of sensational
literature caters to the taste OF the working
girls OF America. Millions of copies OF sheets
Of this description are sold weekly. Tho
boys papers are trashy and sensational
enough, I will admit, but they are eclipsed
by the journals for young women. The
plots of the stories are sometimes extremely
offensive, the dialogue is sentimental to au
idiotic degrae and tho description of the
personal appearance of the hero and heroine
often occupy half the serial. There Is not u
working girl in Now York city who does not
purchase two or three OF these papers every
week. or late years, the illustrated police
weeklies, have begun to be read by boys of a
tender age. or all evils this is the greatest.
A good many newsdealers, however, refuse
to sell a copy to minors"
A well-known publisher was found in his
Office when the reporter called. "Yes," said
he, "the field Of sensational literature lis
spreading. There is great profit in the bust
ness. We have two or three writers who are
each paid about 5000 per year. They
furnish us with a stated amount of copy per
week"