The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-31

substantial form at a cheap price. the book
seller would become agan valuable edu-
cational agency in the life of the American
people. The passage of an international
copyright law will DO much to bring about
this desideratum.n
Mr. Charles Scribner Of the firm of
Charles Scribner's Sons talked quite en-
Enthusiastically Of the value of free libraries
as an adjunct to the publishing trade. lie
said:
"Such institutions, from the very fact
that they multiply the number of readers,
tend to Increase the number of bookbuyers.
They add materially to the number of those
who wish to own books which they have
become acquainted with in the libraries. IL
follows that every new library that is
started is altogether good thing. l think
that those books that have the largest cir
culation outside the libraries also have the
largest circulation in the libraries. Take
Little Lord Fauntleroy," for instance: il
has always had a very extensive circulation
in the libraries, yet the outside demand
from buyers continues undiminlshed, hav-
ing, doubtless, beel greatly stimulated by
the Libraries.
There is no book of our time more
widely read than Uncle Toms Cabin.
You Gun find it in every household, almost
yet the libraries continue to supply it 70
their readers as generously as ever, and its
popularity has unquestionably been aug
mented by these institutions.
Perhaps" added Mr. Scribaer, sin the
case of new book, like Gen. Grants Me-
moirs,' if the libraries took largo number
they might injure the sale little at the
outset; but every library doesn't take q
large number. 1t is quite different in Eng
land, where the big libraries are nearly all
kept up by subscription. People go TO
Nudes and order their novels and
other books, returning them when
read. After six months the books are
thrown back on the market and find their
way TO the secondhand book stores In our
own country it is quite different. The free
library doesn't want to go into the book
business A small number of the new books
is taken, and the effect is to help tho sales
among the trade.
''Clergyinen, physicians and the pro-
fessors in the leading semnaries are among
the best book-buyers; yet almost every
book they purchase can be found in the
libraries. With the exception probably of
certain class Of novels do not believe
any branch OF literature suffers from
library circulation, as far as tha publishers
are concerned. We have always regarded
the libraries as an aid to our business
John Harper, OF the firm of Harper g.
Brothers, is confined to his residence by a
severe cold, and in his absence no ono at the
great establishment en- Franklin square has
authority TO speak for the firm. Other pub
lishers who were interviewed coincided
unanimously with the views expressed by
the Scribners and tie Ceatury Company.
There is no question about it, y said A.
w. Wagnalls, senior member Of the pub
fishing firm Of Funk 81 Wagnalls. at is to
the interest Of publishers everywhere that
as many libraries rs possible be established
throughout the land. They stimulate tho
desire for literature. The more good litera-
ture is disseminated and absorbed, tho
greater is the taste for it. Popular appe-
tite grows by feeding on it. It is q com
pcund blessing; it reiines, ennobes and
broadens tie minds and views Of the masses
and is one Of the greatest beaefactors g.
human society l say, by all means, the
more free Libraries the better.
Z" j do not believe the sale of any book
was ever affected injuriously by the fact
that it could be had ut the public libraries
Take our Cyclopedia of Quotations as an
example. 1t is essentially reference book
yet its sale has been materially helped by
the libraries" G.. II. SANDIsoN.