Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
intelligent treatment. think that wear
ing thin veil helpsto preserve the skin.

Mr.. Andrew Carnegie's generous gift for
the establishment OF free libraries has
raised the question among publishers, and
book-buycrs as 10 the effect on the book
trade generally OF public libraries IN me me,
United States. In order to ascertain now
the leading publishing houses regarded the
subject visit was paid 10 several oil the
beat-known New York publishers. -,
Dir. Robert Underwood Johnson. OF the
Century Company, spoke unreseryedly on
the subject. Being asked what effect was
produced on the companys business
through the opening of large, pubic free
libraries such az that contemplated by MIR.
Carnegie. he said:
"On general principles we are confident
that the establishment of free libraries
tends 10 increase the sale OF books by
stimulating the literary tastes OF the gene
raj reader Just az the recognition OF an IN
ternationai copyright-law will stimulate
the production OF literature. Probably
few men who ever lived were prevented
from writing book by the fact that some
body else had written another. On tho
other hand. many mans literary talent
has been revealed to HIN by the work OF
others.
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
. at must be borne in mind that the
system Of supplying books to consumers
is ouite different in America and in
England. Over there tho edition of the
book Ia largely regulated by the num-
her of copies TO be taken by Nudes libra
~, the great circulating medium tor
British readers. in England the
people depend largely upon the
libraries, which send books all through
the United Kingdom. This undoub:ed-
ly prevents the English from becoming
book buying nation. IL isn't generally
known that this is the reason why books
are printed there in three or four volumes
that would appear in this country IN sin-
Gle volume. This is to permit the dlier-
ent members Of family to read the book
at tho same time, so that 1t may he more
quickly returned to the library.
1T is often specifically urged against
fuller recognition OF the rights OF authors
that England is country OF dear BOOKS.
This IS certainly the case; but IT is rot Que
TO the c0pyright-laws. but 10 the reading
habits of the people. England, as mat.
ter Of fact. has probably cheaper use OF
hooks than any other country In the world,
Tho library system Will probably never
have any such hold IN a large country
like our own as IL has in o compact country
like Great Britain.
LIBRARIES AND PUBLISHERS.
1.-THE relations of the business of the
book-publishcr in the United States TO the
library system would be very difficult TO
determine. As far az the Century Company
is concerned, we nave few data on the sub
iect: but | think IL will be found that
American publishers regard the library
system as q great ally, and not as Zoe 10
their prosperity. The chief foe TO the
publication OF books which Will
be bought. praised, and kept by
the peOpe-a state of affairs much
to be desired-is the lack of sta
bility in tine book trade due 10 the
want Of an international copyrght-law.
There are many towns in the country IN
which twenty years ago there was local
bookseller whose store was the centre Of
literary culture for the tOwn, and who was,
il fact, next TO the minister ard school
teacher. the most civil.Zing genius IN the
community. lie was the guide. phlloso-
pher, and friend of the settlement;
Go into the same town now and
ENERGIES Of the bookseller have been
and knick- knacks. while the community
Las found It's purveyor Of literature in
half-educated, ignorant newsbOy, who
keeps all the cheap pirated editions OF
foreign books and sells them mostly
BY their titles--a sort of traln-bov litera-
tiire in fact. Certainly this system
is great foe to the purchase OF books:
These paper novels are bought and read
and thrown away, and the last act Is
probably the best feature OF the trans
action. But were they replaced by good
American literature, written by Americans
and having American ideas, and printed IN
a substantial form at cheap price, the
bookseller would become again valuable
educational agency i'll the life of the Anne
r.can people. The passage of an lnterna-
tlonal copyright-law Will 10 much TO orinS
about this desideratum."
THE VALUE or fREE LIBRARIES.
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 He
said:
such institutions. from the very fact
that they multiply the number Of readers,
tend to increase the number of boOk-buy-
ers. They add materially to the number
Of those who wish TO own books which they
have become acquainted with IN the libra
ries. It follows that every new library that
is started Is altogether q GOOD thing. l
think that those books that have the
largest circulation outside the Libraries
also have the largest circulation IN the
libraries. lake Little Lord FauntlerOy,'
for instance it has always had very ex-
tcnsiyo circulation III the Libraries, vet the
outside demand from buyers continues I'M
diminished, having doubtless been greatly
stimulated by the libraries.
"Clergvmen, physicians. and the pro-
fessors in the leading semlnaries are
among the best book-buyers; yet almost
every book they purchase can be found in
the libraries. With the exception, pro-
badly. of certain class of novels, do not
think any branch Of literature suffers from
library circulation, as far az the publishers
are concerned. We have always regarded
the libraries rs an aid to our business"
Dir. John Harper, of the firm of Harper
h Brothers, is confined to his residence by
nj the great establishment on Franklin
Square has authority to speak for the firm.
Other publishers who We're interviewed CO.
incided unanimously with the views ex-
pressed by the Scrlbners ana the Century