The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-07
BOOKS AND READERS.

Statistics gathered by periodical devoted
to the book publishing trade afford curious
information of the taste Of the American
people. During the year 1890 1853 books
were published in the United States, or over
twelve for every day in the year, including
Sundays. OF these about 400 were new
books, and of these $3.50 were books written
by American authors. The books written
by foreign authors and reproduced here
numbered 933. AS every English work of
merit except those of purely local inter-
est, is republished in this country, it would
seem TO follow that there are over three
times as many writer's in this country who
achieve the distinction Of print as there are
in England, and that we are fast approach
ing a period when Sydney Smiths caustie
query may be reversed and the question
asked, Who reads an English book?
Publishers are not increasing their issues.
There were more books published in 1886
and in 1888 than in 1890, though there was
falling off in 1889. There must, of course,
be some limit to the production of books.
Not over 10 per cent of the population read
books at all-the other 80 per cent are
either not readers, or are readers of the
newspapers exclusively. Considering the
enormous quantity of old books which a
person of culture must read, it is creditable
that the 6,2O0,G00 book-resders in the
United States can digest 400O new books
each year
An analysis Of the character of the new
books reveals the familiar fact that Amer-
cans are more prone to humor the fancy
than to accumulate knowledge. Something
over one-fourth Of the new books published
In 1890 were works of fiction, while only
one-eighth were books Of history, biog-
raDhy and travels, and another eighth were
scientific works. A great historian or trav-
eler, or the writer who adds 10 our knowl-
edge of seieI ce, achieves fame for himself
and coDIers a benefit on his reader; but
there are not as many such writer's as there
are novel-makers, nor, seemingly, are there
q 5 many readers of the former as of the lat
ter, though nine-te nths of the fiction of the
day dies and is forgotten in year. AS a
general rule, reading is pastime rather
than a study. People read books for amuse-
nient and 10 fill idle hours. When they de-
sire instruction they seek it in the newspa-
pers and magazines.
1t is curious that, among the more serious
books of the day, works on law and religion
should keep Iace-the former with 458 is
sues, the latter with 467 in 1S90-while poe
try and the drama only figure for 1853. The
law books were probably reports, as the
new textbooks are few +; but it is queer that
467 new books should appear in year on
subject which has been so thoroughly ex-
plotted as theology, and equally strange
that books Of poetry should have fallen off
20 or % per cent since 1886. The newspa-
pers publish reports of sermons and scraps
of poetry which are not always gems, but for
one reader of the former there are ten
readers of the latter. 1t seems that we take
our theology in heavy doses and our verse
in doses homeopathic.
The regular visitor to the bookstores is
distressed at the poor show which the new
book counter presents. There is hardly
writer of irst-class fiction in our language
who continues to write. The great novelsts
who delighted the world ten or twenty years
ago are either dead or silent In their place
we have swarm of scribblers who produce
nothing that is worthy Of place on the
shelves of library and is dear at the small
price which papeT-coVered novels command.
Within few months two really great