The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-29
AN ENGLISH SOCIETY.
WOMEN WHO KEEP INFORMED IN CUR
RENTLITERATURE.

An Economical Method Of Purchasing
Books and = Convenient and sociabIe
Way Of Discussing the Latest Enusion of
Popular Writer.
An English woman, recently married
70 a New York lawyer. with a home IN
the suburbs. Is trying an interesting ex-
pertinent in the way of literary and
book lending society. The system she
has adopted has been used in suburban
towns Of England and in many Of the
larger provincial cities for more than
half century. In fact, there is soci-
ETY. in Rochester, England, which claims
70 have had il in continual use for more
than 100 years. There is probably nc
system exactly like it, however, in this
part Of the world.
The main object Of tins system is to
supply books to women who have ample
time for reading and are eager to keep
pace with all that is interesting IN the
tremendous rush of cOntemporaneous
literature. a man with even moderate
income cannct afford 10 keep his wife
supplied with new books and magazines
as they come out. The cheapest new
novel. If it is worth anything, viii be
sure to cost him 80 cents. In nine cases
out of ten the first price is more likely TO
be $3.50. To be sure, almost everything
nowadays ultimately drifts into the
cheap edition. but it is after the book
has ceased TO be fresh in the minds OF
the public and people have ceased to
talk about 1t.
Women who live in the country and
in the suburbs have more time for read
ing than women in cities. and withal
fewer means of getting anything good
10 read. The time worn volumes in the
local circulating library have been their
familiar friends from childhood. If the
husband subscribes to a circulating
library in town and promises TO bring a
new book home with him every night,
he is likely to grow weary soon and for
get all about it. An then when an in
telligent woman reads good novel she
likes TO talk to somebody about it. Her
husband hasn't time to read, and the ac-
uuaintances she visits have never even
heard Of It.
The literary English woman found her
self IN this plight. so she interested her
self in forming Z club similar to the one
she belonged to at her English home.
The idea IS simple one. Forty or so
persons in a town organize a book soci-
ETY.. That IS the name usually given to
them IN England. 1t has been found
advisable 10 have at least 40 members,
and not to have more than 90. The
Rochester society has adhered to this
rule despite powerful pressure to in
crease its membership. Applicants for
membership are kept waiting six years,
and sometimes more. for admission. a
society No. ? has naturally been formed,
but the prestige remains with the pioneer
society. which meets every week, winter
and summer. in the Old Bull hotel, made
famous in the "Pickwick Papers" The
society hires a room, cheerful and COM
Portable. which is placed at its disposal
one night each week. The landlord al
lows the members TO keep large cup
board III the room in which TO store
books.
These books are in charge of a secre-
tary. The position is simply an honorary
one, but the members usually make the
eecretary who attends to business a very
substantial Christmas present-a piece
of silver or some article of household
furniture perhaps. The members deter
mine by ballot what looks shall be pur-
chased, but it deyolves upon the secre-
tary to buy them. he is supposed to get
discount prices from publishers. This is
managed without difficulty, and the
publishers generally find it for their own
interest to remember the secretary about
Christmas time. The result is that in
prosperous societies the position is
sought after. 1t is worth while to de-
vote some little time to it.
Balloting to determine what new books
shall be bought takes place once each
month. If twenty or more members find
it expedient to purchase some new book
or series Of books issued between ballot
ing meetings-such, for instance, as
Stanley's latest record of his travels or
a new volume Of a popular encyclope-
dia-the secretary must get it for them
when they present a request in writing.
But the members keep themselves so
well posted that books of this kind are
usually voted for in advance.
All the money subscribed is not deyot- |
ed 10 buying new books and magazines.
In every society there are a few MEN, |
bers who prefer TO read and even reread |
Dickens. Thaekeray, Scott and numer- |
Of these people must be and are provided |
for 10 n reasonable extent. Each mem |
Der may draw three books at one time.
but 1t is not allowed to keepany book for |
more than IA days. If it is book which |
is in demand, the time is limited to one |
week.
Every two years the books belonging /
to the society are assorted by the secre-
tary into lots of equal value and are /
''drawn" by the different members in a
lottery. Every member present has the /
night 70 draw one number In this way 1
the cupboard" of the society is kept free
from dead wood" and the individual
members are able TO build up a solid
little library at home. Every member
eventually gets his money back in books.
~ 10 the Gust ol running a society u
this kind, perhaps the best criterion
would be the Rochester society. Each /
member pays a shilling at initiation and
a week dues. If he gets behind
IN his dues. heis fined threepence for each
week. If he neglects It for more than
month, his name Is dropped. This has
rarely happened in the Rochester soci-
ETY., although the rules are rigidly in
forced. The money collected in this way
has been found ample TO run the society
and keep the members abreast of new
literature.
The weekly meetings are largely de-
voted TO discussion. Two or three Of the
newest books are usually taken up. The
talk Is mostly conversational, though the
secretary is supposed to exercise some
control of the meeting and keep the
members rom all talking at once.-New
York Times.
Charges Against Minister.
The bitterness of NJ Tricoupis," N.