The morning call., 1893-07-23
THEY SOLD CHEAP.
Boo IS as a Dispensable
Luxury.
Expe Carson Explains How He
Fai I'd After Fifteen Years-HiS
Stock Selling by Auction.

S. Carson of the book-selling firm stood
gloomily by P. E. Davies. the auctoneer.
yesterday and watched the sacrifice of his
late stock-in trade, which was knocked
down IN small lots and single volumes to
a seem ingly unappreciative public. The
trustee, A. Roman, seemed satisfied to dis
pose Of his books at from 40 to 80 cents on
the dollar. But them" MIR. Carson re-
marked, she didn't pay for them. and it
goes against my business instincts to be
cutting prices like that"
Most OF the books offered were of an
ordinary description and found quick
sale at about half the published prices. few
figures for single books being over 81
Some good medical works ran up to SO
and S4, while a fine edition of Ruskin.
illustrated, was sold for $40, the regular
value being S36
There were bargains without number
for book worms. and all tastes had an op-
very small outlay. A good edition Of
Dante in three volumes, with Dore's Illus
trations. fell TO the highest bidder at 81 IS.
There was a fair attendance Of buyers,
those retiring with their purchases max
ing room for a fresh influx from the
street. A young housewife with huge
cook book under one arm and "How to Be
Happy Though Married" under the other,
a schoolb0y huggiDg choice collection Of
Fennimore Cooper's impossible Indian
stories and short-sighted young man
with an immense calf volume labeled
Ocular Therapeutics" were specimens of
the outward-going line of purchasers.
In explaining his failure to CALL re-
porter Mr.. Carson said that for a long
fin,a hp inc hxA duo Itxyh hoo
worse. so that he finally had no alterna-
tive but to put the stock into trustees
hands for the benefit of his creditors.
my entire liabilities are about $500,
and the stock was worth about the same
amount, if l could only have sold it in the
ordinary way. AS it is it will GO at about
40 conts on the dollar. and after deducting
expenses l think there will be dividend
of 1913 per cent for my creditors.
The booksellinR business has%gone all
to pieces during the last few years-a sure
index Of the times. Books are purely a
dispense BILE luxury, and when the dollars
are scarce there is no item a man cuts
sooner from his expenses than the pur-
chase Of superfluOus literature.
Il have been in the business all nv life.
and when came here from Boston fifteen
years ago. the outlook for my line was
bright in the extreme. had large rooms
on Sutter street,over Nathan & Dohrman's
and NY business increased so quickly that
l was soon forced to get more com odi0us
quarters. l then used to do 500. 900 worth
OF business year.
But since 1886 the trade has materially
declined, and a bookstore that sold moth
Ing but books was soon left behind by
those who com bined boOkseliing with sta
tionery, albums and notions.
THE Pacific Bank is my principal cred
itor. and. must say, has treated me very
fairly. The bank held my otes and could
have attached the whole concern at any
time, instead of which it agreed to rank
with other creditors and receive the
same c.opOrtion.
"Other large bookstores have had to
give up their expensive premises right on
this street, and are feeling the depression
as l ar.
ut Il my intention to return to Bos-
ton an, start afresh as an employe IN the
firm harned my trade with, and after all
these 'ars it goes without saying that 1
leave California with the greatest re-
luctance"