The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-01
BOOKS PEOPLE LIKE TO READ.
Popular Tastes as shown by Applica-
tlon at a Public Library.
philadelphia Time

PHILADELPHIA Times.
On July -. Sol volumes were loaned from
the free library On Chestnut street, so
more than were distributed from any other
library in the city. In July the circulation
increased 10 23.2s7. The largest daily cir
cElation thus far in August was when go
books were issued from the desk. The in
creaslng popularity Of suburban summer
life. and the easy accessibility OF the free
library by ran and trolley has favored its
continued SUPPORT during the hot weather.
No small proportion Of the 1850 regular
readers are To be bur among the sum
mer idlers populating rural piazzas and
enseonced under the friendly maple en-
some verdant lawn
To analyze the diversified tastes Of these
thousands Of readers. would be interesting
II difficult Several armfuls of books
gathered Unfortunately from the number
returned 70 the free library turned their
titles. Gnld and red. blue and brown, IN
willingly upward, a day or two ago. Tucked
in the corner was the Sign OF the Four"
neatly bound and quite new. Anything or
Conan Doyle's is In demand at present. es-
peciany Sherlock Holmes. II the detective
stories are out, applicants are sure 20 ask
for any other book by the same author.
Next came THE Black Tulip" Of Du-
mas. and. skipping a few books, Victor
Tugo's "Ninety-Three' and The Toilers
OF the Sea" There were several well
thumbed copies or Henty, Castleman. and
Alge7, who still know no rivals in healthy
hoyish literature. Little Woman" that
dearest and best OF Louisa NJ. Alcotts
books. did not happen to be among the
number. but the "Old-Fashioned err
showed a shining face near the "Ftrellght
Stories" of Louise Chandler Moulton and
"A Terrible Termination of Charles Reade.
Pansv's popular Sunday school book,
THE Pocket Measure" was cheek by Jowl
with Ouida's Under Two Flags" Susan
Blows symbolic Education" several or
Abbott's histories, Muhloach's "Moham-
med All" Guizots History of France" a
volume of Reclus' "Oceanica." and In
noceuts Abroad" were the closest OF COM
pani0ns on the second row.
There are thirty-one copies of "Trilby'
in the library. but none of them are ever
'in," a2d almost every one is in reserve"
This is true OF all much-talked-of books.
Applicants nxious TO read a popular book
register their names ana secure the work
as soon as Il is returned. In the height
Of the "Trilby". furore there were as many
as sixty or seventy names on the LIST OF
reserved"
Just now there is a run on 1.-The Manx-
man." which among the patrons or the Ireo
library outvies The Deemster." Mar
celia" is another book constantly IN de-
mand. While one wonders what has become
OF the "Ellesmere' fad. ben Hur never
wants for popularity. Everything or
RtCndTd dATUluS laws 10 SOHSAh -
so with Marion Crawford, Rudyard KIP
ling, Howells and Barrie. Kate Douglass
Virgins pretty little stories, The Cathe-
dral Courtship'' and "Timothy's Quest"
sttI continue 10 speak 10 charmed circles.
Conjecture as 10 what the public VIII
read is not always safe For instance,
there are three copies OF Degeneration
In the library. Every one or Max Nor
dau's bulky octave is out and there are
ulepty Of readers waiting their turn for
the book. The Leather Stocking Tales
continue TO be read. and Dickens, Thack-
cray. Scott. although part of almost ev-
cry household library. are constantly ASKED
far. The Introduction OF the two DOCK
system. that is. allowing each reader two
volumes at a time. only one or which
NAV lie a novel. has resulted in reducing
the issue Of fiction. The system or open
shelves has worked admirably. the man
apement relying on the plan OF putting
everything at public disposal and at the
same time under public protection.