The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-13
TR|LBY MOST IN DEMAND.
More Readers of Fiction ir
Boston Than in San Fran
CISCO.
Demand at the Free Public Library
for Drummond'S ascent
of Man."

"Trilby" is by long odds the book most
in demand at the Public Library. There
are sixteen copies of the novel on the
shelves-that is, there would be if they
were permitted to remain there, but those
who made application for the book the
last day OF February have not yet been
able to secure copy. Cultured and illit-
crate alike are affected by the "Trilby"
fad, which an attache of the institution in
the City Hall has no hesitation in p1o-
nouncing 'senseless."
Next in popularity ranks 1.-The Manx-
man." with 1.-THE Ralstons" closely follow
ing. "Marcella," which is the only one of
last years books that still interest the
reading public, and GA Gentleman of
France come next in the category of de-
mand. Anthony Hopes "a Prisoner of
Zenda" is one of the most popular novels,
and the "Prince of India" one whose boom
was most quickly exploded.
But the works of fiction are not alone in
their interest for the borrowers. Drum
mond's ascent of Man" is in general de-
mand. So, too, is ''Kidd's "Social Evolu-
ton" Many read the ''Fabian Essays"
and pessimistic views are disseminated
daily by means of Nordeau's "Degenera-
ton" Do people like to be told that they
are living in an age of terrible strain, of
feverish activity that is an incipient stage
of insanity, and that the mental resources
of most OF the great men of the time are
those of lunacy2 So Nordeau tells them,
and they continue TO read his books WITH
avidity.
The poets are not much in demand, but
Longfellow and Tennyson are the favorites
with San Francisco readers.
What proportion of the books loaned
are works of fiction?' was asked, and the
answer was 53 per cent. Of the other
classes of literature the loans of historical
works are per cent, poetry and the drama
~ per cent sociology less than 2 per cent,
philosophy per cent, religious 81 per
cent, philology 2 per cent the useful arts
per cent, the fine arts a little more than
per cent and reference books Is per cent
The works to be found in the reference de-
partment cover the ground of science, art
and bellies lettres, and that ratio would of
course swell the others if an exact estimate
were made.
There is more demand for fiction than
for any other class of literature in all pub
lie libraries, but it is interesting to note
that while in San Francisco that demand
is represented by So per cent, in Boston it
has been given within few years at 70 per
cent, in Cleveland 81 per cent, in Minneap-
oils and Milwaukee "a each and in Jersey
City S5.S7 per cent.
A TACT that Is a comment upon the
honesty OF the borrowers IS that OF the
254, 932 loans made last year but twenty
books were lost and not paid for, and one
that reflects credit upon the management
is that the number lost was but forty
seven.
The purchase of the Slevin collection
has added much to the value of the library
as far as American history, and especially
the history of California, are concerned. A
large list of new German works has been
ordered and an equal number of French
books has been added to those already on
the shelves
There is more demand for German than
for any other than English works.
The library has of late published a
monthly bulletin containing a list of the
latest additions to its shelves, and through
the distribution of these in the public
schools marked impetus has been given
to reading OF the better class of books by
the school children