The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10

live, and so the success of this new Cali
iornian book has an interest apart from
that which attends the good will bestowed
on the author personally.
The edition that has come from the
Riverside Press of Boston is 1000 copies.
Under arrangements made by Miss Cool
birth and the Authors Guild, which
brought out the book, 500 copies were sent
here Tor distribution through the house OF
Cunningham. Curtiss q Welch, and 800
copies are reserved for the Eastern market.
The 500 copies sent here two weeks ago
have nearly all left the hands OF the dis
tributing agents. Nearly all have been
sold at the retail price of 81 80. Some are
yet in the bookstores, but they are going.
While taking the dollars and cents view OF
poetry, it may be explained that the sale
OF 500 copies will bring in not far from
enough TO pay the cost of publication.
There is a good prospect that Miss Cool
BIRTH will realize something for her work,
interested friends of Miss Coolbrith say.
But aside from the money measure of the
success, the books have been taken, the
work has been received with strong praise
and sincere appreciation by those whose
judgment and good will are valued, and
the author has been showered with con-
gratulations from many and has received
unstinted praise and felicitation from the
large circle OF her intimate friends.
So why should not Miss Coolbrith and
the friends who have assisted her in the
venture be glad? The success is not that
Of noise, but is deeply gentle and pleasing,
Ike one of the songs that made it.
The East-its critics and its markets.
yet to be heard from. For some reason
the publishers did not put the book on the
market there at the time it was sent to this
coast. 1t was TO be given to the Eastern
public Yesterday, and in week or two we
shall be reading with interest what is said
of the latest appearance of California
poet in the circles to which, in spite of the
pity Of it. we look for our literary judg-
ments and fashions, and to which Cali
fornia writer must go for what reputation
he may gain. That will afford another
chapter to the story of Miss Coolbrith' S
literary success.
The book and its success here are inter
esiing, too, because it is the first effort OF
the Authors Guild, and because there is
apparently beginning the dawn OF new
era for California publications. The pos
sibilities for California writers here and
elsewhere is a much discussed subject, but
the launching of the Authors Guild, with
the purpose of helping home authors to
the success they may merit, and the new
departure of Mr.. Doxey's in also taking up
the publication of California literary pro-
auctions, give room and license for further
discussion and expectation.
The Authors Child" more correctly
&c yaff
was organized last spring, largely through
the instrumentahty of Al Gerberding.
Fourteen well-known people, including
William Greer Harrison (president), Sarah
D. Hamlin, Joseph LIE Conte, A. Gerberd-
Ing, Irving M. Scott and others, compose
the association, and there is an associate
membership, the conditions of which are
simply the agreement to purchase annu-
ally. at the price of 81 so, one copy OF such
works as may be published under the aus
pices of the guild. There are about one