The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02

Why do People Buy Them How the
Average "crsDu Make z acir Purchases

why do People Buy Them How the
Average "crsou Maic Tacir Purchases
Very few people, they said. who buy
books DO so. after all. because they want
them II Is amazing 90 conceive now
anyone could be induced 10 buy one OF
Marion CrawfOrd's novels, for instance,
unless he were goine on journey. Shake
speare you usually have" That mys-
FERROUS verb signifies depths OF ancestral
security. Pillows you nave" and mat
tIesses, in your house, and easy chairs.
ana spoons, and Dickenses and Waveriey
novels. 1 did not know for years that
anybody bought these things. I thought
they just had them just as j supposed
that servants worked for the love they
bore the family. 1 did not even know
that menias idled in those young and
innocent days That people DO buy books
is an evident proposition that does not
have to be proved. ! can see many rea-
sons why they do il. although not many
literary reasons \ book makes a lovely
present; Tor a birthday gift, peace offer
ing. Christmas, 'un-Christmas." Easter,
setting out on a journey, coming back
from a journey. and every kind OF oc.
Cas.on where goodwill Is intended 10 be
shown. 81 think III get q little book,
YOU say. when driven 90 your wits end 10
know how TO comfort amuse or placate
a friend. And you buy IL on the merits
of the cover usually. The contents are
the last thing TO appeal 10 your taste.
Gold and white takes your eye for a SEN
timental gift for woman; scarlet and
gold for a man. You buy DR.. Holmes
when You are looking for Ruskin-for
occasionally the author cuts some figure
If Holmes appears I'm more appropri-
ately holiday dress.
ANY one who has fingered. browsing,
round a book shop can hear more delight
fu comment than is needed To prove these
statements Would yon get a book or
an ink-standw HAS he read Browning
"Ior. don't know. il just take it the
covers lovely I don't suppose anybody
ever reads the books YOU give EN-" NO,
7 believe I'll get one Of those photograph
frames. after all.
Novels 10. as ! said, to people travelling,
who have got TO have some books 70
read. Have sou any good novels2'
"WeH. I don't know. What does she
Ike. Amanda" Have you got any OF
Kipiing's2" "Oh. he's read ali Kipiins's'
says amanda. well. ! don't believe he's
read this" C'The Master by ZangwiiD.
us this good? Well, rll take II, then.
n you're sure 70 is IL looks pretty good"
A different customer Is the man who
has just built a house with a library in
II. He orders things I'm sets. Histories
he wants he says. especially Macaulay,
and his wife wants some poetry.
Standard novels. classics. poems, his
tories. celebrated essays aside-who does
buy all the million miscellaneous volumes
that come from the publishers Some
bodv does. or they would not continue
10 come You buy your friends novel. or
poetry. or special cause book 20 help him
along, but who else buys IL? When edi-
lions run 10 seventhly and eighthly who
runs them up?
The book business was never so enor-
nous Exquisite editions Of good writing
appropriately set and trash glorified by
printer and designer come ont and SC
and sell-whC buys them'
The real bookworm Is busy at the back
of the place. In an aleove. making
iudicious selection. but he buys no pink
calf nor f.rid lettering. lie has been
watching ~ months for some volume
Of interest to be ISSUED in new form, or
more likely has been looking FOR an old
one. He is critical. scrutinizes with care.
even with scOrn buys rarely. but when
no does buy his book Is his companion.
u goes under his arm, lies on his table
tfntU thoroughly read. and takes its place
on a sacred shelf This IL not type Of
the book buyer, however, that I am de-
scribing.
Some women leave orders ut the book
sellers for ali the latest books: they re-
ceve n huge packet every week. deVour a
lot of trash. or select little OF IL and
send the rest back Sometimes they buy
the contents Of the packet. Then houses
are overstocked with rubbish which lies
about everywhere.
"S5mething 10 read" is The cry that goes
up every day from hundreds OF mouths.
Something 70 read and nobody 10 select
IT, / wonder IL there Is not money In |
hook shorping for some Of these "gerteel |