New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02

success: Some beautiful books were printed, and
after hundreds Of later books have fallen into dust
but as a business venture 1t was a failure ana
could not be carried
The paper makers would be glad to make better
grades OF paper II the publishers would take men,
and the publishers would be glad to print t ,a
thcm The leading publishers complain ina, ,h IT,,
the drygoods stores for a few cents. and that they
cannot do unless they keep their expenses III
ne making Of their books down to books e o Which
there is no copyright or only foreign Copyright
which can consequently be made Tor inc pare sa
pense of manufacture are printed on paper anat
costs only two cents or perhaps two ana nan cs bo
are engaged in other Business and use them only
to attract people into their shops in the nope thn
mate publishers to compete with this trade, get
ting out good and well-made books and paying
if they are tempted. from business point of view,
forced, to use paper that costs at the lowest
say four cents pound and r at h as h eSons
luxe, seven or eight cents poundf
THE PLEA OF THE PAPER-MAKERs.
That is the publishers side of the case, and the
paper makers side. in the light of this. is still
simpler: the publishers will have cheap paper for
their customers. and what can they do but supply
it? II am afraid said a representative OF one Of
the leading American publishing houses, after he
had said good deal about the paper business
that have not told you anything that will do
lie sentiment for good books II would be a great
thing. They Will have the poor books and they will
so and buy them at the drygoods stores for 10
cents. instead of going to bookstore and getting
well made books for-well. they would have to pay
a dollar for them of course. Ii has been growing
and for the last twenty-five years
and don't see any prospect of It's getting any
better
Yet if any one will buy good paper. there is just
good paper to he had now as there ever was in
the history Of the world This has been limited be-
fore but 1t should be clearly understood. The
trouble with wood pulp paper. say the reputable
makers of it. is not that II is made Of wood pulp
but that it is badly made Just good paper can
be made of pulp. they insist If it is made ntelli-
gently and carefully and honestly. as can be made
Of anything else. And everybody admits that
whether wood pulp or rags or grass be the material
selected. good paper can be made and is made. and
can be had by those who insist on having it-ony
deplorably few insist on having It.
The Groer Club founded for the purpose of
fostering ar In the making of books, and the club
consistently and nobly goes In for paper at 60 10
cents pound. but the charge has been whispered
against of the members Of that aesthetic
body that they care more for enriching their own
libraries than for promoting the knowledge and
love OF fine and beautiful books among the people
at large In short, 1t is hard thing to inspire q
great mass Of people with deep earncstness In the
pursuit of a great ideal The of the people
will generally have what It makes up its mind to
have. and If II ever makes its mind to have good
paper for its books. il will undoubtedly have II.