The age-herald., 1897-08-01

 of new books.
 Most of the names of authors on each side of the Atlantic most prominently known to lovers of books are found in ahe list. A London book seller facetiousay exclaims, ''The number of rev books and new editions is as great as ever. What trade would be done if each one justine q its existence! Some one has suggested a tax upon new books for keeping down the number"
 Miscellaneous subjects are about equal Tyr divided as to ths number of tues put the sales of the former far exceed those CT the latter It is possibly just what We might expect that fiction should pc III greater favor during the sultry summer days. when the utmost one can demand of his energies is to lie in hammcch, swunk in some shady nook, with DOCK which will only require small eXpehul- ture of grey-matter for it's perusal' III short, amusement, entertainment, IS ali that even the most persistent ana streiiu- ous studerit can claim at tnls tiris oA year. However, one can inquire Wlth the critics usual anxious supervision Tn sueh matters. what kind of fiction does he read? There are two sides to thls per 4irert question of the reading of fiction.
 
 Review the editor enters into dsquisi- ton on modern degeaeracy and comes very near declaring that the supposed corruption of the body polite IS uue 10 inondinate novel reading, helped along py senea tional journalism. He salo A.e exclusive attenition to fiction seems 10 have deadentsd, if not almost destroyed, the public sense of fact, of reality, or truth. This appears in all departments of thought and life. The demand Tor
 wJt~ ra1nn news has almost nevolutonized journal ism. The widest ard most baseless nc tion is palmed off and accepted as feaa science; the world has almost lost all sense of truth and right, and or ideal character ard conduct, ana all sense of responsibility as well
 Of course, this is layirg great many of the ills of life to the effect of novel :. reading but an infinite amount can De written on the subject pro and con A the sales in6icada, the tendency or the times is no doubt toward the light form of reading. Yet in defense of pure, good works of fiction no less an autnp.l.g than Emerson can be quoted as saying in 1l;s es9ly on lSooks." that Whilst Ire prudential onl economical tone Of ae-- ,te s.arv, s thA ina gination affronted na- tue gets such indemnity as she may. r'he novel is flat allowance and frolic the imagination finds. Everything else pins !f down, and men flee for redress to By ron. Scott, Dislaelt, Dumas, sand: Bal, zan picens, %fdtkeray and Read Snd again. '.rIa pag.nation infuses ter- tain volatility and irtoXcation. It has a flute which as!ts the atoms of our frame in darcr, He planets; and so liberated, tae w,iolV man reeling drunk to the nnu- sic, they Eev.r qufe subside to their old stony state"
 Here. you ser. is quite strong plea ty an emirt.,t authority for occasional fc- ro;c iraugl ts of fiction; but notice he quantity a.d Ire quality. Herein appears she conditions
 We have sucn beautiful novels in the wcrlI nat ely the most inveterIte novel '"ader m ghi ever make a. selection whi h. ph'be fui nitshing this full quota Of enIer.unment, will yet irEensibly up if and purify this inmate fitness Of tiIires
 Even hls, prica! fiction, 1t is said is forging i,s way into that proper sphere cs tha, more gre cgaic. and possibly more tefiaus relation of fac-s. known as g7n- u.ns "hstory." Yet much lhas been said 5n 1ef'nse of the historical novel.
 Bft;"tr obtain a general, yet clear cut Knowledge of an ear or country thro isch 1he medium, Of fiction than not 70 acquire 1t all And # ore is in the least wise and dlsct:.n'ra;in~ in his or her choice cf historical nov els. there is no surer way to in press jrde.,tly upon the readers mind and HaSination the occurrences aml due proportions Of History. ii is easier by ap- Icallng sonny ke; 70 the imagination of tha reader. y.;tto ut his being aware of it.
 
 Of tl.e reopio and events of the period Which after all make up the real life of thc country presented.
 But 1t Is more than probable that the editor of the Homiletlc Review has not in his mind the historical novel when he argues with some thing of convincing force, that the intellect is weakened by the constant excitement of such perni- cious stimulants. and hence is rendered incapable of grappirg with truth Such effects must, perforce. arise from the weakening and disintegratng absorption of all those recent novels, by eminent customed to class as Realistic" and Naturalistc," and Zola's mlsnamed Experimental Novel"
 This is the class of books among which we find 'I.ess," and "Esther Waters and "The Man Who Did' and "The Woman Who Didn't" "Arninta" and all the relations of the sexes and in the end can serve TO earthly purpose. but to be- fuddle and''weaken our conception of right and duty.
 Books bought at inordinately high prices and when read and laid aside the question must arise in the readers mind Where is my moneys wortf1~'- If we look at the list which gives the most popular selling books at aM the leading booksellers in the large cities, we will not find one of these; instead, we find such ynames as r. Marion Crawford. Richard Harding Davis, James Lane Allen, An theny Hope Conan Doyle John Kendrcl Bangs. Frank Stockton. and others, each of whose books are pure and healthy and eminently justify the time bestowed upon them in the reading.
 Ono TaalS.
 Writers are needed who can be de- pended on for clever, original work. for stories full of wit good humor and en- tertainment If we examine the lists closely we find. though, that the book which leads all others in popularity and public favor is "Quo Vadis," and it's popularity Is still increasing. In an- swer to many inquiries as to the signifi- canoe of the title "the Bookman" quotes the following legend. "The ia Ardeatina now diverges to the right and on the left stands the small church of Domino n,,0 NT1l lf- ,a1 Al,a