New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24

may be found. 1t is here that the business con-
centrates.
The American author DESTROYS Of sending his
light across the continent IL pretty likely to con-
suit the New-YOrk publisher first The readers
of the publishing houses pass judgment upon
thousands Of manuscripts every year. large
majority of these never shed their light beyond
the narrow confines OF the publishers Office
many, indeed, are kinded. so TO speak, AND sent
forth only to flicker briefly, bat still others burst
into flame, spread their light over broad ex-
panse OF territory and are rekindled In the glow
of their own fire.
These are the books that bring JOY to the
hearts OF the publishers-these books that one
reads of as having run through the first hun
dred thousand-about to be Issued in a second
edition" And when remembers that 1t is
not so uncommon thing to hear Of such a
number being sold Of a single book. the vast
ness of the publishing business begins to
loom up.
TWO CHARACTERISTICS
The development OF the modern publishing
business is distinctly along two lines, and rep
resents two extremes In the first place, there
never was time when so many fine books
were made In the general development of taste
in America the appreciation of fine books has
come 10 many Persons who In former years
content with n volume no matter how
badly made or how poor the type work and il
ustrations now demand something better.
book now must meet the requirements of this
advanced taste. PLENTY of gilt" on the cor
ners will not seduce the buyer to-day--that is,
the intelligent buyer, and Of these there are
many. He insists upon volume that shall be
in harmony with what he feels to be good. The
designing OF book covers is in itself by no
means an unimportant part Of the business. The
quality of the paper, the clearness OF the type
and the other purely mechanical features OF
book making are all essentials in the eyes OF
the thoughtful book buyer of to-day.
Then too, there is a large public whose means
are such as to justify additional expenditure
on the part of the publishers. Such persons
demand fine books. and the publisher puts
forth his efforts TO produce sumptuous special
editions that the demand may be met. AT holi-
day times the number of such editions Is much
increased, and every year sees a greater humcei
of lavish books offered
This is conclusive proof that the demand
for the better grade Of books is constantly IN
creasing and what makes II the more surpris-
ing is that while the trade in fine books is ex-
banding the demand for cheap ones nke"iSe
grows.
Books never were cheap; they can't pos
sibly get any cheaper" That remark is made
year after year, and yet we see the Impossible
ACCOMPLISHED right along. for books do get
cheaper though the limit would seem to nave
been reached long ago. There never was tIme
when the standard works of popular authors
were so nearly available for everybody ne
must be a poor man, indeed, to-day who cannot
afford few good books; to persons OF extreme
ly limited means the possession or a library IS
possible. When the forces which are making
for our greater civilization and progress are
taken into account. the publishers should come
in for share of appreciation. II is largely TO
their energy and enterprise that our develop,
ment is due, and they are entitled TO fuii
need of praise.