The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-04

War Has q Strange Eject on the Book
Trade.
MEAD ONLY PAPERS.

War Has q Strange Effect on the Book
Trade.
What are the people reading? The great
er number of those seen in the street
c-onveysnces. or that one may see at their
homes mornings and evenings, are read
ing the newspapers. The inference, there
fore. is perhaps hastily drawn that all
books in this war time are not in the US
ual demand and very little read.
As an index TO the state of most peoples
minds with regard to their daily reading,
in the midst of wars rumors and alarms,
the present condition of trade at the
book stores should be to a degree uner-
ring. To learn this condition a number
Of the prominent book publishers and
sellers have been questioned.
on one point-the popular demand for
books on military and naval subjects-the
testimony of all Is to the effect that II is
impossible to meet the demand, which has
already carried off old stocks and is in
advance of most of the publishers whose
business it is to supply IL. More books Of
this kind are now sold in a day than were
before sold in twice 365 days. But this
large increase under a single head does
only I'm small part make up for the de-
creased sales under the heads of miscel-
laneous and classical. The novel, no less
than books of history and science. is neg
lected on the tables OF the booksellers,
most customers preferring war treatises
and war maps to anything else found
there.
The leading local publisher of war maps
and typographical descriptions is employ
ing artists and running its presses con-
stantly in vain efforts to keep pace with
the demand. Little or no attention is paid
to the other publishing departments.
The leading bookselling house is authori-
ty for the statement that since the year
came i'm and down to the date of the dec
la Tafinn inf war trade WAS far better
than II had been any time since 1890. The
effect of the declaration of war upon the
business and trade of this house. the head
of the firm describes as follows: Almost
instantly trade and business fell of very
considerably. and tended to lessen mate
rally during the first exciting weeks of
the beginning conflict. The volume was
still larger than it had been in the years
of the late panic. but. nevertheless. 1t was
unsatisfactory. 1t would have been IN
wise. as 1t yet would be. to launch new
publications, and most old books of the
same grade as their own publications
found comparatively few buyers. OF war
and navy they could not get standard
books on these subjects fast enough to
supply those of their habitual customers
that were interested in them.
Is there any Improvement? Yes; right
away after the success at Manila the pub
lie mind seemed to be relieved of some
of the pressure hat was upon IL. and the
consequent effect on the business of this
house was to materially increase ii in
most lines. But still the volume is not
nearly of the size it was before the war
was declared.
Another house that does not deal main
ly in book specialties has had a similar
experience. One of its Intelligent sales
men has said that for weeks after the
commencement of the war, to most men
and a majority OF women who same into
the stare UuaE of course Altered soma
book on military or naval campaigns and
battles. Trade was reduced to almost
nothing in other books, and in periodical
publications that were not filled with IL
Illustrations of warships and battle on land
or sea. But now there is noted a change
for the better. More and more customers
decline to look into books on war and i'm
increasing numbers ask for their old IA
vorites again. At the present rate of in
crease the trade. this house says. will
soon he normal once more.-Chicago
Chronicle.