The evening times., 1899-11-20
GREATER DEMAND FOR BIBLES.
Criticism Stimulates study of the
Book
(from the New York Sun }


Bibles are in large demand just now.
What the real cause is the dealers and cir
culators of the Bible do not know. Wheth-
er the criticism of the book has stimulated
study of il no one seems able to tell. That
the increased demand is wholly for teach
ers' Bibles. or Bibles with special COM
ments references, illustrations, and maps.
would indicate desire for more intelligent
and systematic study of it on the part of
those who already have plain Bibles. which
would account for the fact that the demand
for the plain copies is not in the least in
creased. or that the newer students Of the
book are inclined to more care and system
than those OF an older day, unless the in
terest in picture books has extended to the
Bible.
The American Bible Society is hampered
by its charter in the present state of the
Bible market. 1t is under obligation to
print and circulate the current version
without note or comment. The conse-
quence Of that Limitation Just now is the
falling of in the society's Bible sales be-
cause the demand is for the annotated edi-
tions. Yet the Bible Society officers per-
ceive the changing conditions and say that
the demand for the Bible in English is in
creasing all over the world. The obligation
to print the current version is no handicap
upon the society. From the day Of the
publication of the revised version to date
the sales Of that version have been away
behind the sales of the King James YER
sion. The demand for the Bibles now Is
altogether for the authorized version.
The present demand had Its beginning.
so far as the publishers noticed. about two
years ago, when a religious paper, SO
called, announced copy Of teachers
Bible at a very small price as an aid to
circulation. The response appeared to out
run normal expectations. to Judge from the
action of the papers competitors, for one
after another they took up the scheme, and
now all over the country they advertise
teachers Bible in connection with a sub
scription to the papers at low figure. The
advance in publishing methods has made
1t possible to furnish Bible now for less
than 81 which a few years ago would have
cost about $3 Wholesaling at very much
less, 1t is possible for the. religious weeklies
to offer an attractive volume at price
that seems only nominal.
When the demand was first felt outside
houses broke in upon the preserves of the
regular Bible publishers and set out to sup
ply what was wanted. The regular houses
were spurred on, and to save themselves be-
gan to devise forms OF; publication to save
their trade. They succeeded finally in driv-
ing the new men from the field by offering
attractive books at constantly lessening
prices. At last the point was reached where
they felt that 1t was time to protect them
selves from their own competition, and ef-
forts are now being made to form a Bible
trust, combination Of the regular pub
fishers of the book One difficulty is to
secure a sufficiently extensive combination
SO that as soon as prices are put up new
competitors will not be drawn into the field.
1t is possible now to buy Bible for Is
rents