New-York tribune., 1899-02-16
NOVELS NEW AND OLD.

Old-fashioned book publishers, who follow the
traditions and share the prejuGices OF their
fathers and erandsathers, are confused and dis
turhed by the new star6ards Of enterprise IN
trade and by the public taste for cheap liters
ture. Some OF them have inherited a long-ef
tabllshed business. and are unprepared for M
keen rivalries ard startling surprises OF trade
They are central figures in literary circles OF
their own. with the most cordial relations exist
ing between them and their best friends. the
authors Of the books published BY them: ou'
now and then they have 10 rut their eyes over
the changes wrought IN what was once sais
and conservative business. Some young Clerk
who has hired a small Office. without capital. and
boldly announced himself a publisher sue
ceeds in drS wing of some Of their best writers
makes a fortune at short notice, controls a score
of periodicals. and converts his business into
limited company, with dobontures. ordinary anu
preference shares and a swarm OF sma!! ~
vestors after them in the market Anoma''s'
Ike these help to coA;ince some OF the oid''As"'
toned publishers that they were born genera
ton too late and are ont of touch with the COZ
ditions OF the times.
There was the oll-tirne three-volume ho''-
Could anything have been safer as business
undertaking? 1t was sold for a guinea ana
half. and the publisher ad only to dispose "
three hundred copies 70 be sure OF mAA'"'
something out Of il, and the circulating !'0'a."'
were always certain to take that number. "''.
that mark had been passed the publisher 'H'''
fifteen shillines out Of zach copy end was d. ~
great expense in advertising the work W"
a comfortable business conducted on easy terms
and while tho editions were not large 'ns ~
culatlng libraries guaranteed the pu0"'-,
AGAINST loss and in due course Of time 'u'''
OVER their surpl2s stock TO the second'"'"'
trade
The good old times nave passed the ~
volume novel with its small but remuhe'ay
edition has disappeared The sixshilhng i0's'
dependent upon large circulation mas 'aNe"
place. with high royalties 10 the authoN o.
there is a rough and tumble scramble 20 se' y
session Of IT, with serial and book rights 70 oes.
posed of in England. America and the co.O"'.
Sometimes there are rivals In the heio
have mortgage upon the book by reas0'
loans made 10 the author before q single -
was written or the title decided upon. Pun,
ers have become money-lenders without H' -,
curity Of pawnbrokers. There is a!s0 >,
ubiquitous literary agent. who is the lr.eH-
all the authors and all the publishers Inv ..-
cessful six-shilllng novel can only be haa
a sharp struggle with the competitors alu ~"
must be a large sale. or the publisher WIZ ~. ~
nothing out Of q. and the risks are ho' sor,
anteod by the libraries as was viTtu@',
when the three-volume novel was puo'S"'
EFFECTS OF THE LENDING sYsIh"'
The circulating libraries have s!s'''''.n ms
the lending Of books until there are ieN ara
and villages in the United Kingdom ""'s sI.,ca
not served by them. Apart from the '"' ard
and local libraries there is Nudes sef'''t Soox.
this has been supplemented by smith mon
stalls and similar lending agencies s. pa'. for
The annual slosci'P", aor
Nudes and Smiths range from one e'''ks Sooks
n single book 70 six guneas FOR d0S'' hooks
Nudes arransement for the delivery - s,.m.
in London by a weekly service are i''s' very
attic. and the country business ,srcel
lar-e packases Of books being sen' " 'sr,Iths
most 70 subscribers at their expense ,,,aon.
business is also immense, not only II hook.
but also In the provinces. since thefe ,,,,ancs
stall In every railway station OF any nr n" living
IN the United Kingdom. A country pa' North
IN a secluded village OF Devonsh'e lar can
,, -, .a,,lro two guineaS -