New-York tribune., 1900-05-13

by preoccupaton with the issues of the campaign
and with the dangers and vicissitudes of friends
and relations at the front The book trade has
suffered without doubt from this cause Every
new book has fallen fat and been forgotten
fortnight after publication. There have not been
more than half dozen genuine successes in the
trade during the last six months. and manu-
scripts are now going begging because so many
contracts with authors have been deferred until
the close Of the war. 1t is time when classes
and masses live on bread and the newspaper;
there is no demand for books, and there is
even a declining market for purely literary
magazines and reviews.
Illustrated weeklies dealing with the war
have made great gains in circulation and their
number has increased in spite of the increased
expenditures required for pictures of the war.
Daily journals have also prospered. If they
have employed correspondents high cost in
South Africa, the censorship has reduced the
cable tolls, and the telegraph bills from Con-
tinentdl capitals have also been lowered. The
scarcity OF war news has been helpful all
around for readers ordinarily content with a
single paper have bought half a dozen day It
is difficult accept the stock phrase of the
newspaper offices that extra sales do not make
up for the increased outlay. I could name an
owner of two daily journals who says that he
would be glad to start third, if he could think
of a good name for it.
Artists and picture dealers have suffered from
the The winter and spring exhibitions
have been lightly attended, and the prices at
Christe's auction sales have been unusually
low. Picture dealers have done little business
during recent months They say frankly that
the public is not in a mood even to look at works
of art. much less TO buy them. The artists have
had fewer orders for their work than for many
years, and find it hard believe that the coun-
G c a
to indicate The concert season has been less
remunerItve than in ordinary times. Audiences
have been small except for war charities. and
there has been little interest in the performance
OF unusual works and in the appearance of new
talent. The theatres have also had hard
struggle to balance accounts at the box office.
The music halls. with their variety shows and
pictures and songs, have prospered. and
popular shows like San Toy and The Mes
senger Boy" have not done badly: but theatres
of the higher class have seldom been filled. and
managers find it difficult to please the public in
war time
Vanity Fair" is plaintively described by
ciety writers as city of mourning. The West
End has been unusually full since october. but
there have been no dinner parties. gayeties,
and only a few weddings; and that the
season in opening there is nothing in sight ex-
cept the royal levees and drawing rooms. and
two big bazaars for war charities. The Queen
after filling the tills of the Dublin tradesmen is
expected to take compassion upon her own capt.
tai; and. indeed. it is already announced that
there will be a State ball before WhitsuntiGe
with two thousand invitations and q State
cert with twelve hundred guests. There no
invitations for private entertainment, and the
first event in which the smart sets Interested
IS twelve days on-a unique matinee organized
by Mrs. George Alexander for the benefit of
the officers Families Fund. Dressmakers and
milliners are complaining that black and neutral
tints are the only coors worn, and that the world