The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-18
paper, whereas a considerable portion of
this adult population reads daily papers
MILLIONS OF SCHOOL BOOKS

paper, whereas considerable portion of
| this adult. population reads daily papers.
| MILLIONS OF SCHOOL BOOKS.
There are 1s,73S,363 children of school
age in the United States. The estimate
| of $1.S5 for each child, covering school
books and the attendant Juvenile litera-
| ture, is also a low estimate. OF this total
number of pupils the fact that 1866. 4SS
of them are in the primary and grammar
grades of the public schools lowers the
average for the whole number. Much of
this expenditure is more or less compul-
sorry, but it counts to the same economic
ends.
AS purchasers of the magazines and IL
Illustrated weeklies, there are supposed to
be 1880 persons who will spend at least
an average of $3.50 year. Many of these
are subscribers to dozens of periodicals;
others are the buyers at news stands
upon the impulse choice.
Only about 1000, 900 people buy novels
as they run from the press. They do
much of this simply that they may keep
up to date in literature. 1t is a part of
their capital in literature. 1t is a. part
of their capital in society. Most of these
buy literally Plenty OF readers are to
be found whose book bills for novels run
to 500 to $3.50 a year. steadily. At an
average of SIS spent by each, the total is
imposing in it's seven figures.
But as compared with almost any other
features in the list, the money that goes
for miscellaneous and technical books is
striking. Into this field of course, go the
books of the book manufacturer" Books
that are built only to sell to class
which has more money even than it has
of judgment and taste
With these in that item. however. are
the books of weight and substance, many
of which cost so much in the making
when technical skill is paid for and the
limited sales estimated. Then the. in
Vulnerable editions de luze swell the to-
tai to significant sum-
AMERICA IN THE LEAD.
"No country on the globe can compete
with the United States in the making of
books and literature to sell, said this
authority. 1.-The phrase does not mean
lightness and shoddiness, either.
In illustrations the American book.
periodical and newspaper lead the world.
In the attractivepess of covers and front
pages, we have no competitors. To lay
out an American print in show window
is to gain for it all the attention that art
naturally attracts.
walk down a street in any American
city or town. If you see crowded cor
ner somewhere ahead of you, it is quite
as likely to be caused by a bookshop WIN
dow as by an exhibition of bargains. To
oJd
European monarchy, it is a revelation to
study the crowd in front of a bookshop
display There are figures and faces in
it that are out of all keeping with the
articles at which they stare in deep in
terest. man in faultless fashion may
be at elbows with mechanic in overals,
but as between the two it would be hard
to decide which is more interested.
This is the secret of the American
publicat ions. They are made to attract.
The reader is invited to read. Reading
is made easy; and not only that, but to
read a borrowed book is not sufficient.
From reading it the reader desires 70
own it because of it's attractiveness of
print, plate and cover.
POPULAR IN ENGLAND.
they are as popular in Great Britain as
they are at home. Our comic papers are
seized upon in England with more avidity
than ever was Punch or Sloper in Ameri-
ca. / admit that a funny English joke or
a funny English cartoon may be the fun
NEST think of it's kind. but there is such
wide distance between them. There
are so few of them in a year"
AS to the comparisons of drink money
and that which goes for literature, at
least it may be shown for intoxicants
takes the line of least alcohol resistance.
In other words, more beer and less whis-
key is consumed every year.
In 1882 the United States consumed 49,
500, 976 gallons of ardent spirits and only
524, S43,379 gallons of malt liquor
Even with the enormous increase in
population in the last two decades the
figures for alcoholic beverages last year
were only $7,000,000 gallons, while the
consumption of beer had more than dou-
bled to 1,175, 1913 900 gallons. According
TO population the consumption of wine
shows decrease.