The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-24

advertisements, sometimes by the adver-
Using pages in periodicals. books. &C., but
probably most often through the recon-
mendations Of friends Canadian replies
were many. One resident OF Petrolia
wrote: Il generally find the criticisms or
Laurence Hutton sufficient to decide the
purchase OF books
Another correspondent said tersely: Re
selection Of books; daily New York papers;
reviews-yes, frequently; local bookseller
nothing to do with the question i read
a number OF daily and weekly papers
was the reply Of another resident OF the
same place; and the principal OF the Pc
trolia High School wrote:
MY reading for the most part has been
chosen from standard authors. In making
selections for our students. l rely mainly
on publication Of catalogues Tor supple
mentary reading -
Very often I see a review in the daily
papers which interests me. another Pc
trojan wrote: sometimes ] glance through
a number Of bookshelves and pick out a
few books"
A Queens College man OF Kingston.
Ont. wrote that he was influenced TO a
great extent by the reviews In magazines
and the Saturday editions OF newspapers.
and added: Like doctors who sedulously
avoid taking their own medicine, our book
sellers never read. II they did their judg,
ment would not be sufficiently critical
TO be worth much"
A lawyer Of Smiths Falls. Ont said that
his selection Of books was largely a mater
of development. as ] presume II is with
most men who do much reading and ne
said of advertisements Il have simply
used them to find out where ] could pur-
chase books of which | had heard
The advertising pages OF periodicals
and magazines I always scan. but do not
often purchase on the strength OF these
alone" wrote a Smith Falls minister.
Il am Influenced by reviews in solid.
standard papers. = said a resident OF Perth.
Ont. and especially by such as give ex-
tracts from books reviewed.
The proprietor Of a Perth newspaper
wrote that his main guides were the re-
views and notices In the leading daiiies
and magazines.
A citizen OF Savannah. Ca. wrote that
he received lists from all the publishing
houses of tote. mentioning a number OF
them and added The publisher has also
guided me in selecting, as certain PUBLISH
ing houses are renowned for publishing
good and worthy books. while Others for
light. il not trashy. reading"
A newspaper man who did a little inves-
tigating in Philadelphia wrote that among
his friends three Leading magazines seemed
to be- the chief mediums through which
they lac book purchases. but qualified
the statement by the remark that II APP
piled most largely 20 fiction. He said that
he knew one man Sho made up a list OF
books each month from sources accessible
to all. and sent his list to the general officers
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. From that
list. he said. they made constant additions
TO their Libraries
There IL a c.rtain amount Of vanity in hui
man nature" aid u Buffalo merchant who
BUYS many books for his library, and
people are gratifed at receiving book mo-
tees direct from publishers. III a publisher
should send currently 20 the Blue Book
people Of each city advance notices OF
publications, showing the date the publ
cation would he out, IL seems TO me a GER
tain per cent. of such circulars would in
duce conversation with r. ference to new
books, and rsation induces sales. IL
seems 10 me book notices prior TO the pub
~lica'ion Of a boob instead OF after II would
inspire more interest II people can be
induced 20 ak about n bOok which il com
ing out. YOU have in addition TO the inter-
est in the subject curiosity about it"
The letter Of a resident of BEATRICE. Neb.,
discloSas among that Western country Of
hustlars a devotee Of the Gladstonian con-
serva,iSn who would read an old book
the announcement of a new one.
Saws he:
NV usual plan Is 10 wait and see II a
book has the vitality 10 survive a year or so,
then | think there may be something TO IL,
and hv that time | usually know by obserya-
ton whether II l. worth rnading or not.
follow my own in"linations IN the line OF
reading. my tastes bejng sufficiently settled
and decided to know iIisiincuvely what !
want
The President Of an Omaha bank had no
fyad methods for seeking his books but,
year after year to peruse peri
odicals which satisfied him. lille his family
the bOokShops for their selections
much o his book information from a period
80 England