Evening star., 1901-11-02

Some years ago book sellers used to de-
clare that red-bound volumes sold better
than others, when general circumstances
were equal. They argued that the red
bound book caught the eye of the unpreju-
diced buyer more quickly and held it more
fondly than the more sober-hued volumes.
There was just a suggestion of the last
remnants of barbaric taste in the obser-
walton. Doubtless the average book buyer
would have resented the intimation that
his literary choice could possibly be affected
by the hue of the covers. But there are
signs today, although tending distinctly
away from the devotion to red bindings, to
show that the average reader is Influenced
largely through the eye.
The red-bound book has somewhat lost
its vogue. Other arts to attract the hesi-
tating reader, are being used. The picture
cover has become a distinct feature OF
modern bookmaking. some of the cover
designs of the past two years having been
decidedly attractive. With a somewhat
broader scope than is given to the ilIuStra-
tor, who is ordinarily confined to black and
white the cover designer, with colors and
cover textures to enchance his composition,
has made strong bids for popularity. Nat
uraIIy the disposition of the publisher, In
preparing for a handsomely covered Dook,
is to select a tone for the cover Whlch Will
harmoniZe well with those of the design and
will bring out it's best features most salts
factorily One result is that the more mod
crate hueS are selected rather than the
brilliant reds of older times, noticeably sage
green's, bluffs and pale blues
Yet with all such devices as the painters S
palette and the binders tools afford to
tempt the reader. the fact remains that
there is less need today for such forms of
exploitation, at least on the part OF more
Immediately conspicuous novels, the fame
of frx-oi i.t1 frnr1 Von
is spread by the publicity agents of the pro-
ducers. Probably in the case of a dozen or
more novels printed within the present year
the sales returns would not have been af-
fected had all of them been presented in
the least attractive of bindings. 1t is with
books as with men-those that have won
reputation can safely ignore the rules OF
fashion and dress as they please Only the
strugglers require the aid of the haber-
dashers and tailors to keep them in coun-
tenance.
One of the most interesting bits of news
concerning writers received during the past
week is the announcement that Ernest Sc
tOn-ThompSon, firing of the persistence
with which unthinking persons have
addressed him solely by the second half of
a New York city court the legal right to
reverse the order of that appellation. SO
henceforth he is to be known to the world
as ThompSon-S 1t chances to be a fact
distinguished author most cherisheS and by
which among his intimateS he has been
personally known. Thompson is a conces-
sion to the accident of birth. Some critics
are disposed to carp at his unwillingness
to permit it to become his own single des-
ignation. They point TO the fact that men
have achieved and retained fame with even
more humble names. and they presage an
awkward mixture when, in later years, the
period before the court application shall be
confused with that after the interposition
of the law, and the hyphen will have be-
come a mere pivot for the oscillation of the
two words. But it is assured that no
amount of juggling with names can affect
the quality of this mans workmanship
with either pen or brush.
writer's name is part of his stock in
trade and he is entitled to protection in it's
use. George Bernard Shaw, the English
critic, has not found himself immune in
this respect, however He usually signs
his works &c. Bernard Shaw. He has
found the George a bit too formal. No
one would think of him George B. Shaw.
Probably not one out of a thousand would
identify him by such title. The Bernard
is the chief test. Yet an American pub
Usher. not many months ago, took the lib
erty of producing an unauthorized edition
of one of his novels over the name of Der
nard Shaw" Such instances of interna-
tional appreciation of foreign works do not
tend to sweeten the atmosphere breathed
in common by the writers of the two coun-
tries.
1t is announced from New York that
never before were the printers and press
men so busy in the publication of new
books as at present. 1t is said that every
printing house within reach of the metro
polls is Overcrowded with work. No one
who is not regular customer of these
houses can hope to get any consideration,
and the minor publishers who rely upon
these outside plants for their composition
and presswork are in great distress as the
Christmas season approaches and they can
not secure service to produce their works
The truth is that not only are more people
reading books than ever before, but they
are reading more books. Economists con-
slider this as one Of the surest signs of gen.
eraI prosperity, indicating that the people
have the means to buy many novels.
Justin Huntly Mccarthy was for some
years at work on a romantic novel found
ed on the career of Francois Villon. When
1t was almost finished he found that his
market was more eager than it had prom
ised at the outset, so he split his work
and, departing from the usual rule, pro-
duced play out OF his materials which Is
now on the boards under the title "If
Were King" This same title is to he
used to designate the book itself, which is
just about to appear. The book issue fol-
lowing the stage presentation has the ad-
vantage OF permitting Photographic Illus
tration from the actual stage scenes with
formers. A similar departure marked the
production of Crawford's in the Palace Of
the King few months ago.
There has been some doubt as to the real
relationship between Rudyard Kipling and
the illustrator of kim" Most readers
have obtained the impression that John
Lockwood Kipling, whose name was signed
to the striking bas-relief pictures is a
brother of the author. The publishers an