The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-04-11
Cheap Literature.

Cheap Literature.
The prevailing cheapness of literature
is one of the most interesting and i'm
portant facts in the history of modern
civilization. There has never before
been a time when abundant reading
matter was placed within such easy
reach of ell classes. The average citizen
is no longer deprived of the opportunity
of increasing his stock of information
and gratifying his literary tastes by req
son of his pecuniary limitations. He can
buy a wheelbarrow-load of books for
less than few volumes used to cost him.
The retail price of several of the maya
zines has been reduced to ten cents a
copy, and good newspapers with great
variety of contents are to be had for five
cents or less. 1t is PERSONS own fault
if he does not keep himself fully posted
upon every subject of current interest,
and gain acquaintance with the best au-
thors in every branch of literature. BY
the expenditure of dollar week,
library covering all kinds of knowledge
in general way can soon be accumu-
lated. 1t is not merely books of a light
and transient character that are thus
made accessible to people of limited
means. The cheapness extends to stand
ard works, and gives such people the
chance of securing the greatest products
of literary genius as we'll as the contem-
porary output of a lower grade of mat
ter, which is not fitted for long survival,
but which serves a certain purpose, new
ertheless, and deserves certain share
of attention.
This wonderful cheapening of litera-
ture is due in large measure, of course,
to the lessened cost of material and the
improvement in processes of manufact-
ure; but the explanation does not stop
there, and the true significance of the
matter does not lie in its strictly COM
nercial aspect. The fact is that there
has been a remarkable development of
the reading habit of recent years, and
the growing demand for books and pc
riodicals has stimulated competition and
enterprise on the part of the publishers,
and tended to bring about the reduction
OF prices. 1t is impossible to estimate
the influence that has been exercised in
this respect by the many literary clubs
and societies throughout the country.
These agencies and others of similar
nature have multiplied the number of
readers, general and special at an I'M
precedented rate. In homes where read
ing matter was once restricted to two or
three volumes handed down from for
mer generation, there are now scores of
books containing the latest conclusions
upon all vital questions, and providing a
convenient source of instruction and en-
tertainment, Literature has beeh pop
ularized in the best sense of the term,
books have ceased in a sense to be lux
ury, and have become common possess
sion, from which the people derive i'm
measurable advantages in all the rela-
tions of life.
1t is not true, as certain critics are
fond of asserting, that the cheapening
of literature has simply increased the
sales of an inferior order of books, with
out encouraging the taste for those of a
substantial value. The demand for works
of the highest merit was never so large
as it is to-day, and the demand is not
confined to any particular class or local
ity. There are still far too many trivial
publications bought and read, because
they cost so little; but it is a fact, also,
that even such reading is calculated to
lead to something better. Thousands of
people in this country who were once
satisfied with dime novels are now regu-
lar readers of the masterpieces of fiction.
and are fond of history and biography.
When books of all kinds are cheap, the
good ones gradually gain favor over the
poor ones, inst as things Of superior
quality obtain the preference in other
relations where the opportunity of selec-
ton is presented. The time will never
come, perhaps, when there will be no
market for trashy publications; but GER
tainly the demand for books of recog-
nized excellence is increasing every
year, and we may reasonably anticipate
a time when it will become controlling
fact in the literary situation. All the
signs are propitious in that direction.
The reading habit is not only growing
in extent, but also in discrimination and
elevation; and there is nothing in the
whole system of progress that is to be
viewed with more qualification. lex.