The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-21
BOOKS OF SUMMER
Thirty-one Thousand. Circulated
From Library in June.
OVER HALF OF THEM FICTION
biography Came Next-The Summer
: Athletic Girl Doesn't
Read Poetry.

Thirty-one thousand books is the June
record for the circulating department OF
the public library. This when compared
with the January circulation of $4,000
seems small, but for the month which,
next to August, is supposed to give the
lions share of time to outdoor sports, 1t
makes a record. Considerably over half
of the books taken come under the head
Of fiction.
Naturally the demand for lighter read
ing wakes with the advent OF the hot
weather, yet Miss Cloud, who has charge
of the circulating department., says the
difference in the reading matter of the
public between one season and another is
not so marked as most people believe.
Fiction stands first in the regard OF the
public, and will continue to do so whether
the mercury is 80 above or 40 below the
zero mark. "A man might say this Is due
to- the fact that the patrons of the public
library are largely women, but the at
tendant states that the men who'do draw
books are reading Mary Johnstone' aud
rey'' and Miss Atherton's "Conquerors''
with the same avidity that distinguishes
the frivolous summer girl:
Biography Comes Next.
Biography ranks next to fiction in the
popular fancy, while religious works are
treated with an Indifference only exceeded
by that shown scientific works, especially
those dealing with sociological questions
Poetry is also tabooed by the people who
draw books. The maid romantic seems
to- have been wholly displaced by the
athletic girl, for only school teachers read
poetry nowadays, and they, Miss Cloud
states. seem to read it more in connec-
tion with their school work than for
pleasure. Kipling, Stevenson and Riley
arc the men whose verses are most In de-
mand.
where the Line Is Drawn.
It is under the head of "juvenile' that
| the difference in the literary tastes Of the
SEXES displays itself most. Boys scorn the
mental pabulum prepared for girls and
| vice versa. Miss Alcott is still the chief
delight of the feminine portion OF Young
America while Kirk Munroe's thrilling
Indian stories meet with the unqualified
approval Of the modern boy. Some OF hi
admirers might be interested In knowlnt
| that Mr., Munroe, like Stanley Weynlan
"goes to his desk with loathing," never
theless he makes himself go every day To-
| at least an hour. Mr. Munroe lives mos
of the year in Cocoanut Grove, little
watering place in the southernmost poin
| of Florida. He has an immense orang'
| grove there which he delights to worl
in, but, as he says, the expense of raisint
| oranges keeps him busy writing books. HI
| writes IN llttte suWInef Aouee So!he ulS
| tance from his cottage and woe to the rasl
or ignorant person who intrudes upon hin
| there. - - .
The cessation of club meetings and o
school work has cut off more than hal
Of the students who visit the reference
! library In fact, the librarian states ther
will be practically no organized reading
going on there until autumn. Just
present nature work is receiving most at
I tention, People who run in from the 1ak
resorts near by come to look up a ney
flower or bird, but the attendance, com
pared with the winter crowds, is indee'
small. ..