The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-29
BOOKS PEOPLE READ
FICTION LEADS IN POPULARITY
WITH sAVANNAHIANS.
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY
TAKE PRECEDENCE AMONG THE
MORE SOLID BOOKS.

Wntson's ''NapoIeOn," "France," and
"JenersOn" Leaders In This Class
at Both Public Library and city
Book Stores-GeneraI Demand for
DixOn's "LeOpard's Spots" Regard
ed as Indication of Desire to BE-
come Familiar With the "NegrO
Problem" - Leaders Among the
Magazines.
With the coming OF cold weather
there is a more general demand for
books. The circulation of pub
lie library books, as shown
by the report of the Library
Committee, has increased by more than
200. The book stores report greater
demand for fiction than during the
summer months. and there is also a
heavy call for the periodical litera-
ture.
There is a slight increase in the num-
Der of readers of books outside the pale
of fiction, a fact which those who have
closely followed these matters say is
always noticeable with the close of
are still way in the lead, and the more
solid readings is, as a rule, confined
TO historical and Geographic works.
At the public library the records
show that the authors who were the
favorites during the summer are still
leading. Hearts Courageous" is prob
ably the book most in demand. Thomas
Dixon, Jr., is still a great favorite. In
his case, however, there has been a
turn in sentiment. 1.-The One Woman"
which lead during the summer and
which had an almost phenomenal sale,
has given way to The Leopard 8
Spots" 1t still is greatly in demand.
however.
Many book lovers and persons who
are accustomed to gauge the public
mind by the books which it reads, at
tach considerable significance to the
change from THE One Woman" to
THE Leopard's Spots" The latter is
devoted almost entirely to getting forth
the negro problem, the other incidents
being used more for the sake of hold
ing the story well together than for
their own value alone. The change is
ascribed to the recent agitation of the
problem, from political as well as So
Geological standpoints. The rush again
TO "Leopard's Spots" is regarded as
an indication of general desire to be-
come familiar with the different as
poets of the problem.
other Books Called For.
Among the other books called for
at the library, the two summer favor
ties, Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch" and Lovey Mary" are still
favorites. 1.-THE Speckled Bird" by
Augustus Evans Wilson, is one of the
books which is in the greatest demand
at the library. James Lane Allen, the
old favorite, is still holding his own
1.-The Choir Invisible" being his fav-
orlte book with the public.
Among the books of the more solid
class, Watsons biographical and his
torical works are in great demand.
His Napoleon" and his France" are
being constantly called for. and as soon
as one reader brings them in they are
taken out by some one on the waiting
list. Watson's Life and Times cf
Thomas jefferson" has not yet been
installed In the library, but will be
among the first of the new books
which are placed on the shelves. There
are calls for the book almost every
day.
The other heavier books are for the
most part criticisms of art and liter
allure which are used by students in
these lines. The strictly reference
books are also used freely by students
in different lines. No idea can be CIV
en- of the most popular magazines, as
they are not issued through the hands
of the librarian. There are readers
at the tables from almost the opening
to the closing hour of the library thus
indicat ting that the popular periodicals
are not falling off in the demand.
What Book Stores Say.
The book stores of the city re-
port nearly the same books in de-
mand as does the library. Leopard
Spots" is leading in the two foremost
book stores, with an apparently in
creasing demand. Ernest Thompson
Seton's Two Little Savages," a new
book, has also been steadily called for
1.-THE Incompatible Blairs" is also in
demand. OF the old favorftes of the
summer, 1.-THE Little Shepherd Of King
dom Come" is still reigning favorite
and the stores find it difficult to meet
the demand. Tarkingtons new novel
Cherry" is also reported as taking
rapidly.
An unusually heavy demand fol-
Watson's NAPOLEON" France" and
Jefferson" is reported by all the
stores. The Jefferson" has only just
appeared, but the indications are that
it will exceed the rush for the two
previous volumns of this gifted writer
The first consignment has been nearly
sold at this early date.
Gen. Gordon's civil War is also
finding a ready sale. Some of the old.
er historical works are again springing
into favor. indicating a general desir:
to become familiar with the details Of
the nations history. One bookstore
reported an unusually large number o.
sales of Cushings Parliamentary
Law" No attempt was made to ex.
plain the sudden demand for the book
Among the magazines the Ladies
Home Journal is far in the lead. The
closest second is Munsey's. though Har.
per's, The Century, and Scribner's are
finding many buyers. THE Bookman'
is also increasing in popularity, an6
each month finds larger sales. All the
popular-priced magazines are in de.
mand.