Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-15
What the People Are Reading.


the magazines and Sunday papers, re-
mind us of the innumerable books
which are being put upon the market.
'Of the making Of books, there is no
end" and in these times, there is no
end OF trouble for the reader, who tries
merely to keep track Of the titles of
books he would like to read. The
American people, and the world in
general, for that matter, are reading
more and more books every year. At
no time, and in no country have the
people been so much engaged in the
reading of books as they are now in
the United States.
1t was only short time ago that the
publishers made the discovery that
books could be advertised just the
same as any other commodity, and this
discovery has resulted in an enormous
increase in the output of books of all
sorts. They are pouring from the
presses in an apparently endless
than we did a few years ago that this
new novel or that new novel has
reached its five hundred thousandth, it
is only because that such figures have
ceased to cause surprise, and have lost
their novelty and attractiveness as ad-
vertising material.
~
greater or less selc for all these books
which are being poured from the
presses. and SO widely announced and
advertised and every sale means
reader or many of them. At the same
time, the public libraries are buster
than ever while new ones are spring.
ing up all over the country, and new
systems Of circulating libraries have
been devised, SO that at nominal cost.
able for the masses.
In the latest number of the Outlook,
this question of what the American
people are reading, was considered at
length. and answers given by various
writers representing the publishers, the
book dealers, the reviewers, the libra
themselves. Thcy agree that the main
stream Of all this outpouring of read
ing nattcr-it is hardly necessary to
call it literature-is fiction of various
kinds. For a while. it was the his
torical novel, with thrilling story
built around some famous character or
its turn the romantic novel, filled with
the swash- buckling and staggering
heroes, who fight duels by moonlight
This IS succeeded, little later, by the
novel of mystery, which soon gives
way to the religious novel. the sporting
novel or the problem novel, while the
novel which is simply story of placid
love-making with Il happy ending is
always in style.
In the Outlook's symposium the
writers differ as to whittier the present
tendency is to lead. George p. Brett,
representing the Macmillan company,
holds an optimistic point of view that
IL higher standard of tastes is gradually
being brought about. Ernest d. North
writing for big libraries, finds that,
while the American people read more
and more fiction, there is also an in
creasing demand for biography. es-
says and poetry. He also marks Il
notable increase in the demands for
books relating, to sports.
These writer's and others point out
that while the novel is selling so well.
Il volume no less substantial than
Morlcy's Life of Gladstone is one of
the best selling books of this holiday
season, while the English Men of
Letters series, and the American
Men of Letters series are in great de-
mand. There is no need to be pessi-
mistic after all. because the American
people are reading such Il mass of
fiction. 1t is the taste for reading after
All, WnlCn Is the main tnlnS, ana lew
readers. If they have any degree of
education, will be satisfied with fiction
alone, even as reading for their leisure
hours. And with all classes it is apt to
be true that the reading of much fiction
will satiate and tire the mind of the
reader. so that he will turn to the
refuge of history, biography. travel
art poetry, correspondence and essays.
Many books of fiction leads the nom
reader to be the fiction reader. and
from fiction leads him on to the read
ing Of better and more substantial
books. And from this point of view, if
not for the passing entertainment and
pleasure which they furnish, the al
most countless novels published in the
last half dozen years are serving dis
tinct and noble purpose.
ICo 10 re to-