The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-04

learned of the matter Now the fortu-
nate possessOr of the record is offered
$1,000 for his find
Once in d while even the wealthy col
lectors Of books do not realize the value
of their possessions. Not long ago
New York millionaire told his cOachman
that he might throw away a barrel OF
old books that were stored in the stable.
The coachman offered to sell the books
to a secondhand dealer for S.. After.
the book dealer looked over the lot, he
told the coachman that if he would get
letter from his employer authorizing
the sale Of the books he would give him
$50. This was done and the book seller
made profit of close to a thousand
dollars in disposing of this one pur-
chase
A few days ago there was sold in New
York the first book printed in English
about New York city The book
brought 1928. It is said that retired
business man, who is a collector of
Americana. is the purchaser NO copy
of this book has been sold at auction in
the United States in twelve years, and
the book SO rarely comes into the mar
lxet that no price is quoted on it in the
current price reports. There has been d
reoort that a dealer of this city has
$1,000. This is the books description Of
itself:
A Brief Description OF New York.
formerly called New Netherlands with
~--~-
with the manner of its scituation, fer
tlity of the soyle, healthfulness of the
climate and the commodities thensc
produced. Also some directions and adj
vice to such as shall 20 thlther. An
account Of what commodities they shall
take with them Likewise a brief re-
latiOn of the customs of the Indians
there. BY Daniel Denton. 4tO DID. (4l
p. Elegantly bound in full olive-green
leVant, with orange levant double, elan
orately fooled in gilt, silk ends, rough
gilt edges. enclosed in morocco pull-oif
case by RiViere. Lond-: Printed for
John Hancock. al the first shop in
POpe's-Head alley in Cornhil at tile
Three Bibles. and William Bradley az
the Three Bibles in the Minories, 1910.
Ray Stannard Baker. author of two
Boys Books of Inventions, is shortly to
bring out another volume of the same
kind. His publishers discovered an I'M
usual demand for the sort OF ooDula+
scientific stories which Mr. Baker writes
and persuaded him to add another vol
ume 10 the series.
During the past winter Mr. Baker
has been in Michigan hard at work on
a novel of the Southwest. It viii be his
first venture in long fiction. but If he
can maker Il novel as interesting as he
has his short stories and his articles
about the scenes Of his novel the sue
cess OS his venture is assured Nj
Baker IS one OF the most faithful OF
the younger writer's He spends much
tAA-4- III K A~lCA4 anu AGAA4l4li4 anu X
hard to satisfy when it comes TO judg-
ing his own work. Yet he has 4 way o.
making a comDlsx subject look exceed
lngiy simple. He explains so that \
child may understand and man may
enjoy. AS soon as he has finished soma
special magazine work in New York
city. where he is now, he viii go to
Arizona to complete his novel in its own
atmosphere. Much is expected of the
story. since Mr.. Baker gave up a trip
around the world to write it.
What is probably the shortest review
of a book on record appeared in the
New York Sun recently. The title and
name of the author is here omitted.
-, by -. is a tale of politics
and finance which clearly 9ortrays the
necessity of a commission to examine
the intellectuals of those who write
books"
The para graph is quoted merely for
the purpose OF saying word about the
sort of publishers who bring out books
of an inferior kind at the authors ex-
pense- Tt happens in this case that the
publishers are not guilty of tlsis fault
but the short review calls to mind the
increasing number Of volumes which
are published by men who are not en-
titled to the term publishers. They are
MAJ ufacturers of books a the expense
of the authors IN about ore case out of
ten thousand the author is reimbursed
through royalty returns. In the ma
jority Of cases, the authors are always
in debt their r,41l,1iSros.a RrOfa fTxr