The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-05-12

"a NM = You sad il was
UNIV possible by the ex-
" g.: s: s: !: Il: II: !: : ): ):
OF tn g 1000. 900
American voters
witha library consisting of15O volumes.
You declared that these books would
compare fayOrably with the best speci-
mems of the printers art In brief. YOU
claimed that at an expense of $6T the
government could print, bind ;fild dis
tribute 100 high grade books That
was your statement, was it not"
That was what | said" admitted
Colonel Monroe. "Deducting the aver
age expense OF distribution, these books
would cost about 40 cents apiece. |
agreed to supply as good books as COM
monty retail for 81 volume. In
other words, the use of this billion
would give each American family as
good collection Of books as can now be
purchased for $500. | thought this
would be more practical scheme than
to spend an equal amount of money in
library buildings, or, for that matter,
for any purpose which can be named. .
''If you could keep your promise it
would be the grandest investment ever
made In the history OF the world" de-
clared Judge Sawyer. but | am afraid
your forty cent books would not con
form to very high standard of me-
chanlcal or artistic excellence. But let
us hear your plan"
I'VE are all agreed, | believe" said
Colonel Monroe, that 1t is the books a
man owns and which are ever within
the reach of his family that do the
most good. The mere presence Of
bound volumes inspires a longing for
knowledge. The public library is all
very well in its place. but the educated.
progressive, orderly and prosperous
community is the one in which its cit
liens read their own books at their own
hearth sides. l said that IL l had a
billion dollars l would turn It over TO
the conscience fund OF the general gov
eminent, with a recommendation that
1t be expended for books and In their
free distribution. l have figured on
15,000,0O0 sets of 100 books each That
Is lot Of books. judge. l will admit
that, but one can do wonders with a
billion dollars. 1t does not go 50 very
far in war which involves the DC
structlOn of life and property, but |
shall try to convince you that it would
work the marvels OF magic when de
voted to so grand purpose as the pro
duction OF books You are suspicious
about the quality of the materials and
workmanship in my proposed forty
cent books Let me show you some
thing. Here is book recently pur,
chased while in New York. Look it
over carefully"
Colonel Monroe handed to the judge
a cloth bound copy Of 'Ivanhoe" Judge
Sawyer examined II critically. 1t was
printed on fairly good paper, the type
was clear and the Impressions excel
lent. There were numerous ilustra-
lions on better grade of paper The
binding was plain, but strong and serv-
iceable. The judge remarked that it
looked like book which might have
been bought at special sale for dol
lar
Il am free to admit, however" he
said as he turned over the pages, THAI
1t looks as we'll as many books for
which l have paid $1.50 or 81 each.
How much did you pay for this one.
colonel?"
twenty-five cents" was the answer.
Il bought set Of six OF them for a
dollar and half"
Then they were sold at loss" de-
ciared the astounded Judge
They were not sold at a loss" re
turned Colonel Monroe Il made an
investigation and found that my %
cents paid three distinct profts-the
manufacturer made a profit, the job
Der took out his commission, and the
retailer was glad 1 called. The first
cost of that book turned out In lots of
100000 did not exceed II cents Il
copy"
Il will not dispute you, but it does
not seem possible" said Judge Saw
yer. What justification is there for
charging $150 or So for the ordinary
work OF fiction, biography or travels?'
THE same Justification that there is
for the price of all commodities pro-
duced on petty scale and which de
pend for their start on pushing and
advertising" replied the other "The
average book falls far short OF circu-
lation of thousand. Not one in Il
thousand ever reaches a sale of 10000.
and those which reach six figures are
so rare that well informed person
can speedily name them. The cost Of
composition, editing and OF dozen
other items is the same, be the edition
hundred or a million. But the huge
expense item in books of limited circu-
lation Is that of advertising. 1t costs
much more to sell a book than it does
to produce It, The same IS true Of in
Vulnerable other articles OF necessity
and luxury. There are clerks and type
writer's to be paid, the salaries and
travelling expenses of statesmen, thu
fees of lawyers who draw contracts,
royalties to authors, commissions to
tObbers and scores of other items