The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-05-28

American voters
wttha library consisting otl5O volumes,
You declared that these books would
compare favo-ao,y with the best spec.-
mems OF the printers art In brief, you
claimed that al an expense Of So the
government could print. bind and dis
tribute $50 high grade books. That
was your statement. was Il notf"
That was what | said admitted
Colonel Monroe. "Detluguug the aver
age expense OF distribution. these books
would cost abou, - cents apiece.
agreed 10 supply as good books as com
monty retail for 81 volume In
would give each American family as
good collection OF books a. can now De
purchased for 500. thought tbs
would be 4 more practical scheme than
70 spend an equal amount Of money In
library buildings, or, tor tnar matter.
for any purpose which can be- named
II you could keep y0Gr promise lt
would be the graadest Investment ever
made IN the history OK the world. de-
clared Judge Sawyer. but am afraid
your forty cent books would not con
form to a very high standard ot me-
ehanlcal or artistic excellence. But let
u hear your plan"
I'VE are all agreed. believe sad
Colonel Monroe, that 1t 5 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 lou-.u. for
knowledge. The public uh-lry IS all
very well in its place. but tie educated
progressive. orderly and prosperous
community IS the one in which is cit
LIENS read their own books at their own
hearth sides. l said thl. II I had 4
billion dollars would turn Ii over ~
The conscience fund Of the general gov
eminent, with a recommendation that
It be expended FOR books and IN thel.
free distribution. | have figured on
100000 sets OF 40 books each. That
u lot OF BOOKS, Judge. I vii. admit
that but one can Do wonders with
billion dollars. II does not 20 SO very
far In a war which involves the de-
struction Of life and property. but I
shall try to convince you that it would
work the naTveis OF ma .ic when de-
voted to 50 grand a purpose a. the pro
oucton Of books. You are suspicious
about the quality Of the materials and
workmanship in my proposed forty
cent books Let ne show you some
thing. Here Is a book I recently pur
chased while In New York. Look IL
over carefully"
Colonel Monroe banded 70 the fudge
cloth bound copy Of "Iyanhoe." Judge
Sawyer examined Il critically. It. was
printed on fairly good paper the type
was clear and the Impressions excel.
lent There were numerous u.Istra.
oons on better grade Of paper The
binding was plain, but stroag and serv-
lceable. The Judge remarked that 1.
looked Ike a book which might have
been bought at a special sale FOR a dol
lar.
Il am free to admit. however" he
Haid as be turned over the pages "tha,
1t looks as we'll as many books for
which l have paid $50 or s. each.
How much did you pay f9r this one.
eolouelp
twenty-five cents" was the answer
I bought set Of SIX OF them FOR
dollar and a half"
Then they were sold at loss" de-
dared the sstoUnded fudge.
They were not sold at a loss" p
turned Colonel Monroe Il made an
Investigation and found tina. nv y
cents paid three distinct Droat.-tbe
manufacture made a profit the lob
Der took out his commission. and the
retailer was glad called. The first
cost Of that book turned out In lots ~
tooI"O did not exceed IL cent? a
Dpy."
! viii not dispute Jon. b1, II does
Dot seem possible" said Judge sav-
yer. What justification "a tbo-e ,,-
charging $50 or s. for the ordln.rv
Work OF fiction, biography or trayelsT.
The same justification that tbere :.
Lor the price Of all commodities p-o-
W petty scale and which do
pend for their start on pushing and
advertising replied the other The
average book falls far short OF a circ1,
lauon OF a thousand. Not one In
tnousand ever reaches a sale OF 1000
IND those which reach six figures arc
% rare that well Informed peruon
an speedily name them. The cos, ~
'omposidon, editing and Of a dozen
'tner Items Is the same. be the edition
hundred or a million. But the hinge
Expense Item In books Of limited clrcu.
Auon Is that Of advertising. II cost,
much more to sell a book than I, 1oas
. produce IL The same IA true ~ In
Vulnerable other articles Of necessItv
nd luxury. There are clerks and tv,o.
Er1ters to be paid. the salaries and ,
expenses OF statesmen rho
DeS OF lawyers who draw contrac,,
oyaldss to authors, commlsslops N
lbbere and scores Of other item,
AAAm q tpGluGsd n x2a dollar !