New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-29
A BOOKS LIFE.
Casual Reflections on Great NeecS-
papers Circulating Library.
London. septsmber 20.


xenioualy contrived. It's readers while asked 70
revert 60 the long subscription price, are GO
united 20 all the advantages of the best organ
lied book club. They can name three books
from a volrnaincs1s list ard have them delivered
weekly at their houses Offices, or they can
have eight books If they have two subscription
copies; and they can buy the works on special
terms If tllcy want to keep them after reading
them The deliveries are managed as promptly
as Nudes or Smiths in town country; and
the pY-chases are effected even more advan-
fsseouslv For absolutely new books the prices
are the lowest list or net rates known in
the book trade: the discounts increase as the
period OF circulation runs UP from one month
10 three or six months: and readers are finally
enabled to put the volumes on their library
shelves at half price for met" books and at q
discount Of 20 per cent for list books Conse-
ouertlv, vhise Times" subscribers have all the
nriv3lages Of the best circulating libraries with
out q penny OF cost. they also buy books
IN the cheapest market Altogether It is g most
attractive scheme for increasing the circulation
and advertising Of the leading English journal;
xns a large amount OF capital well high
power Of organization has been required for
.carryfng it into successful operation.
The circulating libraries ara naturally sub
sected 10 serious competition from this new de-
snar4ure in counting house methods Their own
alave no grievance since the circulation of books
FOR sale or lending can never be g monopoly, and
ahere must always be free field for it. The
booksellers. who have complained of bad trade
decade after decade, are now convinced. or
pretend to be- that their business IS utterly
ruined. Their plight was pitable enough when
shere was SO much IN the daily newspapers that
she public did not have time for reading books:
But now II is worse when facilities offered
7izT1s1
snu,rnts without the trouble or Inconvenience of
Visiting a stall. There is nothing to prevent
subscriber OF 1.-THE Times from keeping a book
kree OF six months and buying it for half price,
or even at discount of 20 per cent. The book
sellers have been laboring strenUously for
suuarter OF century to induce publishers to set
81 net price and not to allow undertaking;
and no sooner have they carried their point be-
fore their work is virtually undone by news
hoaper enterprise. a book may have been out
sonlv q month and may be running we'll in
consequence of persistent advertising; and sub
xcribers Of THE Times who have been reading
1T in a Ieisurely way buy it with 20 per
cent knocked off the net price; and even 90
rpsr cent 81 il be list publication On vari-
Gus accounts the booksellers are appalled, by
ahs new phase of competition; but they can
easily take TOO gloomy view of the situation
Englishrnen, through long experience with the
lending libraries nave IailSn OOL pI tllo "0S
OF buying books. The Times may set new
style with its deliveries and discount. and in
she end the booksellers may profit by it.
The publishers are not SO deeply concerned as
the booksellers in this form of competition
1t increases the number of circulating libraries.
and that is a good thing for the trade. The
Times IT is reported ordered thousand copies
of Mr. Anthony Hopes new novel and it is
. equally enterprisng in supplying its readers
o+1,er III hljcafi0DE of 1t is
also an agency for the sale of books large
scale and publishers expect that IT will be Of
great assistance in opening a larger market for
fiction and good literature. Its services well
coined by them. and they are hoping to effect
prompter sales and to have an enlarged business
in consequence of its operations. Authors share
this feeling of optimism, and are not inclined to
he depressed by the gloomy forecasts Of the
booksellers Many Of them are convinced that
the day of the old fashioned bookseller has
passed, and that more modern methods for the
distribution and marketing Of books are
iTeouired- The time has gone whom the book
Eseller authority consulted by leisurely pur-
ichasers. Readers attracted by publishers
advertisements and critical reviews, and book
lstaIlE longer frequented by loungers and
raunterers who are anxious to look at bindings
and titles and to receive advice respecting what
is on the shelves counters. The number OF
retail booksellers is diminishing in all the Eng
dish towns Even the secondhand bookstells
and bargain counters disappearing in Lon
don. The most rernunerative business for book
sellers In the metropolis is the I ade in old
editions and rare books, which is conducted by
experts, with collectors their chief patrons
and customers
One result OF the new phase of newspaper
, enterprise must excite apprehension among
authors and publishers This is the shortening
Of what may be described roughly the life Of
book. This is the period when st has the
adventurous aid OF novelty, publishers adver-
tiEing and reviewers notices and is not sub
3ected to the reproach of material discounts and
secondhand sales The circulating libraries,
notably Nudes and Smiths. have been In the
habit of disposing of their surplus stock at re-
duced rates: but this has not been done until
books have their natural course and there
has been a marked decline in the demand for
them from subscribers. The natural life of a
book Of positive character and attractiveness
has been at least year, when the normal prac-
hce OF the lending libraries has been applied to
determine It The Times changes this At
the end Of month the new book receives it's
secondhand rating and is sold at discount;
and when six months have passed only a frac-
ton of its original value is considered market
able. The author who has been laboring wear
or more over his manuscript is now reminded
that his book cannot hope for more than a
month Of fresh. vigorous. unimpaired life 1t is
published, advertised for a week and reviewed
for a fortnight. and by the end of thirty DAYS
# is a back number, sold at second hand and
heavily, discounted and when six months have
rassed II IS crowded out and forgotten The
nov MONTH standard reduces the life of q boot,
TO the level of q magazine article This tends to
excite a feeling Of detection among sincere
literary workers. Are they 10 be blamed if thew