The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-20
Hrs,r1f ~ nOOK l0FNrS
He~ aehoai TsN, tssohs are seah ny Dlpio-
Matte Canvassera.

The rpnl. active book agents ~ the country
nre no, the men who vorm their way into
Office or parlor 10 lure ahllible persons into
buying editions they do not particularly
,feairr. More volumes are DISPOSED Of
each year by the men who travel over
every state and Territory in the union In
tho intcrcsts n The school book publishers,
and their task requires greater diplomacy
than that Of the man with the subscription
publications.
There ara some eighty ooncerns In tbs
t'titNl states that publish books for uae
in the schools and universities. This grant
majority Of these a ne enga ged only IN special
lines. but somewhere bet W fifteen ana
twenty-five do n more or less wholesale
printing and distributing Of books OF TINS
cha racter Nearly all OF these maintain
state agents, besides a corps OF specials
who go from one section 10 sho.her az
their services are required,
Most Of the school booksare the o~utgrowth
OF methods originated by clever teachers
and employed by them In their work "A
really active teacher seldom ioliows tne
hoo IL I'm her work. She varies the methods
laid down by the author, and in time ms
leads TO the evolution Of anot her and dlf-
fe rent one which she puts INTO MANUSCRIPT
form.
some Of the books are written to order.
A publishing house hhds NAV US r eaus ~
spoilers are no longer popular-that u,
do not sell as ~readily-while some otner
publisher liz supplanting them with some
of his own make. A specialist IL called IN
possibly two or three. They compare the
popular publication with the one u Is sup
planting, make note Of the superior points
and endeavor to find out wherein 1t appeals
the stronger TO the non who do the buyihg;
This once discovered, experts are called
upon to produce something better;
There are certain classes OF books, now,
ever, hat cannot be written or compiled
to order. One house will make q ten strike
bv publishing a book that revoluti0nizesl
The teaching, say, Of arithmetic. II tne
method proves its worth on practical trlal
and receives favorable recomnendations
from superintendents, there 10 a sourryins
on the part Of other publishers to get some
thing still better.
Most OF these houses are in receipt OF
manuscripts or suggestions for. BOOKS
from educators. There Ia a thorough
search Of all on hand for the something pet
ter that is wanted. Rejected manuscripts
on the subject are sent for again, 2 pos
sibly out Of one Of these the germ OF q ne"
one Is found.
In the distribution Of the printed volumes
comes the diplomacy. The big companies
maintain O man In each State. lie make
tho rounds OF the county and city superin-
tendents, getting acquainted and famillarz-
ing those officials with what he has 70
offer. 1t seems to be an unwritten, law IN
many States that sohool books shall pc
changed every few years. This 10 the
opportunity OF the school book agent:
At other times 10 must content himself
with supplying the needs of those districts
where he holds the contracts.
The publishing houses have. various
means Of securing advance information
as to changes. They patronize oliGping
bureaus; they have subsidized friends
among the teachers; their travelling men
keep In touch with conditions. Sometimes
it will be a whole State that proposes TO
make q change or at least to enter into
new contracts. Agents are hustled there
from;ever State within 800 miles. A system
attic campaign Is carried out.
Usually the work OF selection Is made by
county boards. The chief agents appor-
ton these members among their STAINS,
and there Is o hurrying and scurrying by
team and raiload over the country TO
round IN the members and impress upon
them the virtues Of the various pubiiea-
tons,