New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-16
-" BOOK BOOSTERS" DINE
Some of the Fathers of Years BEST
Sellers" Talk.

Good fellowship and good literature with an Incl
dental if modesly ventured utterance of the belief
that the purveyor OF other literature. from ency-
clopedias to edgers, should not have the gain
squeezed out of him between the publishers and
the reading public. the features OF the dinner
the American Booksellers Association a the AL
dine Association rooms last night. The feast of
and the flow of freworks-verbal and otherwise
was given to the members of the association as a
sort of GROWING setpiece to their days
venton by their brothers of the craft in this city,
the Booksellers of New York the Booksellers
League the Brotherhood OF Commercial Travellers.
whose members sell books. but worry not about
ledgers and credit accounts and last but not least
the Boost Club. which contributed a few joyous
sounds TO the gathering.
w Willard Palmer. the president of the American
Booksellers, whose standing a politician helps
him to pass off the best sellers made in literature
in Indiana and elsewhere the best makers of real
antique furniture in Grand Rapids, acted as toast
master, and started the long deferred after-dinner
ceremonies by introducing Charles A. Burkhardt
the treasurer OF the Booksellers League Char
lie" upon whom the three hundred-odd merry book
retailers placed the responsibility of getting up the
feed" and making 1t the success it was, read let
tiers OF regret from Mark Twain Meredith Nichol-
son, Arthur strnger. who has also written best
seller" and f. =. Seymour the arch booster OF
the Boosts" who had to stay away because his
advertising business would not let him Mr..
Nicholson got the big clap because he frank
enough to Indicate in his letter that the proximity
VI Ile HIeduS OF the NaOaSn 10 the boston OF the
west, Indianapolis rather than its distance from
the Great White Way kept him from coming TO
converse with those who make and sell the most
widely and prohtably vended half dozen works OF
literature of thu current month.
Mr.. Burkhardt, with a knowing look at the
table slowed away at side of the dining room.
where a grim row of publishers sat guards over
the literary men who were down TO speak. coyly
remarked that in numbers there strength.
Whether he referred to the absence of the invited
authors n 10 Of fba hOnIr aIInrS
LETT In doubt. because somebody who wasn't a man.
Der of the Boost Club doomed Mr.. Burkhardt. II
was Shame. he minated that the publishing
houses which had turned out the souvenirs for the
occasion should get all thu free advertising
After the diners had passed unanimously reso-
luton Of sympathy for the family OF the late Dr.
Drummond, the Canadian poet, who was a guest
at the dinner Of the association several years ago
the gathering got down TO talking about it's bust
ness Simon Brentano, president of the Booksellers
Of New York canddly admitted that the guild
suffered less parlous times than they did a few
centuries back when they had to beware OF what
they foisted on the public. and Drummer" John
hoVenden. who grows "spOnges'' his jaws. and
FESTIVE Booster Bill Smith had also a few words
of welcome for the middIemen in the book trade
who came not only from the Middle West. but from
the North and South. 10 attend the convention
r A Stokes. who also turns best sellers"
told the visitors that the town their own at
Bishop Talbot, of Central Pennsylvania. told a
series OF stories about his experiences in the Far
west, IN England and elsewhere. Incidentally he
gave notice that some publisher might expect an
other DOCK from him this summer and there was
shout or approval from the boosts when he
said he expected to boost his prices. The Bishop
vas glad TO be with his old friends, the CONNER
Cial travellers He said II seemed like home I'm
the plain precincts of his unroofed cathedral at
Laramie, where the drummer the only man
with nerve enough 10 pass the plate The wait
ers AZ the dinner were among the plain people
that he had never met before
Gelett Burgess then uttered a "blurb,' a term
that he defined as sound like a publisher When
the resultant gurgles and ChOrtles had died away
Mr. Burgess went in his quaint way to
tell what he thought ought to be done with books
that are 70 be turned out on an unsuspecttng pub
lie possessed OF 81 0S per capita. Mr. Burgess made
open confession that he prefers the verdict of an
Iowa high school girl to all the criticisms that the
most learned literary critics on the newspapers
turned out. Mr.. Burgess suggested little Jolly
ing of the Iowa school girl, with eye to profits.
and also literature
She's the girl who pays your profits and my
royalties" continued Mr. Burgess. And II. God
willing, she grows up, II she ever finds out
that life isn't all Richard Harding Davis that
love isn't all Robert Chambers, that death isn't
all Cy Brady, II she learns that the word
damn Is spelled with four letters. then perhaps
turc of which Dante may say, This is my Vita
NuOva.' Ralzac may say, Here Is the Coincide
Humane, and Shakespeare may say You have
given me Measure for Measure"
William T. Hornaday director of the New York
Geological Garden. and Frank NJ Chapman.
raj History. hand to look after the lit
erary lions of the evening. Those who were there
and know some OF their "earmarks' had the OPP
pOrtUnity last night of hearing the voice OF the
species In two short talks made by Louis Joseph
Vance and r. T. OutCault.