The Washington herald., 1907-06-30


novel. Woman Who Was" or ''The
Lash Of the Goad.'' piled up in a neat
pile and marked "Sl50,' while hard by.
On another table might be seen The
Three Musketeers." or "Ivanhoe," or
Vanity Fair" or David Copperfield.' in
eood cloth binding. little less gaudy,
perhaps, than the modern novel, but
marked al 50 cents the volume Theoretic-
ally. why should any one buy a modern
meretricious novel when he can get a
classic for less than half the price? This
question has taken definite form in
France, where they do much to conserve
literature. but 10 has taken the peculiar
form Of a proposal 70 tax the classics
and thereby reduce the competition be
tween masters Of a bygone age and the
struggling young authors. BY reflection
the same question seems likely 10 come
Up in England
There is little doubt but that such a
measure would meet with the approval
CT the publishers Of the books which they
hope will qualify for the six best sellers
class, and It might appeal with some
thing Of the same force to the struggling
young author, but TO the general public
il will hardly seem so attractive. A
French author Of some prominence voices
what will probably be the general opin-
ion on the subject when he says.
The proposal 70 tax The classics for competing
v-th living writers is ranklv Illogical, and means
tie turning Of literature into sort Il charitable IN
situtign Surely literature exists 20 benefit the
Vrld not % support authors II We make the
classic more expensive, and thereby reduce Their
rculation If win BE- tentam0uHt 20 admitting that
the cause q literature and q public culture is less
important than the providing Of young authors with
,-larg~l incomes. There is TO doubt that the vide
@ Rotation Of the classics helps literature in no
snail degree. Now l ask you, q what account
arr q few starving Young writer's. as compared with
tie welfare Of teratuIe.
This. Of course, is the cold-blooded, but
common sense way Of looking a the sub
iect in this country We have long recog-
rzed the value of the classics, and in no
country in the world are they made more
accessible to the general public. In a
revised and condensed form they are used
largely and intelligently in our public
schools. and through the enterprise Of
some of our leading publishers complete
editions of the classics are published at
a price that puts them within the reach
Of many q young man who could not
afford the modern novel, which. by the
way. he IS usually much better without.
The record for book popularity at the
Public Library during the week just
ended shows that in nOnhcti0n the call
was for Thorpcs Industrial Chemistry
and Halls Three Acres and Liberty" In
fiction Elizabeth Miller's saul of Tarsus'
and Thurst3ns THE Mystics" had the
call. while among the children the de-
mand was for Lang's Orange and Blue
Fairy Books" This record, however, gives
but small idea of the usefulness Of the
Public Library to the general public.
During the week there was a great de-
mand in the reading room for books on
European travel. Most Of the applicants
came 10 the library with two questions:
How TO prepare for a trip TO Europe?
and what TO see in Europe? To these
inQuirers were given Grant Aliens 'Eu-
ropean Tour and Moore's "A Year in
Europe" while of those who wanted 70
know what TO see in Europe Cooks "Old
Touraine' and "StOddard's Lectures
answered most of the needs. Electricity
was a subject also on which many
readers wanted information. and TO these
visitors Franklin's Electrical Engineer
ing" and Edgecombe's Electrical En-
gineers Pocket Book" were recommended.
On the subject Of wireless telegraphy
Kenelley's and Mazzoto's books were
sought for.
At the recent national festival at
Upsala. Sweden, in memory Of Linnaeus,
the author Of Selma Lagerlof. was
crowned with a laurel wreath at tho
cathedral. In recognition Of her being
chosen as the nations favorite author
Miss Lagerlofs next book will be pub
lished by Messrs. Doubleday, Page & Co
The Macmillan Company published OF
June 10 THE Flower Of Old Japan" a
new volume Of poetry by Alfred Noyes
Temptation" a novel by Richard BagOt
Socialism Before the French Revolu-
ton by Dr. William B. Guthrie, and ar
extensively revised edition of Prof. JOIN
r. Commons "Proportionate Represen-
tation" Macmillan has also just pub,
lished "Sidon: A Study in Oriental His
tory" by Frederick Carl EiseIen: "Clin-
icaI Psychiatry: A Textbook for Student,
and Teachers" by A Ross Diefendorf. OF
Yale University; 1.-THE Growth Of Chris
tianity," by Percy Gardiner, and The
Story Of oxford, by Cecil Hcadlam.
Having disposed Of the nature writer's,
Messrs Long, Roberts. London. ct al.
President Roosevelt now advises the read
ing Of certain books of pure fiction thai
have rs he expresses it. the prime quail
ity Of being interesting" In his speech a
the semi-centennial Of the Michigan Agri
cultural School, at Lansing, Mich, Presi
dent Roosevelt said:
You viii learn the root principles Of
sclf-help and helpfulness toward other!
from Mrs Wigs of the Cabbage Patch
just as much as from any formal treatie!
on charity, YOU Will learn as much sounC
social and Industrial doctrine from Octay,
Fhaaet's stories Of farmers and wage
workers rs from avowed sociological anC
economic studies. and I cordially recon-
mend the first chapter Of Aunt Jane o.
kentucky for use as a tract In all fami
lies where the men folks tend 10 selfish o.
th0ughtless or overbearing disregard o
the rights Of their womenkind."
If Mr.. Howells judgment is to be trust
Cd, he has discovered the great American
novelist, setting forth the reasons for hi
belief in the current issue Of the Nortl
American Review. He asserts that tht
stories OF Leonard Merrick are mainly 20
OBSCURE talent struggling TO the light il
those very uncertain avenues to distinc
ton and prosperity literature and III
stage. To quote a part Of Mr.. Howelri
appreciation: "Of the two arch enemies o.
love, prosperity and adversely. he makes
an oftener study Of adversely. There IS
great deal Of grim adversely in his books
watch sometimes remains adversely to thu
end, but also sometimes puts off it!
frown. 1t IS the more depressing when i
becomes or remains the atmosphere o.
ambition which seeks fTuitiOD IN the sue