New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-26
@be Nem;2lork G1ibmme
SUNDAY. APRIL 26. 1908.

The complaint that there is a scarcity of book
lovers among librarians leads a correspondent
of the Chicago 'DiaT' to express her wonder
nc to .how far libraries may be responsible Tor
the increasing scarcity Of booklovers III the
world We are not sure of this scarcity. Your
trun bookIoyer has never been disposed TO prance
about in the limelight, and if he seems scarce
TODAY it is doubtless only because the fact or
his existence is obscured by the general racket
that goes on in the modern world. At the same
time there is some justification for the protest
printed in The DIAL Says the writer of the
letter aforesaid:
Isn't it true that to love books must live
with them? Nowadays the average person, and
even the average family, depends entirely upon
libraries for reading matter. Reading
thus becomes a business, to be disposed of
within definite period. 'Seven-day Book,
tackled to all the new fiction and some OF
the more popular essays and blographles-Who
can become deeply attached to "SeVen-day
Book? What real friendship with book ever
developed even within the more generous allot-
ment of two weeks, the regular library pre-
sCripton?
There are thousands Of readers, Of course,
who if they to get hold of books at all, in
any quantity, must the libraries, just as
there are thousands who compelled by cir
cumStances to make their collections OF the
classics in cheap reprints, rather than in edi-
lions Of the sort that comes to love. But
matters is determined by nothing more nor less
than the tendency Of human nature to follow the
line of least resistance and make use Of the
readieSt cheap convenience They are the peO-
pie who need admontion
Mention was made in this place not long ago
of the controversy which had arisen between
two English publishing firms over certain writ
ingS by Mr.. S. r. Crockett. To one he sold
Eoyel, and to the other O collection Of short
stories. The publishers of the novel were in q
fearful taking as to what might become of their
expected profits if their rivals not candid
about stating the precise character Of the more
miscellaneous volume left In their hands. The
lawsuit that ensued has attracted the attention
OF Mr.. Andrew Lang On the whole he does not
See why anybody should suffer through novel
lists bringing out more than one book at time
Gas l easily read novel in day he SAYS
mo number of good novels can be too many for
this reader. If you like mans books,
you would rather have more Of them than not
SO many" But what Of the difference in draw
ing power between novel and book of short
stories? Mr. Lang cannot solve the mystery.
but ne hazards a guess. The truth probably
is" he remarks, that are lazy and dislike
being obliged to call on attention for series
of fresh efforts at the start. for understanding
new sets of characters. Intellectual! laziness IS
our chief mental vice" In this case by the
way one barriSter made the observation that 1T
would be 4 very wrong thing for publisher to
pass off is novel n collection Of short Stories.
and Mr.. Lang quotes from the publishers CIR
cular" the query made by ''One OF the Trade
Cannot publishers, when they issue volumes OF
short stories. Indicate the fact in some manner
In their lists!" We have lately referred to Mr.
Maurice HewIetts indignant protest against the
publication of a short story of his, The Spanish
Jade" as novel. In the long run these points
ere bound to be settled in the right way. for.
rs the publishers Circular observes, the ma
forty OF readers resent very much finding that
what they expect is complete novel is really
puy series Of short storieS.' They are equally
rescntful when Il single short story is thus
palmcd off upon them, and they are made wary
about buying the next publication issuing from
The same source.
A commentator on the work Of the late john
AddiugtOn SymOndS brings out point which l.
Of general interest to the student Of literature
SyrnnIS prOluceI n number OF valuable books.