Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-21
The Times Big Business.

The London Times, still considered the
greatest Of all newspapers, is going into
mercantile business quite extensively
since it passed into the control of the
present management, which Is directed
and controlled by Lord Northcliffe, owner
Of thirty or forty other publications.
great and small. Several years ago.
before the change Of owners, the Times
went into the book business and opened
what it now claims to be ''the biggest
bookshop on EARTH" The privileges Of
purchasing books at publishers prices
was originally limited to subscribers of
the Times, and the idea was to Increase
the circulation of the paper: but now the
shop is opened to everybody, and the bust
ness Is carried on like that of any other
bookstore, the prices charged being usu-
ally below those advertised. This limo
walton has demoralized the entire book
trade in England, and several dealers
cause they could not compete with the
Times.
One of the largest branches of the bust
ness is filling orders received by mail. The
population of the British colonies through
out the world has been thoroughly in
formed Of the opportunity and advantages
offered by the Times and lists of books
with prices and postage required are pub
lshed daily in the columns so that the
readers everywhere, by inclosing a postal
by return mail. This business has become
very large: many tons of books are ship
ped monthly by the managers of the
Times bookstore to every corner OF the
earth.
The next step was to open a depart
ment for the sale of old and rare edi-
tons of books, which rapidly became
popular and is now doing good business.
The intelligence bureau Of this depart
ment employs a number of experts who
1xil1 civ C1ThScrihprS Times 1nfOr-
nation on any subject connected With
books free of charge and will accept or
ders for the purchase of rare books, en-
cravings, manuscripts and other printed
matter, and represent buyers at the fire.
uuent book auctions that occur in Lon
don. The Times takes subscriptions for
every other newspaper or periodical In
the world, and does general news
agency business.
Shopping Agency Established.
And now it has established shopping
agency through which subscribers to the
Times throughout the world may make
purchases and conduct any business that
they would themselves conduct if they
were residing in London This depart
ment is called THE Times Supply
Agency" and its functions are SO com
prehensive as to include every errand
or business transaction that any sub
scriber could possibly suggest. No COM
mission is charged for any service, but
the benefits of the service are limited
to annual subscribers to the daily or
weekly editions of the Times.
For example. if an officers wife in
Burma or BOrneo wants a spool of
thread, a new hat or Undertaking. she
can get it by writing to the Times.
II an officer in the civil or military serv-
ice in India wants to send his wife and
babies home to England, an agent OF
the Times will meet them at the dock.
rent house for them, or find them a
boarding house. and act as their guard
ian and financial agent as long as de-
sired. IL a planter in Brazil or Bolivia
wants an outfit of agricultural imple-
ments and machinery. or miner in the
Ural mountains needs set of
TOOLS or a physician in the Malay archi-
pelago desires a new set of instruments,
or a new medicine chest, he need only
write to the Times, and 1t will be sent
to him. Children will be placed in
schools, insurance premiums will be paid,
clerks, stenographers. governesses, cooks,
buffers. maids and servants Of every
other sort for indoor or outdoor work
will be provided without charge, and. in
deed, there Is scarcely any need of any
human being In any part of the world
that will not be supplied without charge.
fee or commission. but all orders must
be accompanied by the cash. This ap-
plies to all subscribers to either edition
of the Times throughout the world out
side of London, and 1t Is a unique in
novation.
The motive. as announced, Is beneyo-
lence and q desire to increase the circu-
lation of the paper.