New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

the course of the year, but
let 1t not be supposed from these figures
that America is nation of book buyers.
There is no occasion for undue pride in
the fact that one book per capita is sold
annually in this country. That is not a
particularly high average, and such as
it is, it is considerably lowered by a
little delvipg. For one learns almost
Immediately that of the books sold here
40 per cent are schoolbooks, which are
given away to the pupils in the public
schools Of states that follow that policy.
ly 5000 bookstores in the United States,
and among them, so publishers say, one
only is able to live on sales of books
alone. Boston is the best book town in
the country. More books are sold there
In proportion to the population than in
any other city in America, but not q
few of the bookstores there live on
their stationery business and expect to
go through the process of bankruptcy,
dissolution and reorganization about
once every three years.
Mr.. Aldrich's Custom
Thomas Bailey Aldrich used to be one
of the most regular customers of GER
tain Boston bookstore. Mr.. Aldrich had
made q good deal OF money by writing
and had married good deal more. He
lived in 8 fine house and had a big
library, and spent not inconsiderable
part of his time in this bookstore, sit
ting on the counter and talking to the
proprietor about new books that were
published. Some of the new books Mr..
Aldrich read as he sat on the counter,
while the proprietor of the store sold a
box of paper and envelopes to a cash
customer. Two or three times every
month Mr.. Aldrich was likely to find
among the new books one that he
wanted to have on the shelves Of his
library. A man like Mr.. Aldrich was
always receiving suitably inscribed
copies of books from authors and pub
fishers, and when he found in the book
home and get one Of his complimentary
copies and bring it down and trade it in
for the book he wanted.
Mr.. Aldrich cape down to the book
store one year at the Christmas season.
Lots of people were in buying paper
and envelopes. The proprietor was very
busy showing scented stationery. Mr..
Aldrich interrupted him to give an order
fer g subscription to "St. Nicholas" ."
There was 10 cents profit for the book
store In handling the subscription. 1t
was Mr.. Aldrich's first real money
transaction in the store In thirty years.
he went out. Half an hour later he was
back again
~Mr. Blank, Mr.. Blank" he called
to the proprietor in high, thin voice,
"you can cancel that subscription for
st. Nicholas"
Yes. Bookselling is o business people
70 In for the love Of It, not for the
money to be made.
Theirs was a bookstore in Evans
Vile. Ind, a few years ago. The proprie-
tor Dragged one day that ne sent his
wife to Florida every winter.
GLOW do you do it7" asked the owner
Of the Evansville department store, who
had book department.
81 carry wall paper as a side line, "
said the bookstore man.
Where New York Stands
And the Middle West is the second
best book section in the country. Boston
Is tho best city. New England Is the
best section. New York Is the second
best book selling city Of the country
in proportion to the population, and the
East Side LIS the best book buying part
Of New York. They buy serious books
on the East Side, philosophy, essays
history, biography and that sort Of
thing. The rest Of the town buys the
six-best-sellers.
Books are like music IN New York.
"Do you like classical music7" the
Boston girl asked.
NO." said the New York girl, IT pre-
Ter classy music"
After books get out Of New Eng
land they follow narrow strip down
the coast to Washington. No books
are sold south of Washington, pub
fishers say, not meaning, Of course,
to be taken literally.
Going west, books follow the line
OF the Lakes to st. Paul. They spread
out thinly over the Middle West and
get down to Kansas City. From there
they jump to Denver and from Den
yer, hesitating at Salt Lake City, to
California The bookstore that sup
ports itself on books alone Is In San
Francisco. California, as a whole, ranks
with the Middle West.
There are three bookstores In IN
dianapolis, and few years ago they
got together to find out what their
sales were. They discovered that two
thirds Of ono per cent of the popula-
tion Of Indianapolis were book buyers.
Tho English Ambition
From all Of which 1t is evident that
book publishing in this country is