Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-04
AS ONE WOMAN SEES 1T
New York Publisher Gives Views on
the Province Of the Book
Reviewer
BY SARAH ID. LOyyRIE

L w 40 ldlklnE WIN JOHn MHcrHc tnp OtUVT
L day. John Macrae Is Dutton & Co.,
publishers, New York city for all business
purposes, that is. He is also a Virginian.
with n gentle manner and n hesitating way
of talking that makes me feel assertive and
abrupt even when l agree with him.
1 did not agree with him in the advice
he gave the editor Of New York daily who
consulted him and some of the rest of us as
to how to run book review magazine in his
Saturday issue.
NIacrae held to it with the JUNCTION of
parson that the whole duty of the editor was
TO sell books by that review.
DO not make any mistake about it 7"
was his mild and obdurate dictum. 1.-THE
reviews that the public will read are the
reviews that will sell the books. Your re-
views must be interesting, but the test Of
their interestingness to the public is: Does
the public order the book?''
Well, sailed into him for that. He took
1t with what the magazine writer's cal "true
southern courtesy" That is he never raised
his voice or interrupted me. But he re-
maincd as good a Democrat as ever, while /
talked eloquently about the rights of the
buying public and the honor of critics.
A CCoRDING to Macrae, the press critics,
"a bad or good come into the book game
too late anyway to greatly make or mar
book. Especially IL the publisher is worthy
or his salt. For before the book is accepted
as many as nine expert critics-radicals,
futurists, old fogeys, richman, poorman,
beggarman, pricst-have damned or praised
1t by signed and paid for verdicts duly de-
livercd with the manuscript for last ap-
praisement of the publisher himself With
all this data he would be poor business
man indeed If he could not strike TN approx
mate valuation. for which the public can be
counted on to back him.
In short. to save time and money and mis-
takes the book is thoroughly criticized before
it is accepted by critics paid by the pub
Usher to guess right.
TT IS a great pity, I say, not to publish
book.
Adverse criticism from some men would
decide contrary person like Tweedledum
or myself to go buy that book
! can sec the sense, too. Of owning best
seller If ] were a publisher though I
might have committed hara -kiri rather than
have perpctrated it,
Macra" tells me. however, that the "best
Sellers in the vernacular Of the trade, are
not the railroad novels "sod before the
train leaves" but such ancient landmarks
az aSr, lorna Do3ne, Treasure Island"
The Last Days of Pompeii" etc. The ro-
mantle high water marks Of the nineteenth
century which have become the classics OF
the twentieth century.
And as such are 'rcquired' of the high
and higher schools Of today.
DIE all the best sellers you have bought
L into one heap, from "Called Back" TO
the Charm School," and they cannot take
up as many square feet all put together as
any. ten years of Lorna d.
Moral If you want to make yorr family
rich: write story of history and adventure
IN good clear English that is good to write,
70 L..
birthplace will be bought and turned into
museum by grateful Society of Amalga-
mated Readers.
NTACRAE told me something that SIR
Af4 prised me. seeing he is n Virginan and
Democrat The majority of his Read
efs: as he calls his critics, are radicals.
politically speaking.
1t Is much easier to "dare to be Daniel
as paid critic back Of the lines than as
press critic in front Of them. inst as there
are more reformcrs among professors than
among politicians
Macrae goes on the theory. I suppose
that the radiralism Of today will be the con
ss"rvatIsm of tomorrow, and he is n New
orKer to the extent Of prcferring to be part
OF tomorrow rather than a relic OF Yesterday
(WHICH reminds me of characteristic
w story heard about him.
lie was travelling with his wife some years
ago In Europe. and their compartment was
invaded by spinster of somewhat forbid
ding mien who was encumbered with in
Vulnerable bags. roly -polys, tea basket,
shawl straps and other Continental i'm
nedimrnta in lieu of trunks. She and her
hand luggage were catapulted into the com
partmcnt by n surly and grudging porter,
and the two German travellers nearest to the
door moved neither hand nor foot to hclp her.
Macrae acknowledges that for a second he,
too, hung back, when his wife Missed in his
ear:
John, you are a Virginia gentleman -
it was enough. He piloted the elderly
lady and her belongings to his own seat.
She thanked him impressively for the
bencht OF the Germans. Il recognize an
! American gentleman. sir: and adding. for
the benefit Of his wife, you have hclpcd
the daughter of President jefferson Davis ="
Then ma am, you are my cousin, :" said
| John Nacrae.