The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-03-18

ERS BLAME PUBLIC FOR APA.
THY AND CHARGE FANCY PRic-
Es FOR WoRKs-soME INTER.
EsTING slDELIcHTs ON cATHo.
Lie WRITER'S AND THEIR
TRIALS.
written for the Catholic BulIetin.)
Recently there has been going the
rounds of many of our Catholic papers
an article referring to the students
of the University of Notre Dame, that
they are not readers of Catholic books,
and know practically nothing OF
Catholic writer's. This article states:
"A recent survey at the University
of Notre Dame shows that 26S of the
486 included in the survey had read
no Catholic authors since entering
college, "A had read one, and r. had
read less than five"
While the article refers to Notre
Dame, it really could he repeated of
almost any Catholic college or body
of Catholics. Catholics, as a whole,
are not readers of works by Catholic
writer's.
"FriendIy Advice"
A few years ago well-known Cath
Ollie writer published a work the
data for which took him years to col
lect. He received letter in reference
to his work, and the closing of it was:
Let me give you some advice, really
good advice. Drop card to every X.
of c. Council and ask them to see
that your book goes into every public
library" This letter was written by
a priest
The author answered in part as fol-
lows: Not K of G.. Council would
do that. 1t ought not to be in any
public or parochial library because
there is no call. Libraries buy only
what is called for, but are growled at
because they don't have books not
wanted. The X. of C. may be the
cream Of Catholicity,' as I heard a
priest say in addressing them, but
they are no more interested in the
reading of books on Catholic subjects
than another. Why should they be?
Sixty years ago there was more
buying and reading of Catholic books
OF all kinds than today. Catholic pa
pers of the Fifties show three. four or
five columns of. advertisements of
works suitable for Catholics. People
must have bought or publishers would
not have continued advertising. Our
schools and colleges, even later uni
versities, have not implanted a love
of Catholic reading in their students
and graduates. They are not even
told of our Worthless in literature and
endeavors of all kinds in building and
upholding the Republic. Why? The
instructors themselves don't know
them, not even their names, much less
their records"
Formed a Line.
A few years ago the Knights of Co
lumbus undertook the publication OF
the work (reprint) of one of our fore
most Catholic writer's, and if we recall
correctly every member of the order
was presented with copy absolutely
free (paid for by each council. Did
they read this excellent book-a book
that refuted many charges against the
Church? A well-known Catholic pub
Usher and bookseller asked us one
day to step to the rear of his store
| and showed us several rows of this
knights of Columbus Edition" with
| the remark, they almost formed Z
line selling me their copy for ten
cents" Only few of the copies had
even been opened, most of them had
the original wrapper still on.
The author of this. book is a per
sonal friend, and we wrote to hin
"You are doing great injustice tc
yourself and your work in the publica
ton of the edition, and if you allow
publication of any of your other works
see that your book is bought by only
those who really want to gain know
ledge"
| Later the Knights of Columbus pub
lished another of his works, but Il
/
of the order who wished copy had Il
purchase it. at price of about forty
cents a copy. The author told us tina,
this edition fell off thousands Of
| copies.
One of the largest, perhaps the larg
est, dealers in books, principally USED
copies, stated: Catholic books have
little SALE"
| Asked why he made that statement
he replied: Catholics as a whole
are not readers of their own authors
and as rule Catholic books are toe
Expensive. Take some of the juvenile
works, written by some of your priests
4 The price is too high. Catholic par
ents can not afford to purchase them
therefore your young do not get mucl
of chance in youth to read Catholi,
works."
| Catholic Papers Suffer.
| 1t is the same with our Catholi,
papers; few, indeed, have large sub
1scription lists, and most of them arr
uninteresting reading. This is not tn,
fault of the publishers; they do no
receive the support of the Catholics
Of the various dioceses.
Nor do publishers, Catholic or non
Catholic, care about pub fishing Catho
lie works, unless the author pays tn,
lexpenses.
/ Some months ago we had the pleas
| ure of reading the manuscript of al