Evening star., 1928-03-13
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. G.. NJ.
THE STORY OF THE SUN: lsss-1s2s.
Frank M. OBrien. D. Appleton &c

Away back In 1882. or thereabout,
Benjamin Fl. Day. young printer Of
| New York. came into possession Of
| brand-new idea. And this was that
a newspaper quite different from the
six-cent journals then the rule would
| find a hearty welcome from many new
| readers and would thereby secure
good market right In the city. A clear
innovation this new sheet was to be-
It was to sell for a penny instead OF
six. It was to be a little paper, quickly
| read. It was to take into account that
the womenfolks could read. and would,
II something besides politics, money and
business were offered them. Young
Day had obviously come into possess
sion Of three vital notions respecting
| the prcss-cut rates. tabloid form and
clear bid for increased circulation
by way of an appeal to the interests
OF women. Today these three fea-
lures are commonplaces In the pur-
poses Of any paper. In that day they
were striking novelties, yet to be
proved
Benjamin Day set about the business
OF translating this group of ideas into
! newspaper fact. Like any other new
enterprise. this also was one Of the up
hill variety But finally the new paper
; was born. Then christening day came
mism 1t was named "the Sun You
! can see for yourself what 1t is today
Frank NJ O'Brien. editor of the Sun.
about 10 years ago wrote the history of
It's career. The new edition. this book.
brings that history up to date by way
of these recent important years.
A long story-almost a century long
It steps out from the year 1889 and
moved forward by way of an account
ing of the growth of the paper In CIR
cnlation, in influence. in developed
policies in the definite service of cer-
tain of It's owners and editors. In
effect. Mr.. O'Brien's story becomes a
history OF American journalism itself,
just as it constitutes a summary of
the newspaper as one OF the greatest
the story possesses neither the routine
of history nor the dry precision Of
scientific analysis and classification
Rather does 1t run along the open
highway Of events as these are re-
fiected In the press Vivid anecdote.
crucial moments in history. striking and
influential personalities Join here in
the offhand but wholly interesting
manner of the competent journalist
that grew between Benjamin Day and
Bennett who also caught vision o!
the penny sheet in the Herald. Here
Is the story of Dana and his tremendous
influence In journalism. And before
the story of Dana Is that of Moses Y.
Beach. New York Life In the Thir-
tics" Is striking and most enjoyable
revival. The position and influence OF
the Sun in both the Mexican and the
Civil War Is made matter. of record
here. Beyond Dana and his power In
mir Nfi
Frank A. Munsey in his ownership and
management Of the chain of news
papers which stood as the object OF
his ambition. II one is interested In
the business transaction involved in
Munsey's ambition. here Is list OF
prices paid by him for one and an
other of the papers included in the
chain" A more interesting matter
to the average reader Is the plan of
the Sun. who has "mutualized" the
ownership OF the paper by permitting
large number OF its employees to OBJ
tain an interest In 1t.
Mr.. O'Brien has given to the sub
tect Of his accounting a really human
personality. possessed Of a definite
purpose with competent agencies to OBJ
iectify that purpose---a personality that
has achieved greatly as every out
standing newspaper docs achieve. The
zest Of the story. its robust and opti-
mistic spirit. send it along into the
readers interest without any delay or
hitch whatever. In addition to the |
interest OF the record there is clear
value OF information and illumination
about this story OF great news /
paper.
THE GREAT AMERICAN BAND
WAGON. Charles Merz. John
Day Co
Everybody Is on the wagon, but
there is always room for one more"
So come along over this great Ameri-
can commonwealth TO see what We are
all doing so strenuously about 20 hours
In every -. Not thing seems TO have
been overlooked by the driver of the
wagon. Here Is the endless caravan
OF motorists, taking In beauty contests. !
contests In oratory. stopping once
minute for the latest radio record, |
pausing for this game or that one
golf, base ball. whatnot. Armies alight |
from motors only TO swarm the gang |
ways. Five hundred thousand Ameri- |
cans now tour Europe every Summer |
a sudden concerted drive upon few |
favorite objectives beside which the !
pace OF the Klondike gold rush seems !
lethargic. The advance guard sails in |
early May, The rear guard is still /
moppirg up the last few bathing |
beaches and casinos In September |
Figures soaring into hundreds of mil |
lions OF dollars for Summer tours no !
longer awe us. II Is no longer an ad- |
venture for the rich alone, this touring !
Europe. II is no longer All adventure |
solely for the cultured. This Summer |
hegira across 1900 miles of open water |
Is now established as an American in |
stitution as popular. as widely shared |
and as characteristic of our own times |
as the round-trip outing To Niagara in |
the nineties." There follows an ex-
planation. a Mcrz explanation. OF this |
amazing annual movement Of America ,
over across into Europe.
Now he IL Oft ON the subject OF golf !
What golf has brought us Is a chance |
to play the pioneer again. and there |
Is no role that gives us greater salts |
faction. That 1t gives us taste Of |
the frontier who can doubt? This Is |
no game that wanders aimlessly across
country without n purpose, Nor Is 1t q
game played In yard. pcnned UP like |
base ball. tennis or croquet The
whole countryside Is open To It, Yet |
ths whole countryside has been pre-
arranged TO provide series of new
hiiN " SAtNVSSNEl VI klVN kpAlS.
This Is frontier game In the best |
frontier spirit Of America. game oi
fording streams. climbing hills for the |
lay Of the land, hacking new path,
II need be- through the underbruSh and |
pushing on from goal To goal Hidden
dangers hrk along the line of march,
fanaers az smiling and rs treacheruus
as the false friendship of the Black
feet OF the road to the Northwest In
So pits and bunkerS. soft ground that
gives way beneath the feet and witch
grass that looks hospttable, hut is made
tn snare the unauspecting stranger In
a grisly trap It's all In the game,
The Indians are dead. There are nn