Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-07

world to let any of them 60 unrec-
ognized.
This recognition, q reader may think
with pride, Is the work, not Of the
so-called experts and critics, but
almost entirely Of the mass of readers
Whether one believes in numbers or
not. the truth is that all great books
have had the seal of approval placed
on them by thousands of readers.
The term best seller" Is" partly
hckum, but there is in 1t, too, a recog-
milton Of the power Of numbers in a
world such as ours.
The honest booklover will go slow III
pitting his judgment against that OF
the mass of the people. The books
which sell well must possess certain
qualities, else the people would not con-
tinue to recognize them.
Certainly there are fads. There are
authors who loom up, go big" for
asks himself why the biographies OF
this man, rather than those of another.
sold so largely to the American public.
Go back to the one or two best OF
them, however, and read them over
again and be forced to admit that they
possess a certain vigor which their con-
temporaries lacked.
y kk
Let no one sheer at the opinion of the
people.
1t must be recognized that the book
lovers of this or any nation are, In q
sense, the exceptional people OF the
land.
Their opinions as book readers are
the opinions of the people as book
lovers.
THE voice of the people is the voice
OF God" So went the old saying, In
which there was a modicum OF truth.
The judgment of this people, the
booklovers, is a great deal more critical
than many might at first realize.
All one has to do Is to consider the
huge number of volumes published every
year and then the comparatively small
number Of these which achieve any
thing like real distribution among the
mass of readers.
We were reminded of this the other
day in seeing two novels by an English
writer going begging on book counter
for 25 cents apiece. One was pub
lishe5 in 1929 and the other in 1880.
Both had the benefit of good reviews.
Each was published to sell at $3.50 a
copy. And here were half dozen
copies of each kicking around at rs
cents apiece!
What could be palmer? the Verdlct
of the public had been thumbs down.
These books simply lacked the better
qualities OF their more successful COM
petitorS OF those years. Neither one
can hold a candle to such stories as
Maugham's Cakes and Ale" or Her
bert's Water Gypsies," or Priestleys
Angel Pavement"
The public taste was correct.
d n x
When some reader with fair for
books hands you a copy of Bradfords
John Henry" with the plain state
ment that it is exceptionally good, be-
lieve him.
Do not deprive yourself of a good
thing by saying in your most offhand
way, "Oh. l hate Negro stories" No
che who likes to read could possibly dis
like Uncle RemuS" or "Jonn Henry"
For a work of art is a work of art,
no matter in what form it is cast. The
variety in form which literature
achieves Is amazing. astounding. There
is no similarity between a play OF
Shakespeare and The Green Pas
lures" but each will be great in Its
way.
Never cut yourself of from some
thing good by positive opinions. but
hold your judgment open. ready to re-
ceive a gocd thing when 1t comes along.
Otherwise you may show your ignor-
ance, as the publishers reader" did
who turned down David Harum."