An Editor on the Main Question. HUNTINGDON, PA., Sept. 16, 1875. S To the Editor of the Publishers' Weekly. DEAR SIR: I desire to express my approbation of the sentiments expressed in the article in a recent number of the WEEKLY, in relation to" Discounts to Ministers." Every intelligent and right-thinking man and woman should and will encourage the book trade. I hold that every good book bought and read in a community, adds to the intelligence and power of that community, and the bookstore where books are sold is a blessing to the community. Now, every thing that hinders any one from buying a' book should be avoided. I am quite free to say that the discrimination pointed out acts with terrible force against the sale of books to the very class that should be encouraged to buy -the laborer, the mechanic, the servant-girls, and all that class of persons who receive from one fourth to nine tenths less for their labor than the classes in favor of whom the discrimination is made. These parties, knowing that the wellpaid men and women can buy their books for much less than they can, refuse to buy at all, and thus suffer harm. All books should be reduced in price by the publishers, and no discounts allowed, save to booksellers and dealers. The great public demands this, and the book trade must and should languish until it is done. Ministers and teachers as a class are better paid than those to whom they minister, and there is no reason why the Niagara Convention should have indorsed these special discounts. Yours truly, A. B. BRUMBAUGH. P. S.-I desire to add, that I greatly prize the PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY, and do not see how any one interested in books could get along without it. Underselling at Colleges, "A RETAIL BOOKSELLER," of Georgia, expresses satisfaction with the Philadelphia agreement, and thinks the next step is to protect booksellers who do a legitimate business against those who do not. My trade is largely derived from the University of Georgia. I am expected, at the opening of each term, and at other times during the year, to order the textbooks used in the regular course of study. It is quite out of the question, especially at the opening of a new university year, to determine how many copies of each particular book to order, and I am compelled to take the risk of ordering too many or too few, or the classes may be larger or smaller than usual. I have heretofore been able to cover this risk by getting publishers' retail prices from the students, but within the last twelve months the young men have been clubbing together and ordering their books and stationery from a neighboring city, getting a discount of twenty and sometimes twenty-five per cent from the publishers' retail prices, and stationery at wholesale prices, and the goods delivered free of cost. Is this right?" [Our correspondent suggests a retailers' association through the country, and that trade discounts should be permitted only to its members. This remedy is not only impracticable, but opposed to right principles. We want no close corporations or "rings" of any sort. Our friend will find in the plan of the A. B. T. A. a remedy of like effect, based simply on sound business principles, without regard to membership or non-membership, and we believe the difficulty is being worked out satisfactorily, though gradually, on this basis.-ED.] BOOKS RECEIVED. (Hurd & Houghton.) Mr. Hutton is the "Young PLAYS AND PLAYERS, by Laurence Hutton. Veteran" of the New-York Evening Mail, to which journal many of the reminiscences in this volume were contributed. He is one of the younger men, and his "memory" seems an instance of reversed second-sight, so long before he was born can he remember. But he has a marvelous collection of old play-bills, which are as the apple of his eye, and his rich stores have all contributed to make up this pleasant collection of anecdotes, personal descriptions, reminiscences of first nights and odds and ends from the green-room. other occasions," famous casts, and the like book is entertaining, is handsomely gotten up, and must be added to the collection of every dramatic bibliomaniac. 8vo, cloth, $3. The IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON SOCIAL LIFE, with other Papers suggested by an English Residence. By E. S. Nadal. (Scribner, Armstrong & Co.) Mr. Nadal, who is the son of Rev. Dr. Nadal, was an assistant-secretary of our legation in London, and on his return became a journalist. Many of the charming editorials for which Hearth and Home became noted were from his pen, and for nearly two years he has been the literary editor of the Evening Post. This book is one of the most pleasant and most suggestive that an American has written about the mother country. It does not deal with political problems, but with every-day life, which is quite as important, and it presents a frank, common-sense view of things, with that childlike simplicity and ingenuousness which is the height of art, and with a clever humor delicious in its naïveté. Mr. Nadal describes English club-life, presentations to the queen, and other social features, and then turns about to tell how our own institutions looked to his Anglicized eyes when he came back, and in especial how grateful we should be for that peculiarly American blessing, the evening call. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. DOINGS OF THE BODLEY FAMILY IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. (Hurd & Houghton.) Mr. Scudder, the author of "Dream Children" and several other very successful juveniles, is the author of the present volume. We think it destined to be the favorite holiday juvenile of the year, as it is the most charming combina tion of stories and pictures that can be imagined. The text alone, or the illustrations alone, would make the success almost of a workthe two together, as here, realize the very ideal of a child's book. The story is a delightfully simple one, the doings of Nathan, Phippie, and Lucy being refreshingly childish and laughable and real. The poems introduced into the text are unique-"The Little Red Hen," and "The Battle of Bumble-Bug," etc., with their dainty little figures, showing real genius both on the part of the author and artist, The binding of the book is very novel, being the regular cloth binding, covered back and front in gray paper, on which is printed a childish design. The style of the binding is an imitation of the board covers of the German story book. The inside lining leaves present the most original feature, being covered with comical silhouette figures. The volume contains in all seventy-seven illustrations, a great number of them being full-page pictures, of bold and taking designs. Taking into consideration the price of the book, it is certainly as lovely and attractive and desirable a volume for children as has been issued in a long time. Sq. 4to, cloth, $2. 66 LIBRARY NOTES, by A. P. Russell. (Hurd & Houghton.) Thirteen essays on different topics, such as "Insufficiency," Extremes," "Disguises," "Rewards," Limits," "Mutations," Paradoxes," etc. They are a perfect compendium of anecdote, the very gleanings of the library, as they fairly bubble over with the wise, witty, or clever sayings of the great men in literature, both dead and living. 12mo, cloth, $2. OUR WASTED RESOURCES, by William Hargreaves, M.D. (Nat. Temp. Soc.) One of the best arguments in favor of temperance and total abstinence we have seen. It gives facts and figures showing that the millions which are yearly spent on liquor are just that much less given to the encouragement of commerce, to home happiness and comforts, and to education. 12mo, cloth, $1.25. THE EPWORTH SINGERS, by the Rev. S. W. Christophers. (A. D. F. Randolph & Co.) Biographies of the Wesleys and other poets of Methodism. The sketches are vigorous and striking, interspersed with numerous poems and hymns, and present almost every Metho. dist rhymester of any note at all. 12mo, cloth, $3. IN THE HOLY LAND, by the Rev. Andrew Thomson. (A. D. F. Randolph & Co.) Though the route gone over in this work is the same many travelers have described before, the writer seems to have seen more than most travelers, his observations display such a keen insight into customs and ways which throw a new light upon the word of God. The volume is illustrated and very handsomely gotten up. 12m0, cloth, $2. THE TESTIMONY OF THE ROCKS, by Hugh Miller. (Robert Carter & Brothers.) A new edition of a well-known work. The above firm have added all of Hugh Miller's works to their list, and are now the sole publishers. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. ALPINE LYRICS, a selection from the poems of Meta Heusser-Schweizer. (A. D. F. Randolph & Co.) 18mo, cloth, 90 cents. THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY, by Florence C. Armstrong, (Randolph & Co.) 18mo, cloth, 75 cents. Two little gilt-edged, daintily gotten-up volumes of poems. Mostly of a religious character. CLAYTON'S RANGERS. (J. B. Lippincott & Co.) This story is better known by its sub-title, "The Quaker Partisans." Under this name it has won considerable reputation as a powerful story of the American revolution. 12mo, cloth, $1.50. GRANDPAPA'S HOME; THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT; FIVE HAPPY WEEKS. (American Tract Society.) These are three pretty little books for children. They are gotten up in the brightest manner, with colored illustrations and others, each, 50 cents. showy covers. The first is 75 cents, and the ROYAL SONGS, by J. W. Sufferin and W. W. Bentley. (American Tract Society.) A new compilation for the use of families and Sundayschools. Boards, 35 cents. THE FAMILY CHRISTIAN ALMANAC FOR 1876. (American Tract Society.) A very nicely illustrated painphlet, containing valuable scientific and useful information, and adapted for use throughout the country. Paper, 10 cents. Personal Mention. WHILE Mr. C. E. Hopkins will in the future be identified with the interests of the Powers Paper Company, of Springfield, and will look and Pacific States, he will still continue his conafter their business in the Middle, Southern, nection with Lee, Shepard & Dillingham, and look after orders for them in whatever section he may travel. This will be good news to the trade, who would greatly regret the severance of a connection which has seemed a matter of course. Mr. Hopkins is one of the most popu lar travelers on the road, and in this respect, as well as in vigor and enterprise, he thoroughly represents the house with which his name has been so closely associated. We may congratulate the Powers Paper Company that it also is to secure his services. MR. ROBERT TURNER, formerly American manager of the house of Cassell, Petter & Galpin, will return to his old post this fall, in place of Mr. Charles Geard. Mr. Turner is expected about October 6th. MR. JAMES W. MACKAY, well known to the trade, has established a commission business at No. I Ann street. He purposes to sell libraries and small parcels of books on com mission. MR. HENRY HOLT has returned to town from his summering in Vermont. "It's an ill wind that blows no one any good." Mr. Lee, Mr. Shepard, and Mr. Dillingham have at least found out how many friends they have; the press has been profuse of hearty sympathy, letters have poured in by the hundred, and the respective right hands of these gentlemen must have suffered sadly. MR. S. S. CONANT, managing editor of Harper's Weekly, and known to the trade both as an author and by his connection with Messrs. Harper & Bros., arrived from Europe last week, in the Bolivia, after a pleasant passage. STATIONERY NOTES. MESSRS. H. DE SILVER & Co., 1229 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, have recently issued a new Centennial medal charm, commemorative of the coming Centennial of American Independence. The medal is an entirely new design, bearing the Ark of Covenant, and a fac-simile of the Liberty Bell of " 1776." Significant as a memento of our country's history, emblematic of the covenant entered into by the thirteen original States, allegorical of the nation's progress for a hundred years. The charm may be had in three styles-silver, gold, and the two combined, at $15, $18, and $21 per gross. MESSRS. HENRY LEVY & SON, No. 122 Duane street, New-York, have put upon the market a full line of new fancy goods, all of their own ¦ importation. They offer leather goods in all varieties of calendars, dressing. cases, musicrolls, etc., etc., at from $16.50 to $86 per dozen. Glove and handkerchief boxes can be had at all prices, and as low as $30 per dozen. These boxes contain glove-stretchers which are retained from falling out by a new device, together with glove-buttoners, and are made with gusset bottoms to accommodate a dozen pairs of gloves or handkerchiefs. They are made up in imitation russia and russia, and in canvas with bronze and nickel-plated trimmings, and with glass tops. Other styles are made especially for long gloves, and are lined with white silk, or with satin velvet, in eight different colors of choice shades. The bronze trimmings on some of these goods are elegant, and specially worthy of remark. A fine assortment of jewel-cases is shown in all styles, from $1.50 to $40. In miscellaneous articles Messrs. Levy show a large variety, at all prices. A new article in their stock is a smoker's table, which contains a place for tobacco, cigars, matches, ashes, pipe, etc., in a very compact form. Such an article is almost indispensable to a smoker, as it can be moved readily to any part of the room, and supply all the desired convenience. The tables cost from $3.50 to $7.50 each. An extensive line of dressing-cases, bronze ornaments, albums, work-boxes, inkstands, desks, etc., etc., will be found at prices to suit all tastes. BUSINESS CHANGES. HARLEM, N. Y.-Mr. Isaac Barnett has been succeeded by C. C. Thompson, books, music, and stationery, at 2352 Third avenue, between 127th and 128th streets. OSWEGO, N. Y.-Mr. E. J. Gibson has sold his book, stationery, and music store to George H. Hees. Two years ago Mr. H. sold out and went into the wholesale lumber business. He now returns to the business he followed so successfully for fifteen years. NEW-YORK.-W. C. Wemyss has removed his business to 708 Broadway, where he will keep a full stock of books, stationery, and newspapers. MUSKEGON, MICH.-Bolza & Reynolds, booksellers, stationers, and newsdealers, have been succeeded by Fred. L. Reynolds. LITERARY AND TRADE NEWS A VERY ingenious device has been invented by Dr. J. M. Toner, of Washington, for the better finding of small places upon the map. Every one knows how bewildering it is to one unacquainted with the topography of a great State like Pennsylvania, say, or Ohio, to undertake to find a certain county. Dr. Toner has met this difficulty by the invention of a system of points, perfectly intelligible at a glance, and capable of being applied to any list of town or county names. The system has been introduced into the United States Official Postal Guide, published by Hurd & Houghton, and will appear in the October number, adding to the excellencies of a work already well known for its accuracy and fulness of information. MR. W. F. GILL purposes a holiday book for this year similar to "Lotos Leaves"-to be made up of contributions from Boston writers, and to be called "Laurel Leaves." the Tribune, are making ready a gift-book which ROBERTS BROTHERS, writes Mrs. Moulton to promises to be one of the most tempting issues of the year. It is entitled "The Shepherd Lady," is by Jean Ingelow, and will be beautifully illustrated. The poems it contains are in though many of them were included in "Mopno published volume of Miss Ingelow's poems, by its grace a wide recognition. It also consa," a fairy tale almost unknown, yet deserving tains of Harper's Magazine. One of the poems, a At One Again," from the October issue sonnet on "Failures," has been pronounced by competent critics, the poetess herself among them, as good a piece of work as the author has ever done. The illustrations will be something exquisite. Four of them were made by Arthur Hughes, of London, under the supervision of Miss Ingelow. Of the others I will speak hereafter, but "The Shepherd Lady" is to make her appearance most daintily clad. MESSRS. J. M. STODDART & Co., of Philadelphia, having issued the first volume of their reprint of the Encyclopædia Britannica, promise the second shortly. They are doing the work in very good shape. They propose to meet the copyright difficulty by "introducing some new articles in order more perfectly to adapt the work to the want of American readers. If the success of the enterprise warrants it, a supplementary volume will be issued, which will treat with particular fulness, from an American point of view, of subjects of special interest to people on this side of the Atlantic." DODD & MEAD have sent out during the week nearly 20,000 volumes of the books published Saturday-a good showing for a house of its WHEELING, W. VA.-The firm of Stanton Brothers has been dissolved, Mr. J. D. Stanton retiring. Frank Stanton and John R. Daven-years and size! MOXON, London, announces a complete library edition, called the Centenary edition, of the "Life, Letters, and Writings" of Charles Lamb, including Talfourd's memoir, many unpublished letters and newly identified pieces, to be edited by Percy Fitzgerald, and issued in six monthly volumes; also the complete edition of the prose works of Wordsworth, with a hitherto unpublished poem along with the dedication. THE Athenæum states that George Eliot is writing a new novel, and that it is not on American life. HEPWORTH DIXON'S new volume, on America in 1875, just announced in London, will bear the title, "White Conquest." THE Tribune recently contained a curious advertisement from a European gentleman, unnamed, now in this country, who gave notice to all thinkers interested in spiritual existence, or occult science, that having spent forty years in the practical and theoretical study of art magic," he proposed "to share the fruit of his labors with a few interested and worthy students" by publishing a five-dollar subscription volume, 500 copies only, which is not to be sold by any bookseller (alas! alas!) or submitted to any professional critic. Mrs. E. W. Britten, 206 W. Thirty-eighth street, will receive subscribers to this remarkable volume, whose title will be "Art Magic; or, Mundane, Super-mundane, and Sub-mundane Spiritism," and it will be "the only publication in existence which will give an authentic and practical description of art magic, natural magic, modern spiritism, the different orders of spirits in the universe known to be related to, or in communication with, man, together with directions for invoking, consulting, and discharging spirits." That really makes us shiver. IT is understood that Mr. James E. Murdock's recollections of the American stage are to be published by a Philadelphia house this fall. PROF. NICHOL, who wrote the article on American literature in the new Encyclopedia Britannica, is to publish a work on the English language and literature. GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON has written a new · book, "The Big Brother," which George P. Putnam's Sons will publish. It is not a biography of his brother Edward, but a story of the Indian wars in Alabama, for the young people. "THE Big Bonanza' of the literary world" is about to appear from the press of the American Publishing Company, Hartford, in a complete edition of Mark Twain's sketches. "The Jumping Frog" and all the favorites will be there, and the book and its illustrations will be in better shape than is usual with subscription volumes. The prospectus assures the reader that Mark's "most extravagant tales have an application and a moral." Mark must have written that prospectus himself. THE promised book on Iceland, by Prof. Samuel Kneeland, Secretary of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will bear the title of "An American in Iceland." The book will deal with the scenery, people, and history of the island, describe the millennial celebration, and include notes on the Orkney, Shetland, and Faroe Islands. Iceland is making itself known on this side of the pond; this is at least the third volume on the subject this year. DR. A. C. HAMLIN, who wrote "The Tourmaline," has prepared another little volume on The Diamond," which D. Appleton & Co. will publish. It treats of the natural history of the stone, the theories of its origin, its places, properties, the methods of testing, etc., with some account of famous diamonds. COLLECTORS of local history will note the promise of the "History of the First Church of Springfield, Mass.," by Judge Henry Morris, from Whitney & Adams, of the "Old Corner Bookstore," in that place. Portraits and other illustrations will make it especially interest A "HISTORY of Ancient and Modern Phi losophy," for the use of the general reader and the college student, has been prepared by Prof. Joseph Haven, D.D., late of Chicago University, and will be published during the fall by Sheldon & Co. THE Moody and Sankey movement calls outing. still more books. Henry Hoyt announces two by the Rev. P. C. Headley. One is a sketch of "Evangelists in the Church, from Philip of Samaria, A.D. 35, to Moody and Sankey, A.D. 1875," in a large 12mo, with photographic and other portraits. The other is devoted especially to lay evangelism in America, especially in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association. THE American Tract Society show a new style of illustration and binding in a recent series. Little French chromo-prints, four or five to the volume, are mounted on gilt-bordered paper, and on the outside, in place of the usual medallion, the head or figure is cut out from the blank paper and pasted directly on the cloth. IT is said that Miss Alcott has made $60,000 from her books. A CHART of general literature, from the earliest times, embracing a complete outline of English literature, with the prominent writers of other nations, also a chart of ancient literature, by E. J. Trimble, instructor of literature in Swarthmore College, has been issued by J. M. Stoddard & Co., Philadelphia, and is commended highly. It is published both in map and book form. WE are told that we did injustice to Mr. Kimball, of J. B. Lippincott & Co., in our report of the trade dinner, in saying that he "made some remarks antagonistic to the reform." It is late in the day that we receive this correction, but it is never too late to do justice. Mr. Kimball was understood by us, and, we think by most of those present, to say that he saw no reason why libraries should be restricted as to discounts; what he did say, we now learn, was that he saw no reason why public libraries should be restricted in discount while school boards were allowed such discounts that the trade could not compete-a remark of a different color. We are glad to set the matter right. PROFESSOR ROOD, of Columbia College, will contribute the next American volume to the International Scientific Series. It will be a work on Chromatics," scientific and practical, containing much that respects color, which, it is said, will be of value to artists. 66 R. A. PROCTOR's first book this year will be "Our Place in the Universe," with essays on astrology, and on the Sabbath of the Jews. on THE Appletons will publish during the fall several new volumes of the little History and Literature Primers, which, small as they are, have commanded the best workmanship of several leading writers. E. A. Freeman will write the one on Europe; J. R. Green, the general editor, that on England; Miss Yonge on France; the Rev. Stopford Brooke that on Eng-large edition of May Agnes Fleming's new lish Literature; the Rev. Dr. Farrar that on Latin Literature, and R. C. Gibb that on Greek Literature. HON. GEORGE W. MCCRARY, M.C., late chair. man of the Committee of Elections of the House of Representatives, has prepared a treatise of 500 pages on the American Law of Elections. It will be published this fall by Ogden, of Keokuk, and Myers, of Chicago. AMONG the latest individual ventures in the way of advertising circulars in the book trade are two little periodicals-The Book-Shelf, of Mr. F. B. Patterson, and The Lantern, of Mr. Kilbourne Tompkins. Their purpose is to give extracts from, and otherwise advertise, the publications of their enterprising young publishers, rather than to furnish, as does the Literary News, lists and notes concerning the new stock of the general bookstore; but the Book Shelf shows its appreciation of the News by copying as its leader, and honestly crediting, the editorial on "Systematic Book-Buying.' Both of these publications are cleverly edited and tastefully printed, and they are very creditable to their publishers. MR. AUGUST AUERBACH, in pursuance of his aim of making a specialty of American literature in publishing, announces from Stuttgart a German translation of Professor Adams' "Democracy and Monarchy in France." SEVERAL new volumes of personal anecdote are announced for publication this fall in England. Among them are a memoir of the artist, Haydon, by his son, and Mr. Paul's promised life of William Godwin. The first is illustrated by portraits of many of the literati of the past generation, and both are full of reminiscences and letters of the same-Lamb, Keats, Coleridge, Shelley, etc., etc. To these may be added a memoir of Miss Caroline Herschel, sister and assistant of the great astronomer, prepared by the wife of Captain Herschel, his grandson. ANOTHER Volume to be issued this fall by A. D. F. Randolph & Co. is a work on "The Puritans and Queen Elizabeth," by Samuel Hopkins, dealing with the Church, Court, and Parliament of England, from the reign of Edward VI. to the death of the Queen. Ex-President Mark Hopkins prefaces it with an introductory note. REV. DR. FARRAR, author of " The Life of Christ," is preparing "Studies on the Dawn of Christianity." He is now in Italy, at work. THE rector of the Glasgow Normal School, Mr. Leitch, has prepared a book on "Eminent Educationists and their Various Systems of Education." THE latest rumor about George Eliot's forthcoming novel is, that it will illustrate American life! A NEW edition of early English poets is to be edited by Mr. A. B. Grosart, for publication in London. "The Complete Works of Giles Fletcher," now in press, will be followed by those of Sir John Davies and Sir Philip Sidney. G. W. CARLETON & Co. are at work at their proaching completion; they will issue also a hardest on Miss Evans' " Infelice," which is ap novel, "Norine's Revenge," which is said to be of the most absorbing character. Her books have had a remarkable sale. MESSRS. A. WILLIAMS & Co., Boston, by spepublish, in a limited edition of 200 copies, a cial arrangement with the city government, will memorial of the Centennial Celebration at Bunbration, which will form the body of the book, ker Hill. Besides the description of the celean appendix will contain "a survey of the literature of Bunker Hill, with its antecedents and results." The book will be an octavo, illustrated with ten heliotype plates, at $2. TENNYSON'S revision of “Queen Mary" relates to the character of Archbishop Cranmer, which he is enlarging at the suggestion of Mr. Henry Irving. SEVERAL interesting art books are promised by English publishers. Among them is to be a splendid edition of Canova's works, sculptures and models, in India tint, with a description of the engravings, by Countess Albrizzi, and a memoir by Signor Cicognara. Another, uniform with the memoirs of Gilray, is to be "Life and Times of Thomas Rowlandson," with a history of his caricatures, among which will be remembered " Dr. Syntax's Tour," "The Dance of Life" and "The Dance of Death," and a key to them. MR. J. B. LIPPINCOTT, the Philadelphia publisher, is about to open a branch house in London, England, where he is now staying, and will shortly issue a publication which will appear simultaneously in that country and in the United States.-Tribune. The Lee & Shepard Affairs. (By telegraph to Associated Press.) BOSTON, Sept. 30.-The committee appointed by the creditors of Messrs. Lee & Shepard reported to-day. The total assets of the firm were announced as $153,206.93; direct liabilities, $489,740.84; contingent liabilities, $135.537: gross liabilities, $625,277.84; net liabilitiesthat is, deducting the contingent liabilities which will probably not fall upon the firm— $578,230.84. Lee & Shepard make a proposition to pay twenty cents on the dollar, secured by notes on short terms, without interest. The committee report that the disaster to the house was caused by an excess of business expenses, the deterioration of stereotype plates, and the loan of credit. Several of the creditors wished security for the notes, and were willing to take fifteen cents cash. Messrs. Hurd & Houghton proposed that an assignment be made in order to realize cash. The meeting was postponed for two weeks in order to give the firm time to make a new proposition. |