Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1895 — Gorged with Its Own Trash. [ARTICLE]

Gorged with Its Own Trash.

1 Ido not believe that the English book trade is affected by what is called the Bnancial depression of the times; I believe it has gorged Itself on its own trash, like the boa constrictor who lately swallowed his own blanket and died thereof. It suffers also from what •very other trade suffers from in this •entury—the overcrowding of the ranks. What are wanted are a few great publishing houses—a very few. Instead of what should be this choice few there are scores of firms Imbued With the same views of selling books as a grocer has of selling sugar and spice. Regarded merely as a trade, how far, how very far, is the publishing trade of London removed from that •f Paris? I contrast the cheapest French editions of my books with those Of the cheapest English editions of them, the first so neat and simple in their glossy, plain paper covers, with their good paper and admirable type Within, and the second so atrocious in the gaudy pictorial cover, which is deemed needful to attract the eyes of the British multitude! Even in what is called the “Library Edition” (heaven save the mark!) there are inferior type and inferior paper, in a rough, red, common cloth cover. Why cannot the French editions be imitated?— Ouida, in the North American Review.