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THE RATIONALE OF FREE PUBLIC LtBRARIES. 33
manner. But the copies of these issues which I have met with
8 ~ devoid ? of anything to call binding, and I presume it is
understood that such publications could not have been underhken
from pecuniary motives. In tho same way, the Bible
Society, of course, can issue Bibles at whatever price they like,
80 long as their subscription list is sufficient.
Every now and then, when the papers are in want of
padding, there springs up a crowd of correspondents who
advocate cheap literature. A new novel, instead of costing
318. 6d., ought not to cost more than 5s., or even le. Cheapness,
we aro assured, is the secret of profit, and, as the Post
Office raises a vast revenue by penny stamps, so we have only
to issue books at very low prices in order to secure a vast
circulation and great profits. The superficiality of such kinds
of argament ought to be apparent without elaborate exposure.
It ought to bo evident that the possibility of cheap publication
depends entirely on the character of the publication. There
aro S O ~ O books which sell by tho hundred thousand, or oven
the million; there are others of which five hundred copies, or
even one hundred, are ample to supply the market. NOW, tho
class of publications which can be profitably multiplied, almost
to the limits of power of the printing press, are those always
vapid and not unfrequently vicious novelettes, gazettes, and
penny dreadfuls of various name, whose evil influence it is the
work of the Free Library to counteract.
Practically, the result of establishing Free Libraries k to
bring the very best books within the reach of the poorest,
while leaving the richer classes to pay the expenses of publication
of such books. Any boy or beggar who can raise sixpence
may enjoy from that coign of vantage," the gallery, some
excellent play or opera, which is really paid for by the stab
and boxes at 10s. 6d. or a guinea a head. A little observation
will convince anyone that thero are many social devices which
~81~9 the benefits of wealth to those who have no wealth.
Poblic ownership is a most potent means of such vulgarisation
of plea~ma. A public park is open to everyone. Now, if the
bnrgessee of B British borough are wise enough to open Free
Gbv, it is 8 free lib- perk, where the poor& m y enjoy
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