1893.] Editorials. 359 
EDITORIALS. 
EDITORS, E. D. COPE, AND J. S. KINGSLEY. 
—Sratistics as to the publication of original books by the four 
leading nations of readers have recently appeared. America and 
Great Britain have published during the last decade between four 
and five thousand books each. In America the proportion of fic- 
tion was considerably larger than in Great Britain. In Germany 
the number of books published in the same time was over ten 
thousand, with a smaller absolute number of works of fiction than in 
Great Britain. The figures for France fall between those of Great 
Britain and Germany. 
In view of the fact that America exceeds in population each of the 
countries named, and includes in this population a greater number of 
readers, these statistics are not pleasing to our national pride. Great 
Britain, with a much smaller population, is our superior in the quality 
of books produced, and yet falls far behind Germany. 
There are several reasons for this state of affairs. One is theabsence 
of compulsory education, which exists in an effective condition in 
Germany. Another, and probably more efficient cause, is the fact 
that our publishers think it necessary to bring out books of value in 
an expensive style, so that they are out of the reach of students gen- 
erally. The same cause probably conduces to the depression in the 
publishing business in Great Britain. If American students could 
purchase scientific and other serious books at as low rates as can be 
done in Germany, the general standard of intelligence would be greatly 
elevated. If American publishers would get out cheap editions of 
such literature they would greatly profit by it. The extravagant style 
in which popular scientific books are published in this country is an 
anachronism. There is no nobility here whose attention it is neces- 
sary to gain for material reasons, nor is social position the object for 
which the scientist is supposed to be striving. Hence the absurdity of 
clothing science in a garb which can attract a small class only, while 
it makes her inaccessible to the mass of mankind. The supposition 
that people will not buy solid literature is negatived by the experience | 
of Germany. If American publishers will not publish cheap works 
of this class we shall become dependent on foreign countries, whose 
books will soon become accessible to us by the removal of the oppress- 
ive tax on intelligence, known as the protective tariff. 
