=23. Publishers.= We find in the census report of Great Britain, 923 women reported as booksellers and publishers. What the number of publishers alone is we cannot tell, nor do we know whether any of them conduct the business on their own responsibility, or whether they are widows, and have men to conduct the business for them. We know of two large publishing houses in New York that pay 10 cents on the dollar to an author for the manuscript of any book they see proper to publish; that is, for a book they will sell at retail for $1, and at wholesale for 60 cents, the author receives 10 cents, which gives the publisher 50 cents for getting up the book and running the risk of selling it. If the author incurs the expenses of getting the book up, they may allow 15 cents. They will pay no larger a percentage for any subsequent edition than for the first. But they will not undertake a book unless they think they can make money out of it. The same book might be printed and stereotype plates cast at 85 cents a volume. The author could then sell it for 65 cents a copy to the book merchants, and they would sell it at 90 cents a volume. After the first edition of one thousand, the author could probably get it printed at 40 cents on the volume less. If the book takes, the merchant may allow the author twelve to fifteen per cent. Some publishers purchase the copyrights of books they think may succeed, paying a specified sum, as agreed on with the author. Publishers calculate to have two out of every three books fail that are brought into market. Some publishers sell for authors on commission. The authors get up their own books, and the publisher sells, receiving forty per cent. from the retail price. He sells to the trade at a discount of from twenty-five to thirty-three per cent., according to amount and distance. The average discount would be thirty per cent. This leaves the publisher ten per cent. to transact all the business, advertise, &c. From the first edition the publisher will not be likely to derive any profit; but if the book takes, the publisher will make a handsome profit from the subsequent editions.
=24. Readers to the Working Classes.= In China, at almost every store where cups of tea are sold, a number of men make it a business to read to those that come in to buy or drink tea. A gratuity is bestowed by such as feel disposed. The working classes that are not able to read and buy books, are thereby enabled to have the benefit of those that can. Now we do not see why the same principle may not be carried out in this country. Shakspearian readings, it is true, have been popular and fashionable for a few years. We have seen it stated that "seven of Fanny Kemble Butler's recent Shakspearian readings in New York city netted the fine sum of $6,000." Beside, lectures have been delivered and poems recited, mostly of the readers' composition. Now might not competent ladies make it useful to the working classes of their own sex, or even both sexes, to spend an evening, occasionally, in reading to them? Charging a small entrance fee, if there is a good attendance, would support the reader, and enlighten the audience. It would be better if the poor, hard-working classes had more elevating and refining amusements. We know of none better calculated to improve while it entertains than reading. Might it not be done in saloons?--properly qualified men in the gentlemen's department, and properly qualified women in the ladies' department. In our large cities, where time is so precious, many a lady, we doubt not, would give an additional sixpence to have a book she carries with her or the papers of the day read aloud while she eats her lunch. The only difficulty is, the prices paid would scarcely justify one sufficiently qualified for the undertaking.