OCR Text |
Show B THE MOST POPULAR BOOKS. B The" same condition is noticeable at the lo cal library as has been noted in the public libraries librar-ies of the Bast. The works of fiction are read chiefly by the wealthier classes; the books of solidarity and information are read by the middle and poorer classes. This is duo to the fact ttat the poor man and the laborer reads for scientific and useful information; with the people of leisure, reading js almost purely a pleasure and a diversion. diver-sion. 01 the works of fiction most in demand at the i library, the one most frequently called for dur- ' ing the past week is 'Gordon Keith," by Thomas Nelson Page. This is hard to believe, since this work of the Southerner is the weakest of his efforts ef-forts and the only book of this charming storyteller story-teller which, In places at least, is distinctly wearisome. weari-some. "The Virginian" is very popular with patrons pa-trons of the library, and Wilson's "The Lion's of the Lord," probably on account of Its local in- Iterest, is in constant circulation. "Lady Rose's Daughter" still appeals to the public taste, although al-though In structure and everything but style it is far Inferior to anything Mrs. Humphrey Ward has done in years, and looks like a decrepit alien beside such a masterpiece as Robert Elsmere. Booth Tarkington is still a favorite with local readers, and his latest work "Cherry'' is already thum-worn with much usage. One of the most popular books is "The Call of the Wild," Jack London's Lon-don's latest contribution to current literature. The weird charm of that vivid story of tho North- , land makes a resistless appeal to the imaginative reader. A. T. Quiller Couch, he with the flowing Steveneonian style, is quite ' an idol with local bibliophiles, and his "Hetty Wesley" is seldom on the shelves of the library. The remainder of the ten most popular novels at Miss Sprague's haunt of the bibliomaniacs are Hamlin Garland's "Hes-! "Hes-! Per," Mettle of the Pasture" by James Lane Al len, "The Filigree Ball," by Ann Catherine Green, and Watanna's charming story, "Heart pf Hya-1 Hya-1 cinth." |