"Canada and Its Capital," By HoN. J. D. EdGAR, Speaker of the Dominion House of Commons. The appearance of a volume on the subject of Ottawa and all that relates to it as a centre of Governmental, social and political life, is an event in the bookmaking world. There is enough in the records of our Canadian seat of government to engage the attention, and to give play to the faculties of the most brilliant historian. It is rarely, however, that such a history is undertaken by an author so specially fitted for his work as Hon. J. D. Edgar. While little of value has been omitted, the story is told in such concise and well-chosen language that Canada and Its Capital" is sure to take very high rank among topical historical works. Illustrated by twenty-one beautiful photogravures. Cloth, large octavo; price $2.50.

"Wolfville." By ALFRED HENRY LEWIS, illustrated

by Frederick Remington. A book of fresh and quaint humor. It describes in odd, but not tedious dialect, the doings of a Colorado ranching town. It is full of honest, clean fun, and keen characterization. The eighteen illustrations by Remington are fully equal to that artist's great reputation. Crown 8vo.; cloth, $1.25; paper, 75 cents.

"Little Masterpieces." Three dainty volumes

in an upright box. They are devoted to Poe, Irving and Hawthorne, and comprise the most characteristic writings of each author, carefully selected and edited by Professor Bliss Perry, of Princeton University. They are such a handy size as to commend them to all lovers of literature who like to have some of their treasures in a small compass. Tastefully bound in flexible cloth, 40 cents a volume.

"A Kentucky Cardinal" and "Aftermath.

By JAMES LANE ALLEN, author of "The Choir Invisible." The two books bound up in one volume. This will be heartily welcomed by all the author's many admirers. A gentle love story runs through these pages so replete with humor, finished style, and sympathetic description of nature. There is a grace and chivalry here combined with deep insight into feminine character that will win their way to a wide circle of readers. Crown 8vo. ; cloth, $1.25; paper, 75c.

"With Fire and Sword." A companion book to "Quo Vadis," and by the same author.

But it

is said to be a greater book. Henryk Seinkiewicz has proved in "Quo Vadis" that he can write books that people want to read. In "With Fire and Sword" he deals with historical scenes in Poland and Russia, and competent judges pronounce it a far greater book than "Quo Vadis." Crown 8vo. ; cloth, $1.25; paper, 75c.

"The Celebrity." It has been suggested that the author of this book-Winston Churchill-is a son of the late Lord Randolph Churchill. This book shows him clever enough for that descent. The New York Commercial Advertiser says of it: "Mr. Churchill's story ought to have a popular success; it has the elements that win the sort of favor that causes the publishers to issue hastily a bulletin announcing large sales." It has humor, plot and freshness. Crown 8vo.; cloth, $1.00; paper, 50c.

The re

"Bird Neighbors." By NELTJE BLANCHAN, with introduction by John Burroughs. This handsome book, illustrated by fifty superb colored photo engravings, gives an introductory acquaintance with 150 birds of North America. As a popularly written guide to the Bird Kingdom it will take a very high place. Crown 4to.; green linen, $2.25. "Folks from Dixie." By PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR, author of "Lyrics of Lowly Life." markable success of Mr. Dunbar's Poems makes the publication of this book of stories a noteworthy event. This young negro writer has achieved one of the reputations of the past year, and those who have read the stories are sincere in the belief that their popularity will even exceed that attained by his poems. 12mo., cloth, illustrated by E. W. KEMBLE, $1.25. "The Bookman's Literary Year Book." It includes: sketches of the new authors, with portraits; sketches of famous authors who have died during the year; a list of the principal serial stories in American magazines; synopsis of the bestselling books; an analysis, into departments, of the publications of the year; a list of the larger libraries in the United States; a calendar of literature containing the publication of great books, the birth and death of authors, and other literary events of interest. 12mo., cloth, illustrated, $1.25.

VOL. XI.]

THE

The rise in the price of wheat and other commodities ought certainly to benefit the

The Kingston Board of Education has adopted a scheme, to take effect after the midsummer vacation, for the supplying of text-books, writing material, ink, and manifold equipment, for pupils. The pupils will pay a fee of from 15 cents in first form to 50 cents in fourth form per term. They will get one text-book per year, besides all the scribblers, note, copy, and drawing-books required. The cost will be $1,500. It is reported that the board expects to save the citizens half that amount, now paid to dealers. We doubt if this expectation of the board will be realized in practice. We advise the Kingston dealers to keep a sharp eye on the board, and bring them sharply to time if their promises are not fulfilled.

the necessities of life is active the tendency is for the trades that have to do with things that are to some extent luxuries to receive a corresponding fillip. Another source of business should be found in the influx of American visitors, which is sure to take place during the present summer, to Canada. It is gratifying to find that our publishers are displaying a laudable amount of enterprise, and getting out some exceedingly good lines to meet the requirements of the season's trade.

**

Some fashions change very slowly. Many of us recognize the stupidity of the present system of spelling many words; and yet Uncle Sam can thrash the Spanish Don easier than we can change our present system of spelling. The Funk & Wagnalls Company, of New York, are among those who believe in the spelling reform by the adoption of the form "tho" for "though," and the changing of the final "ed" to "t" when pronounced as "t." But even the Funk & Wagnalls Company finds it hard to adhere to the new form. In reading

The efflorescence of head-lines which has characterized the Toronto newspapers during the past few weeks has been in some respects amusing, and in others pathetic. There are too many newspapers in Toronto, and the ground has to be fought for inch by inch.

It may be said that war is a chronic state of things with them. When real war breaks out, therefore, they are in a measure prepared for it. But the way in which all of them without exception have slopped over in capitals and scare-heads is an example of how not to do it. The consequence has been to utterly tire and disgust the public, and to kill the goose that promised to lay

[No. 2.

the golden eggs. The barometers of the Toronto newspapers are subject to flushes of excitement which argues ill for the coolness and stability of their management. They are like yachts carrying more sail than they can readily stand, and a breeze disconcerts and flusters them.

One of the things that the bookseller, in common with nearly every other tradesman, has to remember is that it is only by repeated endeavor that the public attention can be drawn to his wares. Let a man's window always present the same stereotyped appearance, and the public will get so used to it that at last it will make no impression on the public's visual nerve. The public soon gets used to things, and those which it sees every day are soon not observed at all. Let a man's methods grow into the fossil stage, and no competition need fear him. But even in this particular, one has to steer between the Scylla of utter conservatism and the Charybdis of instability through a too frequent and fickle changeableness. One man will have his stock about the same from year's end to year's end, with the consequence that an all-pervading dust will settle upon it and upon him. Another man will always be turning his things upside down, so that his customers are never sure of anything, and go away from him in disgust. The third man strikes the happy medium, and his trade grows steadily as the months go by.

BOOKSELLERS, ATTENTION!

Booksellers and Newsdealers throughout the Dominion should bestir themselves with reference to one clause of Lord Herschell's new Copyright Bill now before the House of Lords. The clause in question relates to the importation of foreign reprints of British copyright works. All such importations are to be absolutely forbidden except in the case of a colony agreeing to collect a royalty duty on imported copies, and to stamp "Foreign Reprint" on every imported copy. The law is to apply to all foreign reprints of British copyright works whether published before or after the commencement of this Act. The trade will see how far-reaching

this clause will be.

If the clause is enforc-
If the clause is enforc-

ed, all importations (to make the law effective) will have to be sent to a few central points to be examined and stamped. Today a bookseller or newsdealer anywhere in Canada can order these cheap reprints from the United States, and get them passed at any Custom House. So soon as Lord Herschell's new Bill shall become law, the bookseller will be worried and harassed through the delay requisite to have his importation examined at a central point and stamped "Foreign Reprint." At present our Government does not collect royalty duty on foreign reprints. But if our Government agrees to this new Herschell Bill without protest, the royalty duty will have to be collected as a matter of honor. If we protest, we need not collect the royalty. THE CANADIAN BOOKSELLER feels it is justified in entering a formal protest, on behalf of the booksellers and newsdealers of Canada, against the reimposition of the royalty duty. Let every bookseller and newsdealer take the trouble to write to the member of Parliament for his constituency, and also direct to Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, Premier, Ottawa, urging that the Government take immediate steps to protest against any Bill that would likely lead to the reimposition of the royalty duty in Canada. We trust that the suggestion here made will be acted upon promptly by the trade. This is a most important question for every bookseller in Canada. Don't delay, but act upon our suggestion at once.

POSTAGE ON PAPERS.

The Hon. Mr. Mulock, Postmaster-General, is able to discern the signs of the times. He saw that the owners of the small weeklies were bitterly opposed to the reimposition of postage on newspapers. He has, therefore, very wisely decided to deal as lightly as possible with the weeklies in his new postal scheme. He now proposes to impose a halfcent a pound rate on daily papers and on weeklies circulating outside the ten-mile zone. It would have been much simpler to have imposed the half-cent rate on the dailies and the same rate on all weekly papers except country local weeklies published in towns of 5,000 and under. These latter to be carried free as at present. This would be some encouragement to the country local weeklies. It is certain that, in the interest of the country, these country local weeklies should be encouraged. The tenmile zone limit will give trouble. It will

certainly disorganize the geographical knowledge of the average country editor. Many points twelve to fifteen miles distant from the office will be found to be only ten miles distant from the zone point. The local postmaster will have to waste a lot of time that could be more usefully employed, if he is going to scan the list each week for papers going outside the zone circuit.

THE CANADIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

The Journal of Proceedings of the fortieth annual meeting of the Canadian Press Association, held at Ottawa, March 10-11th, has been issued. It makes a neat octavo pamphlet of 120 pages. The Association in the past has been open to criticism on account of admitting to active membership many who were not considered as eligible. This controversial point has been disposed of by a rule confining the active membership to those actually engaged in the business, either as proprietor, editor, reporter or manager, and giving honorary membership to those who might be considered as specially interested in the objects of the Association, such a type-founders, etc. This is certainly a step in the right direction. It should do much to secure the active interest in the Association of those who were before disposed to be lukewarm in their support. The proceedings at the late annual meeting were of more than ordinary interest. Many of the papers were especially valuable. Mr. Frank A. Munsey, of New York, read a paper, "Random Thoughts on Journalism," which was, perhaps, most remarkable as illustrative of the "grit" and "blow" of the average Yankee. Mr. Munsey related his experience with the American News Company, of New York. Hundreds of dealers throughout the country have a crow to pick with that corporation as well as Mr. Munsey; but few of them, alas! even if they have the courage, have the resources of a Munsey. It would, however, have been interesting if Mr. Munsey had given the other side of the story. At the best it is an open question whether these five and ten cent monthlies are the great blessing to the trade that some people would have us believe. It is certain that they are perfect gold mines to the lucky and plucky publishers; but the trade, in Canada at least, have to sell a powerful number of them to make much out of them. And the principal cause for this is that the publishers keep piling up the number of advertising pages, while the trade has to pay for the cost of transportation of same. Take, for instance, Munsey and McClure magazines for May. Munsey has 160 pages of reading matter, and 96 pages of advertising. McClure has 96 pages of reading matter, and 112 pages of advertising. These maga

zines are supplied to the trade at seven cents a copy, net, in New York, on sale. But the return postage on Munsey is about three cents a copy. It will thus be seen that the bookseller has to keep his order cut pretty close to the probable demand, or the postage on his returns will swallow up the profits on a large number that he might have sold. Mr. Munsey will have to devise some new plan to help the Canadian trade if he wishes to make a better impression than the much-abused News Company.

Book Reviews.

"The Girl at Cobhurst," by Frank R. Stockton (Copp, Clark & Co., Toronto, cloth, $1.25). It is thoroughly refreshing to have the privilege of perusing this delightful work. No one seems to be gifted with the faculty of describing home life as Mr. Stockton does. As one walks over the farm at Cobhurst, in the company of its charming Mistress, "The Girl at Cobhurst," the air seems to be redolent with the delicious perfume of new-mown hay. It treats of a

sweetly pretty love tale, replete with surprises, and will doubtless meet with an enthusiastic reception from the reading public.

"In the Toils of the Charmer," by Mrs. Edward Kennard, (Rand, McNally, & Co., Chicago and New York, 5c.) one would naturally expect another of those bright, breezy, hunting romances, which have so often delighted us. But in her latest effort she has entirely departed from her beaten path, "In the Toils of the Charmer," being an exceptionally fascinating novel, having for its villain an extremely handsome woThere are two strongly drawn characters, and the vagaries of love and passion are depicted in Mrs. Kennard's truly charming style, and the interest is well maintained to the end.

man.

"Under the Ban," by Teresa Hammond Strickland. Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago and New York. Price $1.00, cloth bound. The lapse of thirty-two years since the Confederate Banners were folded up for ever at Appomattox has brought the thoughtful student and gra e historian to fields of inquiry, once limited to the politician, and given over to the dreadful arbitrament of the sword. South Carolina, proud, aristocratic, reckless, gallant, hospitable, first to advance, last to retreat, furnishes to the novelist many intensely dramatic and thrilling episodes characteristic of the haughty planter life at the outbreak of the war. "Under the Ban" accurately depicts the social state brought about by the long continuance of hurtful conditions. True to facts, rich in local color, sincere and searching, this brilliant novel proves the inexorable fulfilment of the awful decree," The sins of the father shall be visited on the children,"