THE PUBLIC'S LITERATURE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 13

THE PUBLIC'S LITERATURE.

"WHAT NEW ZEALANDEBS READ."

['■' Dersall."]

Mr Thomas W. Rowe, M.A., librarian of the Wellington Public Library, contributes an interesting article to the literary column of the Christchurch Press. The title, "What New Zealanders Read," is somewhat misleading, as the whole of the writer's remarks are based on his observations at the local Free Library, and though the class of literature favoured by the subscribers to this institution may afford a general index of the tastes of colonists in a particular instance, it cannot by any means be taken as conclusive evidence as a whole. Mr Rowe, however, is careful to emphasise this. He points out j that in order to discuss authoritatively , the question of the leading of New Zealanders in globo, it would be advisable to have the statistics of the libraries of the four chief centres for a period of several years. That of course is evident, and there should have been no difficulty in obtaining the records indicated, for they surely must be in existence. Had such a course been adopted the article would have had a much more enhanced value, not only to the residents of the city, but throughout the colony. Proceeding to discuss the question by aid of the light thrown on the subject through his local experience, Mr Rowe indicates special circumstances to be taken into consideration in connection with our Library — firstly, the existence of the G-eneral Assembly Library, which fulfils the requirements of a "by no means unimportant section of the community," and secondly, that the youth of the institution he controls has some bearing on the relative issues of the different classes of books. He also finds that owing to the unfinished character of the building works of fiction are placed within easy reach, while the more serious books are high upon the wall. Hence rather than go to the trouble themselves, or obtain the services of an attendant to get the volumes from their elevated position, ' many readers who would prefer a book of more solid character content themselves with carrying home a hovel to read." This requires reading over more than once and even then is- about as satisfactory as to say that if a man went to buy an overcoat he would come away with a summer duster, simply because the former was hanging on a peg in an '-'elevated position," requiring theservices of an attendant to hand down. The real reason that people read fiction—and judging from Mr Rowe's figures much of it is a dreary flood of rubbish—is because that is the class of matter best suited to their understanding.'. A reader who really desires what Mr Rowe terms a " solid book " would climb to a very much more elevated position than the top self of a libraty to get it Many instances come within the notice of nearly every reader of men and youths, without the advantages of access to a library, who, struggling against poverty, yet endeavour to purchase out of their scanty earnings many works of a standard character. And such people as these are by no means an inconsiderable number either. Those who " carry home a hovel to read " because they are too lazy to.reach up for someth ng better are very remarkable individuals indeed.

During the three years ending March 31st, 1897, says Mr Rowe, the total issue of books in all classes from the lending library amounted to 107,010. Of this total 445 were works of theology or philosophy, 3808 history and biography, 2824 voyages, travels, ethnography, &c, 633 works on political and social topics, 1385 works on science (theoretical and applied), 2378 miscellaneous works (poetry, drama, essays and various), and 96,637 works of fiction. That is to say, rather than 90 per cent, of all the books borrowed are fiction, and rather less than 10 per cent, all other classes of books combined. Of the latter, - voyages and travels, historical and biographical works, and miscellaneous books are received with most favour ; political, social, theological and philosophical subjects are almost entirely neglected. These figures open up a fairly-large field for speculation. Of course, as Mr Rowe comments, it is only natural that fiction should show by far the highest figures of any "class. Thereare many obvious reasons why this should be so." The novel has extended its functions almost indefinitely, and if a modern thinker wishes to preach a sermon or propagate a social theory, to popularise a discovery in science or discuss a question in economics, he frequently doe 3 so by writing a novel. " With all due respect to the superior persons who never read except with the design of self-improve-meat,"says the writer, "I think that one of the most impoitant uses of reading at the present time is to lessen the wear and tear of ' heart; and nerve and brain,' to refresh men and women wearied with the parformance of the ordinary duties of their work and profession. Men and women are not always craving for information j very often they are too tired to care at all about it; then they like to lose themselves in the doings of a fictitious world, and give both weaiied body and brain a rest." It was surely unnecessary to express any respect for the opinions of the superlative individual here referred to, who is invariably a self-conscious prig with a lamentable lack of insight. Novels are widely read, and deservedly so. Many of them,have become classics, and they afford in their perusal an acceptable and invigorating relief to all sorts and conditions of men. But there are novels and novels—and it is here that the mainspring of the question is situated. If the total number of issues be taken as a guide to the relative popularity of authors, the most favoured have been :r-Mrs Henry Wood, Haggard, Miss Braddon, Marie Corelli, Edna Lyall, Conan Doyle, Besanfc and Rice, Marion pwwfcfalasu Mrs Htmgerford. Jf ju%ed. 8

by the number of issues of each book and the demand made for it, Marie Corelli must be placed an easy first. Romano-s and novels of adventure, such as those of Anthony Hope, Bertram Mitford, Gilbert Parker, Pemberton, Merriman and Guy Boothby, are in great demand. The " Kailyard" novels of Barne, Crockett and lan Maclaren appeal strongly to a large circle of eager readers, Crockett being first favourite of the three. The healthy-toned novels of Annie S. Swan and the two Hockings also enjoy an extensive popularity. The classical novelists , Scott, Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot ! come low down in the list. " I have been told," says Mr Rowe, " that this is dtie to the fact that most readers have these authors on their own shelves—from what I know of the average private library I am afraid that I cannot accept this reason." And Marie Corelli an easy first! The writer who has doaa more to degrade the English language than any other of our day, whose wretched productions have kindled the satire of every person unsusceptible to the nauseous sentiments they pander to, is at the top of the tree 1 And why ? Because the solid books are kept in an "elevated position"? Not much. Mr Rowe, in dealing with this part of his subject, proceeds:—"While the popular taste shows some redeeming features, it can hardly be considered exalted. As a matter of fact with most readers it is merely necessary to mention that a book is new to ensure its ready acceptance, no matter how trashy it may be. This is, I suppose, merely a phase of the universal desire to be, as the expression goe3, 'up-to-date.' I wish that this expression could be banished from our language, and the superficiality with which it is associated from our life. The present standard of fiction is by no means high, and it is regrettable that good books should he left unread simply because they have not just issued from the press. Most novels are deservedly forgotten almost in the year during which they appear. It seems to me that the fact of a novel's surviving for several"years constitutes some claim on its part for notice and attention. There is only too much reason for the following words of Mr T. M. Hopkins (Westminster Review, January, 1898) :—' This truly is a novelreading age; the English, at the present time at all events, are a novel-reading people; they delight in having their minds occupied with the imaginations of others, put before them in attractive and interesting shape and colour. Novel-reading in its true sense, as pursued by the average reader of the average book, is, however, a dii-ect detriment to society, and it would be good for all if the great rage for works of fiction were to spend itself and decay ; unfortunately there are no signs of any such revolution in the tastes of the people; it i*, however, much to be hoped that the standard of books may be raised from its present low level, and that the passion of readers for books of infamy may be at least mitigated, if not brought absolutely into subjection.' These are strong words, but are not entirely without justification."

" Now, though, as I said above, I have little sympathy with those superior persons whose reading is regulated solely by the demands of 'self-improvement,' candour compels me to state that most readers exercise very little discretion in their choice of books. I hope that the day is very far distant when men and women will be unable to experience keen pleasure in the reading of a good book —no matter to what class of literature it may belong—without any ulterior consideration as to the improvement. of the mind. The benefit they will derive will be none the less for their want of self-con-sciousness." And in pointing out the benefits and pleasure to be derived from a systematic course of reading Mr Rowe says : "Some subjects, of course, cannot be treated chronologically, Out the reader will almost always be able to find soma method of arranging his reading, so as to render it more useful, while not less pleasing, than if he observed no method whatsoever. Fiction, poetry, drama, essays, can all be arranged in chronological classes, and gain enormously in interest in this way, as giving the reader some conception of the history of literature. The boolrs he reads cease to be isolated literary facts, they take their places as parts of a great living organism."