ANNIE SWAN ON MODERN NOVEL'S.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 790, 13 April 1910, Page 3

ANNIE SWAN ON MODERN NOVEL'S.

-Miss Annie: S. , Swan .(Mrs., Burnett Smith) recently lectured before the Edinburgh Branch of the National Union of Newsagents, Booksellers, and Stationers on the question, "Should the novelist :teach?" ..The.last years had, witnessed a great change in the: whole ; , publishing and . bookselling . trade,-- she said.; These changes had very powerfully' affected, the author in a great many directions. She supposed they must concede the fact that people read more than they, did about twenty, years ago, when books were .a little scarcer than now, and a .little .more ciitiicult of access to the great public, especially that section: of 'it to, which money spent on books.must always partake of the nature.of luxury. The casual or careless observer.', would not have a moment's. hesitation in ..acclaiming that change .as a very excellent thing, but she had to confess that she sometimes had her doubts. -■: ' ■'■ "" ;'','.' : : .'

.It was proved by the returns of librarians everywhere, that it was the ,:very young person, who was the omnivorous devourer of present-day. fiction. People • were careful that children ate only food that was wholesome and for the' upbuilding ofi.the'bodily system, and 'sho'uld'sthey.'- be less- careful about■-.the food ..' which'vfed their "souls ?.4 It was a 'matter of great moment how their moral fibre .was weakened- or , their taste corrupted. It was not only a matter for the individual, but for the State. She was a subscriber of great libraries, and in one week she had after culling her list from publishers;'' no fewer than seven books which could be labelled objectionable. These were of modest exterior land of interesting appearance;'two had texts from the Bible on the title-page, but each and all belonged to the pit,, and should not have been allowed broadcast upon the family life of the country.^