General fiction and educational books are displayed on the ground floor, together with social and commercial stationery, fountain pens, office supplies, etc., while law and medical books are arranged on the balconyreached by a wide stairway. The business offices are located on the second floor.

During the opening days the two main windows were cleverly decorated. A Chinese flag was worked out in flowers on one side with the Chinese characters displaying the word "China" in books, descriptive of China. In the opposite window was an American flag in flowers, while the letters "U. S." were made with American volumes. Thus the window displays conveyed the idea of "Chinese American.'

The Chinese American Publishing Company is owned and controlled by the Lawyers' Co-operative Publishing Company of Rochester, New York, which entered the Chinese field a few years ago for the sale of law books and the publications of D. Appleton & Co. The growing need for adequate representation of American books in all lines has forced the widening of its sphere of activity in this field. The company has recently made arrangements with many American publishers for exclusive representation in the Far East. The Lawyers' Co-operative Publishing Co. was one of the pioneer American book concerns to operate in the Philippine Islands for the introduction of American law books. In later years it has built up a considerable branch in Manila for the sale of American law, medical and educational books.

The Plight of the Publisher

No one has ever found the sure way to advertise a book, says William Webster Ellsworth in "A Golden Age of Authors: A Publisher's Recollections." The manufacturer of soap or candles or breakfast food has a decided advantage in the matter of advertising; he can think of the future. the publisher has only the present to consider. If a man likes a special kind of soap he will get another cake next month, and later his wife will order a box from the grocer, and his children will grow up and go out into the world and wash off its grime with that particular soap; but, alas for the maker of "Hugh Wynne" and "The Turmoil." Of each of these one cake will suffice. The reader of "Hugh Wynne" doesn't go forth and buy another copy as soon as he has read the first; in fact, that is the last thing he does The reader doesn't say, as he lays down "Hugh Wynne": "Give me the Century Company's books or none,' and more's the pity, he may like his "Hugh Wynne" enough to lend it to a neighbor and that neighbor to another, and so on, each kindly lender killing a possible sale. A law making it obligatory to destroy every book after reading would help a publisher more than international copyright.

Fitting a Children's Bookshop

Two more interesting examples of stores planned for children's bookselling are shown in new shops recently opened in Boston and New York. In New York at 2 East Thirtyfirst Street Miss Marion Cutter, formerly head of the Children's Department of the Bridgeport Public Library, has opened a children's bookshop in part of the space formerly occupied by the Sunwise Turn Bookstore. An attractively lettered sign hangs over the sidewalk and attracts the attention of the passerby on Fifth Avenue, and an interesting shop sign in silhouette design is over the door. Inside there is an old-fashioned fireplace at the left, and opposite this a colonial table backs to the wall, in front of which is a comfortable bench where one can sit and examine the books. The shelving is low and stained dark, making a pretty background for the bright colored books, and over the mantlepiece hangs an attractive picture. As the room is not more than ten by fifteen feet in size, it forms a most practical demonstration of what can be done in limited area. Miss Cutter reports that sales since her opening, the middle of November have been most satisfactory, and that the mailing list for advertising promises good support for year-round selling.

In Boston the Gardenside Bookshop, at 270 Boylston Street, has opened its second floor as a children's room. The fitting has been made to give the suggestion of the interior of a galleon of the days of romance. Heavy beams across the ceiling are supported from the sides, and the walls and cases are stained in bright colors with little vignettes painted on the bookcases. At one side the fireplace blazes, and on the mantle is the model of a ship. The long table in the center is ready for those desiring to look books over, and a low bench runs near it for the children. The outlook from the windows of this room onto the Boston Public Gardens is an additional attraction.

Rare Book Advertisements

That books do not of necessity come in the classification of comparatively inexpensive gifts was brought to the public's attention by newspaper advertisements recently carried by the rare book departments of Dutton's and Putnam's.

Dutton listed eight items, running from a first edition of "Fairie Queene" at $2000 to the manuscript of Browning's "Asolando" at $10,000 and a thousand letters of Mrs. Browning at $15,000. Putnam's advertised a list from Prideaux bindings at $350 to a set of Trollope in first editions, 135 volumes. $1500.

In Secretary Burleson's report just issued, it is his recommendation that the postage of the advertising section of magazines be still further increased.

Book Outlet in a New Field

While looking forward to South America as an increasing outlet for American publications, it is interesting to note that book distribution has started in a modest way at that important half-way post, the Canal Zone of the Isthmus of Panama. Here the Panama Railroad Commissary in its ten chain stores, operated for the benefit of the employees of the Panama Canal, the Railroad Company and passing steamships, has begun to carry books, and in the past few months has found an increasing outlet. Practically all the books, so far, are in English and are purchased in New York by R. E. Rutherford, 24 State Street, the purchasing agent of the Railroad Company, the selection being directed by Mr. C. G. L. Yearick at Cristobal, Canal Zone.

Another "Best 100"

The editor of the Reader's Guide Department of the English Book Monthly was asked by a correspondent for a list of the best hundred novels. Taking the inquiry to mean those books that have hardly attained to the rank of "standard" books and accepting the correspondent's suggestion that novels of a bright humorous kind would be especially acceptable, a list was printed that covered a wide field.

Of the "best 100," twelve are by American writers as follows:

A Roman Singer, by F. Marion Crawford. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, by John Fox, Jr.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, by Kate Douglas Wiggin.

Richard Carvel, by Winston Churchill.
Old Dominion, by Mary Johnston.

The Cardinal's Snuff-Box, by Henry Har

land.

The Aristocrats, by Gertrude Atherton. Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, by Alice Hegan Rice.

The Lady of the Decoration, by Frances Little.

The Magnetic North, by Elizabeth Robins. Daddy Long-Legs, by Jean Webster.

Stock Turns for Retailers

The report of a large department store. The emphasis on stock turns as an all-important figure for the guidance of the retail manager is of great value to the merchant, and a comparison of this figure from year to year, always illuminating, becomes still more so when the figure can be compared with that of other stores.

The 1918 department figures of a Middle Western store carrying high and medium priced goods are printed in the Dry Goods Economist. The stock turns were for: Books, periodicals, etc..... 3.3 Stationery (Social and Commercial).... 4.3 These figures were obtained by dividing the total cost of all goods sold during the year by the total cost of the average stock carried in the department.

This would indicate that the stock was sold out every 16 weeks-an important guide to the buyer on judging how far to buy ahead.

The effect of stock turn on profits can easily be estimated. Let us assume that a store sells $50,000 in a year bought at an average discount of 34% or $33,000 for total cost of stock purchased. If the stock has turned 3 times it has been necessary to carry an average stock of $11,000. If the merchant can so improve his buying and merchandising methods as to get 4 turns a year he would then carry an average stock of $8,250. On this difference of $2,750 he has had to carry interest charges on the investment of 6% or $165.00 and has sustained a depreciation of about 5% or $137.50. Thus, his net profit is increased $300.

Another Angle on Present Retail Prices

Investigations into retail selling costs by the St. Louis Fair Price Committee have an interest to all who are in the retailing field.

They have found little evidence of profiteering and in fact in many cases, on account of a 25% rise just going into effect for present and spring deliveries, many dealers are selling at replacement cost.

The committee finds that the cost of conducting a shoe store ranges from 25 per cent to 33 per cent, depending on location and character of service rendered.

They have ruled that the gross profit on low grade shoes shall not exceed 30%, on medium grade shoes 33 to 35%, and on high grade and novelty shoes 37% to 40%.

The committee goes on to say that present high prices are governed by:

"The scarcity and consequent high prices of raw material.

"Inadequacy of transportation.

"Increased costs of production to the tan

ner.

"Increased costs of production to the manufacturer.

"Decreased hours of production." "All these, added together have produced the present scale of shoe prices, and the retail distibutor must of necessity collect from the consumer all the charges accumulated in the various stages of production over which he has no control, plus his own costs of doing business and a fair net profit."

Selling Ability vs. General Interest

Selling ability is no longer the only requisite of a good employee and progressive stores are more and more coming to recognize that other factors enter largely into the making of a successful sales person. At least one large department store in New York has instituted a rating system by means of which the value of a selling employee to the store is judged.

Taking a possible total of 100 points as the basis of rating, the management has evolved the following scale of merit:

Selling ability
Knowledge
Health
Accuracy
Industry
Appearance
Manner
Initiative
Loyalty
Co-operation
Courtesy

A total of 70 points is considered good and 80 excellent.

By this system the salesperson who does a proper amount of the necessary stock work, spends sufficient time with a customer to thoroly satisfy him and thinks as much of the success of the store as of her immediate sales, receives higher recognition than one who piles up a high sales total any old way. Thus, a girl who has a sales rating of 40 but averages only 2 in all other ratings will be surpassed by one with only 30 in sales but an average of 4 on other things.

A mark of less than 3 is unsatisfactory. If a I or o appears, an investigation is made to determine the cause and either the store physician or the educational department takes a hand.

Materlinck Sails for America

Maurice Maeterlinck has sailed for America and is expected to arrive in New York about the 20th of December. After attending the premiere of "The Blue Bird," as an opera at the Metropolitan Opera House, he will start on a lecture tour embracing all of the larger cities of the country. Unlike Blasco Ibáñez, Materlinck lectures in English.

THE publishers of the World Almanac announce that the 1920 edition will be ready for sale on January 1st.

LITTLE, BROWN & Co. have just brought out Major-General Sir F. Maurice's book, "The Last Four Months: How the War Was Won," another volume to take its place on the shelves along with authentic records by big men of the war.

LORD LEVERHULME, the millionaire manufacturer and English economist now on a short visit to America, has shown an interest in "Profit Sharing: Its Principles and Practice" one of the latest business books put out by Harper Bros.

ORDERS from China, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, Alaska, Peru, India and Sweden were included in three days' mail received recently by Boni & Liveright. The orders in each case were for copies in the Modern Library and are indicative of the widespread interest to-day in good literature at a moderate price.

WORD comes from London that "A Private in the Guards" by Stephen Graham which made its appearance about a month ago has already made an extraordinary sensation and critics are hailing this record of a life in the ranks as one of the big books of the year. The book is brought out in this country by Macmillan.

BLASCO Ibáñez after a recent visit to the Country Life Press at Garden City has declared his intention of introducing American improvements into his own publishing house in Spain.

MARY Elizabeth, whose name on a candy box has come to signify quite the most delectable dainty in the confectionery world, is branching out from the culinary line to the literary, altho somehow she manages to keep the two quite closely related in her new book "My Candy Secrets" published by Stokes.

THE need for a good up-to-date history of France and its people has been apparent in book circles for some time and now Houghton Mifflin has come to the rescue with "A History of France from the Earliest Times to the Treaty of Versailles" written by William Stearns Davis, author of that other readable book "The History of Medieval and Modern Europe."

DONN BYRNE's novel "The Strangers' Banquet," just off the Harper presses, is sure to attract considerable attention, not only because it is a first novel from the pen of a well-known short story writer, but also from the fact that Mr. Byrne refused to have it serialized in order that it could be put into book form and brought before the public as soon as possible.

EX-SENATOR Beveridge's final two volumes on the "Life of John Marshall," published by Houghton Mifflin, tell many gossipy anecdotes about celebrities who otherwise would be known to the average reader as rather stiff wooden figures in history.

THE poems of Mary Carolyn Davies have been prominent in American magazines for the past two or three years. Now the Macmillan Co. has published a volume containing the best of her work during this period under the title "Youth Riding."

Doran's latest contribution to the gaiety of the nations takes the form of a very timely volume called "This Giddy Globe" by Oliver Herford. It is an up-to-the-minute geography containing joyous skits on every country in the world, and he who reads will learn things never taught in school.

DECEMBER always sees the advent of a horde of new juveniles to delight youngsters at Christmas. Among the most noteworthy for tiny tots this month are the Stokes "Wonder Book of Mother Goose," "At the Back of the North Wind" from the David McKay Co. and the beautifully fantastic "Three MullaMulgars" by Walter de Le Mare, published by Knopf.

AN interesting Untermeyer book, "Including Horace," which Harcourt, Brace & Howe are offering to those who like classic poetry and are following modern verse, is a delightful little volume with which to idle away a spare hour or two. It is made up of translations, paraphrases and burlesques of the famous odes of the Roman poet and suggests versions of Integer Vitae as it might have been translated by Browning, Frost, Shakespeare and Sandburg.

Echo

Of all the echoes in the biz

(And I'm a connoisseur in these), That advertising Echo is

The most provoking sort of tease.

"A splendid piece of work," say I.

Then in the Transcript, Sun and Times; "O splendid, splendid, splendid! Buy! Splendid! Chicago News," she chimes.

"A sickly sweet affair," I say.

What doth this mountain nymph repeat? 'O sweet, sweet, sweet! Inquire to-day! Chicago News says sweet, sweet, sweet!"

Echo, we love to have you near.

Kiddo, we would not wish you muzzled. You teach us sublety, old dear,

Bound as we are to leave you_puzzled. -Keith Preston in Chicago Daily News.