Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/345

 NOTES BY THE WAY.

��275

��Becomes

editor of The

Gentleman'*

Magazine,

��Founds The Booltteller.

��him of debt ; but that was not sufficient for Whitaker his name must be without stain ; and as soon as his position allowed he paid the old debts in full, and his son tells us that " among his most cherished possessions are very handsome letters from some of the most prominent publishers and others in acknowledgment."

In 1856 Whitaker became editor of The Gentleman's Magazine, and it was as " Sylvanus Urban "

" that he was brought more particularly to realize the many short- comings of the trade lists then in existence, and first thought of produc- ing a really efficient and independent organ which should prove itself indispensable to the trade. It was thus that the idea of The Bookseller originated."

Its appearance marked a new era in journalism, as it was the pioneer of the present large class of trade journals. Whitaker, writing in

1888, says :

" One of the reasons of the success of The Bookseller was the hearty manner in which I conducted it. I threw myself into the work, and, for a long time, did nothing else. It never reached my ideal ; in fact, the work just adapted itself to the requirements of the trade, and I was wise enough to let it go its own way, and not force any of my hobbies into its pages."

Whitaker wrote not a word too much as to the reason of his success. I frequently saw him at the time he started the new venture. When I have been with my father in Paternoster Row, he would come up to us and tell my father, for whom he had always the warmest friendship, how well the publishers supported the new periodical. Those who remember Whitaker will call to mind how full of energy he was, and how charming was his personality.

To Whitaker was due the idea of raising the Relief Fund for Relief fund Paris booksellers in 1871. Sampson Low heartily encouraged for Paris the idea, and The Bookseller and The Publishers' Circular worked booksellers, together for its accomplishment. On the 6th of February, 1871, at a meeting of the trade at Stationers' Hall, at which Thomas Longman presided, John Miles was appointed treasurer, with Edward Marston as secretary. More than 500?. was subscribed in the room, and the sum ultimately raised was 1,400?.

��A chapter in the Jubilee number is devoted to the struggle against underselling, and traces its history from the time when, in 1852, a Booksellers' Association was formed to deal with the question. The Times and many of the foremost literary men opposed coercion or any form of exclusive dealing. Lord Campbell, Grote, and Dean Milman were appointed arbitrators. William Longman " frankly admitted that the objects in view could not be obtained without coercion." The decision, as is well known, was unfavourable, Lord Campbell stating that

9 2

��Struggle

against

underselling.

�� �