Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/347

 NOTES BY THE WAY.

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��The second editor of The Bookseller was J. Vernon Whitaker. His father, finding the labour and responsibility of editing both the ' Almanack ' and The Bookseller too great, recalled his son from America, and entrusted him with the editorship of The Bookseller under his own supervision. Vernon Whitaker had gone to America at the instance of the late G. W. Childs, then proprietor of The Philadelphia Public Ledger, in order that he might undertake the editorship of The American Literary Gazette. This he did until Childs disposed of it to the proprietors of The New York Publishers' Weekly, who incorporated it with their journal, Vernon Whitaker being appointed sub- editor of the Public Ledger.

Under his editorship, the influence and prestige of The Book- seller were fully maintained. He took the keenest interest in all trade matters, and the successful agitation against the projected increase in railway rates was entirely due to his initiative. Mr. H. 0. Arnold-Forster undertook the conduct of the matter before the Board of Trade, the outcome being all to the advantage of the booksellers. Vernon Whitaker also took an active part in the negotiations which resulted in the establishment of the London Booksellers' Society (now the Associated Booksellers of Great Britain and Ireland). Unfortunately, his health broke down. In the autumn of 1894 a voyage to the Cape was tried ; but this failed to benefit him, and he died on the 15th of January, 1895, at the early age of fifty. His premature death was a great loss to the bookselling world, for he was always first and foremost in move- ments likely to be helpful to it, while his goodness of heart made him ever ready with acts of kindness.

The sixth division in the Jubilee number is devoted to a history of Trade Dinners, beginning with the Trade Sale Dinner. Till 1754 they were mostly held at " The Queen's Head " in Paternoster Row, afterwards at " The Queen's Arms " in St. Paul's Churchyard, and from about 1790 at " The London Coffee-House," Ludgate Hill. From about 1830 " The Albion " was generally chosen. At Thomas Osborne's sale in 1743 the company were regaled with " Turkies and Chines, Hams and Chickens, Apple Pies, &c., and a glass of very good wine." An interesting article on ' Booksellers' Trade Dinner Sales,' by Mr. Joseph Shaylor, appeared in The Fortnightly Review for December, 1907.

When the Trade Sale Dinners ceased, the directors of the Booksellers' Provident Institution initiated an annual dinner ; but although very successful it has not been followed up. During the last three or four years, however, the practice has arisen for the Associated Booksellers to hold their annual meeting in some important centre, and a dinner has been a prominent item in the arrangements. The Bookseller suggests the desirability of holding every other year a combined dinner, at which both publishers and booksellers should be represented.

��J. Vernon

Whitaker succeeds his

father as editor of The

Boohselltr.

��Trade Dinners.

��The

Bovliseller

suggests a

combined

dinner.

�� �