If we nevertheless argue that at no time were sales of novels higher than in ours, we will certainly be able to provide proof later in this text. To be sure, private libraries are established only very rarely nowadays; the delight in doing so is virtually restricted to our youth, but it seldom outlasts grammar school. This private library usually only includes the Universalbibliothek, but this also provides the student with excellent study materials at the same time. We should not be too hopeful, however, that this boyhood habit will carry over into manhood as well. During the university years, a metabolic change occurs – book to beer – and experience has shown that the money students spend on the desired quantity of beer seriously outweighs that which they once spent on books. Accordingly, the youth decides to buy only those books required for his chosen profession.
If only people would end their complaints, which are directed at the wrong address; if only people would finally realize that the causes of evil are to be found among those who actually raise the complaints! Among those people who hurl accusations at the reading public and the lending librarian, and who do so with such moral indignation, have we ever seen any one of them set a good example themselves by buying novels for 10-15 marks a piece for a private library? What they fail to do themselves, having 100 excuses ready by way of explanation, they actually feel entitled to demand of others.
[ . . . ]
If entire strata of the population abstain from the regular purchase of novels nowadays, if the private library is also becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon, then we have a replacement in other types of buyers and methods.
For one thing, we have the occasional purchase of gifts and of books for traveling. Did we not see that numerous editions of the new novel by Ebers were sold as gifts before every Christmas in recent years? Do we not see that it is becoming increasingly fashionable to use the good novel to this end? Of course, one cannot bring the novel by Schmierowsky* to a friendly family to whom one wishes to pay one’s respects, even if advertisements for it are in full swing.
Apart from that, we have the book lover (who only buys after careful selection, however), and all those whose requirements are so low that the lending library is unsuitable for them. At least in sum total, the latter make a difference.
* Possibly an invented name for a knockabout novel – trans.
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