By a system of interchange a club of five may for that cost peruse five different story papers. This system is in general practice. The greatest amount for the least money strongly appeals to the poor. The novels in book form are of a much lower grade than the serials. Written by profligate men and women, in a vile style, their only object is to undermine morality. Falsity to the marriage vows, deception, theft, the catalogue of a criminal court, is strongly inculcated as the right path. These novels, generally in paper covers, are showy and eye-catching. A voluptuous siren on the cover, with an ambiguous title allures the minor to his ruin. I have known not a few book-sellers who passed as eminently respectable, do a thriving trade in this class of books. The fact that they kept the stock in drawers in the rear of their stores told of their conscious complicity in the destruction and degradation of our youth. These novels are cheap, within the reach of the poor, a point to be noted. The question arises, what can be done to counteract this spread of pernicious literature among our Catholic poor? There is but one answer on the lips of those who should be heard; fight it with good literature—yet literature not beyond their understanding. Put in their hands good novels, whose primary purpose is to amuse. The good-natured gentleman who would put into the hands of the poor as a Christmas gift Fabiola, Callista, Pauline Seward, etc., would make a great mistake. These books would become playthings for greasy babies or curled paper to light the “evening smoke.” The bread winners will not be bored. They have worked hard all day, and at evening want some kind of amusement. The book must be nervy, a tonic. Dictionaries are scarce in the haunts of the poor. Footnotes are an abomination. The author must whisk the reader along. A rapid canter, only broken by hearty laughter or honest pity. Have we any Catholic novels that will do this? It is the plaint of the know-nothing scribes, tossing their empty skulls, to write a capital No. From experience I answer yes. The novels of that true writer of boys’ stories, Father Finn, are just the thing for the poor. They want to read of boys that are not old men, none of your goody-goody little nobodies. A boy is no fool. In real life he would not chum with your sweet little Toms, your praying, psalm-singing Jamies, and your dying angelic Marys. Nor shall he in books, thank heaven. Father Finn has drawn the boy as he is. His books would be joyfully welcomed, if published in a cheap paper form, say at twenty-five cents per copy. List to the wail of the fattening Catholic publisher, who will read that idea. It is, however, a sane one. If Protestants can make cheap books, thereby creating the market, why not Catholics? Until this is done it is useless to cry out, as authors do, nobody will buy my books. Yes, your books will be bought if they are reasonable in price, and properly placed before the public.