Among the Literati

Latest Liveright, Inc., bankruptcy rumor is that Arthur Pell, president, has got enough cash together to satisfy the creditors and they will allow the firm to carry on under its present officers. It is going to be embarrassing for those authors who have already signed up with different publishers. Pell, a Jewish gentleman, who never had anything to do with the editorial end of the business, refused to give in when the receiver was hovering about but in sisted that he could gather enough funds to keep the business going.

You business men who have a contempt for things bookish can make some real money by bidding for the Brentano store in Washington. The entire organization is for sale but the creditors are willing to sell it piecemeal and the best hunk is in Washington. Bidding will start on June 6th.

You knew, of course, that the Book of the Month Club is operated and owned by Jews. Harry Scherman is the president and has been able to keep the business running without reducing either salaries or employes ….

Did you know: that Lewis Corey is a Jew? That Samuel Schmalhausen changed his name to House and when his first book was published went back to the longer signature? That Ben Ginsburgh, who wrote a book on scientists, is an economist of some note? That the majority of the reporters on the New York newspapers are Jews and Irishmen? That Bobbs, Merrill, a Gentile publishing house, canvassed the literary agents for young Jewish writers some years ago? Their first capture was Robert Nathan. The sudden pro-Semitism was based on the idea that the Jews would have something vital and interesting to say about American life.

CROSS-WORD PUZZLES TO TROTSKY

Richard J. Simon, the publisher, is the slim Carnera of the book business. Six feet four and a half inches tall, he looks like a folding ladder when hunched over a desk. The Robert Simon who writes the music reviews in the New Yorker is a cousin of Richard, who, besides being a crack tennis and bridge player, is also a pianist of some fame. Pianos brought the tall Simon in contact with the short Max Schuster. Simon was working for a piano manufacturer, Schuster was selling advertising; they met at the manufacturer’s office. A friendship sprang up which soon blossomed into a publishing house. The first venture was a cross-word puzzle book issued under the name of the Plaza Publishing Company, The boys were not too sure of themselves. What happened after that is history. Now the boys publish Trotsky without raising an eyebrow.