either to find them dry or obsolete, or so sentimentally religious
as to have nothing in their own practical lives corresponding to
the situations of the pictured heroes and heroines.

The family library was another channel. To make evident to the
heads of households the paramount importance of creating a home
library, Mr. Lothrop set himself to work with a will. In the spring
of 1868 he invited to meet him a council of three gentlemen,
eminent in scholarship, sound of judgment, and of large experience:
the Reverend George T. Day, D. D., of Dover, N.H., Professor Heman
Lincoln, D.D., of Newton Seminary, the Rev. J.E. Rankin, D.D., of
Washington, D.C. Before them he laid his plans, matured and ready
for their acceptance: to publish good, strong, attractive
literature for the Sunday School, the home, the town, and school
library, and that nothing should be published save of that
character, asking their co-operation as readers of the several
manuscripts to be presented for acceptance. The gentlemen, one and
all, gave him their heartiest God-speed, but they frankly confessed
it a most difficult undertaking, and that the step must be taken
with the strong chance of failure. Mr. Lothrop had counted that
chance and reaffirmed his purpose to become a publisher of just
such literature, and imparted to them so much of his own courage
that before they left the room, all stood engaged as salaried
readers of the manuscripts to come in to the new publishing house
of D. Lothrop & Co., and during all these years no manuscripts have
been accepted without the sanction of one or more of these readers.

The store, Nos. 38 and 40 Cornhill, Boston, was taken, and a
complete refitting and stocking made it one of the finest
bookstores of the city. The first book published was 'Andy