The next number of The Billiard Player should consist of many more pages than the present one. In these days, when the mere paper on which a good class journal, published at a reasonable price, is printed costs much more than the entire revenue from sales, no matter what this may be, some co-operation from advertisers is essential if the size is to be increased, and the additional literary, art, and mechanical expenses at existing high rates are to be met.
If we were to state what this comparatively small number has cost in contributions, photographic copyright, photographic fees, engravings, artists' work, and many other things, to say nothing of paper, printing, binding, postage at 1½d. each on the many hundreds of specimen copies to clubs, institutes, etc., as guaranteed to first advertisers, our readers would be surprised.
What we want more particularly to say here is that if we receive reasonable advertising support we shall continue to give to billiard lovers each month a firstclass journal, even if the actual cost of production be only barely covered. There are two main things—one vocational and the other recreative—that appeal to the editor and proprietor of The Newspaper World and The Billiard Player, and these are newspaper and magazine production and the game of billiards. He takes business pleasure in bringing out a new journal, and he wants the billiard world to be vocal in a press of its own as it very conspicuously is in America in The Billiard Magazine, and as golf is in this country in a host of successful journals that are devoted to its interests.
The sale of The Billiard Player must look after itself, and will necessarily be regulated by the merit, interest, and utility of the publication. In order to enhance these three qualities contributions, correspondence, and questions are invited from readers. All literary contributions, whether in the shape of articles or paragraphs, will be promptly paid for on publication at the rate of 2s. per 100 words (which can be written by anyone who has his subject at his fingers' ends in two or three minutes). To short letters and queries relating to billiards— which should be popular and useful featuresclose attention and any amount of trouble that may be involved in research and inquiry will be devoted.
All communications, whether business or literary, should be addressed: THE BILLIARD PLAYER, 14, Cross Street, Finsbury, E.C.