The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-01
TN Err A TIL RE.

1t may be interesting for those who like TO
know some of the side scenes in literary life, to
give them an idea Of the Number Of copies Of
the most popular works which are sold by the
publishers. We will quote the single instance
of the publications OF Sheldon q Co., New York.
Their list includes the works OF Marion Har-
landn Mrs. Terhune), one OF the best and per.
haps the most popular female author which this
country has yet produced. Her "Alonen was
originally published by Richmond publisher,
who made good thing of IT,; it then passed into
the handsof Derby o. Jackson, of New York, who
published, also, some of her subsequent works
(payinR her in one six months time about
S47O0 coByrjght) and finally the plates were
purchased by Sheldon & Co., who have since
published her Miriam" "Husks,r and Illus
bands and Homes" "Alone," It is believed, has
sold to over $1,000 copies; and the first editions
of any of her books now sell on an average from
$4,000 to $4,000 copies -outselling even the
works of Dickens. Mrs. Fords "Grace Tru-
man, issued some three years ago, has sold up
TO the present time over $4,000 copies. The
same house published the works of Jacob
Abbott, popularity known7as "Rollos Travels"
of which no less than 100000 pies have been
sold.
The Round Table, in caustic article on Ban
crofts Oraton at the Capital, sums up its crlu-
cisms in the following just review:
at is hardly even a biography a personal
eulogy, criticism of character-certaiuly not
panegyric. 1t may be anything else-a treatise
on diplomacy, political thesis, caustic article
on England, Austria, ana France, castgaton
of Napoleon, Palmerston, Plus TX, legal re-
ioinder to Taney, Buchanan, Lord Russell,
supplementary volume to Bancrotts History of
the United States-and in the latter case, as we
1,a,yo ocafA fopf 70 &C writ
more valuable portion than it's predecessors, and
great deal better reading. Biographical ora
tions, indeed, permit broad national settings TOR
individual portraits, as-not to go far for
illustratlon-in Everetts oraton on Washing
ton. But Mr.. Bancroft's address is like
those affairs in the printshop windows,
with an inch OF canvas to foot OF
frame. 1t is Hamlet with the princes part not
cut out indeed, but badly abbreviated. If it be
funeral Grafton, it is one made over the corpse
of slavery, over the bier OF secession, wherein
we have bitter gibes, not tender memorials, and
at which (as they did over Llncolns death IN
Matamoras) one does not light funeral pyres,
but bonires oil Joy. For what it Is, however,
it will confer renown on its author and is
valuable contribution to the history OF the times
We especially commend the simple single SEN
tence in which the assassination is touched.
No allusion is made to the name or character of
the murderer. We are heartily sick of that
prurient weekly-novel style of description which
gloats over the horrors of the scene in Ford's
Theatre, and wastes the feeling in detestation of
the wretohed criminal which ought to be ex-
pended IN love and admiration tor Abraham
Lincoln"
The following petition is being extensively
circulated among the literary world, and were
there any prospect OF its design being accom-
plished we would favor the prosecution of the
scheme -
''We, the undersigned ctizens.ot the United
States, do most respectfully represent to your
honorable bodies that the true interests of
American literature demand the adoption of ON
International Copyright Law by this Govern
ment and that OF Great Britain, and do pray
that you will enact such measure or measures
as will secure at the earliest possible day the
consideration of such law by the two Govern
ments herein mentioned. And your petitioners
will ever pray etc."
The following excellent idea is thrown out in
letter from this city to one of the New York
weekles:-"A history OF the newspapers Of
every town, city, and State ought to be under
taken while marerials for such valuable con-
tribution to general knowledge are obtainable.
Wherever there is a Press Club, as in Philadel-
phia and New York, it would not be difficult,
one would think, to have history of each news
paper written by some person or persons con-
nected with itn We must correct the writer In
one particular There is no Press Club in New
York, or any other city but Philadelphia. The
uea originated mere, anu all alJelDptS 10 ulStI-
tute such an association elsewhere have failed
through no mutual i'll feeling and jealousy.
We must acknowledge the receipt from
Messrs. Sower, Barnes & Potts, No. SO N. Third
street, of two more of their valuable school
works. One Compendium of Geology and
the other Commentary on the United States
Constitution" To them can be applied, in every
sense of the word, the name of standard publica-
tions The house from whose presses they issue
has achieved a reputation second to none as the
pub ishers of educational works.
We have received from Messrs. 7. B. Peter
son Brothers two exciting works, one en-
titled the Demon OF the North" by Victor
Hugo, and the Queens Revenge" by Wilkie
Collins. The name of their authors is sufficient
to secure Tor them an immense sale.
Mr.. Bayard Taylor's new novel, which is on
the eve of publication, is entitled 'The Story of
Kenneth the village in which the chief scenes