The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-06
MISUNDERSTANDING.
~, rn.,o., comncre,a, su,le,,p. :,

and pertQQiC1E. Anu N'is o''S''! 80
from the failures where success seemed GER
tain, and the unbounded popularity some
am,ned and pronounced worthless, the entire
h,,dness would seem. by novice in the
trafae. 10 be governed by the mercst luck and
chance. &c.,
AT the risk Of repeating ali illustration that
is already widely known, the story of the
manuscript days of 'Unclc Toms Cabin is
case in point, that having gone begging for
months for publisher to finally prove
golden harvest to the lucky one, and add an
other name to the female authors OF America
Per contra, one Of our shrewdest and most
popuisr Boston publishing during
the mast season issued book at great eX-
nense. extending some IS 600 in getting it
ready for the market, yet up TO the present
time have not sold two hundred copies, and
the stock now on hand will probably net
them only its price as waste paper at the pa
per.lnills.
Many persons not conversant with the de-
tails of publishing imagine that publisher
must necessarily be printer, binder, and
dealer as we'll. But this is by no means the
ease. A publisher per Sc may carry on an
extensive business in room dozen icct
square, or even Of less dimensions, If nc have
his printing, binding, and selling auNillar1cs
outside. All that is necessary IS 4 desk "here
nc can keep his accounts and meet inc au,
thors who furnish him with the Hla,cria' OF
trade, and the printers, binders, ana sche's
who get ii ready for the marker.
To Inc s,,re. If publisher docs an extern
s;ye busincss, he will often fEd il more pro-
ft,hIe TO save the profits Of those who 90 his
work for him, although the contrary Is the
case with many. 4 firm which stands among
Tho first of the Boston publishers have mel
ther printing-ofiice nor bindcry, ana sel
onlv their own publications. Another hrm
deal in all publications Of the day, both
standard and transient, besides publishing
nj least as many miscellaneous works is any
other, and have their printing done at scfe-
nj different offices.
The profits and lossCs Of publishing
house are more Singularly arranged ltiaf III
apy other business, as n far greater proper
lion OF their ventures entail downright losses
than in any other trade. Then there is an
intermediate cl;,ss, where the profit or inc
loss on an edition is trivial, sometimes on one
side, and again on the other.
This class keeps the firm at work, Keeps
their name before tue people, and prepares
the way for the occasional successes, on
which the money is made that enables them
to continue in the field with fair profits, ana
sometimes leads to opulence rs well as re-
noWn.
There is wide diversity of practice az 10
the ARRANGEMENTS made with authors between
different houses, and, indeed, one house
often generally varies III its treatment OF the
different authors. In the book trade, as III
others, the main Object is to make money.
Consequently the first question the publisher
asks is, "Will it pay" There are certain
ruts in literature that experience has decided
will pay, and certain others whose weed
grown edges can be braided into legend
that forebodes danger.
After the question Of prospective profit
has been satisfactorily settled by the pub
li.hcr, he bargains with tie author, making
the best terms possible, which vary in nc
cordance with the latter's Standing in the
literary world. II he be new author, the
publisher generally has the work on about
his own terms; while. if he Is already some
thing more than meteor light, he dictates
terms to the publisher with as much aSSur.
ance Of their acceptance Us the "tZar OF all
the RussiaS" does TO his subjects.
When an author is very DESTROYS of having
his work published, and has money that he
is willing to invest, he often pays the entire
EXPENSE Of the first edition, and sometimes
even the advertising, the publishers part be-
ing only to lend their names to the enter
prise.
In other cases an author receives certain
percentage of the whole profits OF receipts
say five per cent. after the sale OF tho 1IrSt
thousand, ten per cent. after two thousand
are sold, two per cent. on The entire recelpts,
or in rare cases, 4 round sum Is palQ lor the
manuscript and copyright.
The merit OF q book is often its least re
commentator to the popularity II may at
tain. If it has a striking and euphoDlous
name, and its publishers have won good
reputation rs gentlemen of taste, the rcrlcst
trash will win wide notoricty, transient
though it be. The tendency of this Is to
foster mutual admiration societies ana CHI
uues i'll literature, which are us bad for slrug-
Cling genius as they are allurlng to the ne
diocrity that is thus fortunate enough 10 get
itself recognized. And while the cuphoDiouS
name Of the work, and the reputation OF the
publishers, are often the passports TO rccog-
milton on the part Of ILL unthinklng reading
public, it is too frequently the name
OF the author that decides the publish
er. 4 recent poem in one of or popular
magazines, which we have seen copied scvc-
raj times by country newspaper editors VINO
worship ut that shrine, would, if it had been
S'hb III uholiN W tiit I'A"i iihl''A t''h
one OF them, have been transferred to the
was,c-paper basket, and very properly.
Most readers have heard the story CT one
Of our best poets, who wrote little poem
and sent it to Il magazine publisher, with
fictitious name attached, only to have il re-
turned As unavailable" OF course, whel
the story leaked out, the unavailable "
matter was given Il prominent page, and
now IS far from being the least important
waif Of the authors complete works.
While publishing is trade as much as any
branch of business that might be cited, il
will he seen that 1t has more dangers than
most OF them, and those who have been edu'
Gated in itfrom boyhood frequently make the
greatest mistakes. In this connection, the
cssse of the poems OF popular English lad,
author may be mentioned. Just after he
name began to e known in England rs al
thor Of some Of the sweetest poems Of tn
language q collection was offered to one q
and declined on the ground that they did no
think they were of character that woul
sell In this country. Another house was az
preached, which published them, and hay
already sold over hundred thousand copies
While the demand is still unilagsinS.
An American authOreSs who was advised
TO continue school.teaching, as her adviser
thought authorship was not her forte, cll
point to sale Of upwards of 400 900 copie
Of one of her recent works.
The number of books pu bliShed in Bostol
in the course Of a year, taking 1t on I'M ave
rIge, can probably be estimated at between
300 ana 400, reaching circulation of 2.00G,
600 copies ut rough estimate. OF these
about one in ten may be estimated to brin.
in large returns to the publisher AbOll