, 1875-01-17

- ~AAo A0VV
MnseH IN the compoAition OF novel en!itle
"Waverly but preferring, after all, to Sc
cure the reputation of a poet, he tossed aeid
the unfinished manuscript, and devoted himsel
exclusively to the cultivation Of the Muse
When, however. his poetlcA reputation becam
obscured by the more brilliant genins OF Byron
he bethought himself of his neglected novel
aud set about completing it. This was in 1911
When the york vas presented to Constable, h.
recognized the authorship. and purchased tht
copyright for E700. The novel was two o.
thres months winning public favor; thcr
"sloop-load after aloop-1oad was sent OF
to tho London market. and. On the ru
mozed loss Of one Of these veseels, half London
waa in despair In brief period, 12o. 90;
copies were in the bands of curious readerB, 3,
1926. nineteen Of the Wayerlies had been writ
ten and Published. Constable was wont to pride
himself greatly upon the share he hnd had in the
succeRs OF these novels. and especially upon the
advantage which bis advice had afforded the au,
thor. Many OF the titles, and more than ono OF
tho subjects, we're due to his suggestions. It
Was eaid by his partner that, in his high moods,
! be used to stalk up and down his Office exclaim.
ing, .By God! am all but the author of the
| Warerly Novelist" ~.
~~%4os~%oAo "0o AA4SA1o5 Ill NudiEEHA 3QQ
At this 1nncs0re he failed for upnards OF quar-
tor o7 million. With tho loss Of his stock ho
parted with the copyright OF the Tayerlies. But
10 add ono more item to their history: In 1851
tho Messrs- Black, Of Edinbure. became sole Fro
pr1etors OF Scott's novels. In 1852 they an
: nounced that 10000 complete sets OF tue
Waverly Novels had been sold in Great Britain
alone, and in 1853 it was computed that upwards
Of ., 500 tons Of paper had been used in their
publication. As proof OF tho continued popu-
1arty Of these novels, it Is related by writer in
the Illustrated Ketos OF 1851 that, On journey
to Wales. he inquired a. the London Station,
Boy, whore ara.ths Scott Novels ?~ Don't
keep them," he replied ''Don't Keep them!
Why not7" because, it ve did, We should
not sell anTthing else-"
The extensive London book-house OF John
Murray was established in 1768. The name aud
trade have regularly desconGed from father to
son through three generations. In the time Of
the second representative. from 1888 to 1919 the
house attoined its highest eminence and had its
most interesting oa1eer- The publications which
are most worthy Of note during atperiod. aretho
Quarterly Rerte.o the first number Of which ap-
peared in 1909, and tho poems OF Lord Byron.
The association between Murray and Byron,
which continued until the dea.h Of the latter in
1894, WIS begun by the publication Of 81 Chi1de
Harold " in 1S12- For the copyright Of this
work Murray offered fc00 bat the aristocratic
author was at this tine too proud to write for
pay, and he generously gave the poem to 3 rela-
tive and friend, the novelist Dallas. with whom
the bargain was concluded. During the publica-
ton Of his poem. Byron made lounEing plaoe
Of the shop IN Fleet street; and ''his great
amnsement," says Murray. "was in making
thrus.s with his stick, in fencers fashion. the
spruce books a. he called them, which I had
arranged upon my shelves- He disorderad
row for me In short time, always hitting tho
volume he had singled cut for the exercise Of
his skill I WAS sometimes, ~ you Till guess,
glad to get nd OF him"
By1on's patience was sore1y tried by TIN print
ors, who blundered then ~ they do now, and he
writes to Murray. in \ 'blaze OF indignationl
Is You haps looked at IT. to much purpose,
to allow go stupid = blunder to stand;
it is not courage but carnage and
It you don't want to 500 me- cut my
throat zee it altered Again he saya, IT do
believe tho devil never created OF perverted such
4 dend as tho fool Of printer" IS For Gods |
sake, rises another agonlzed val, sirstruct 1fr.
Murray net to allow his zhopman to call the work |
Child Of Earrow's Pilgrimage! T. as ho has
dons to some Of my aatonished friends, who |
wrote to inquire after my sanity on the occasion,
~ we'll they might" Byron was extremely |
anxious that no llegitimats efforts should b !
znads to secure the success Of ''Childs Harold,"
but al tbs world knows how hs woke the morn |
ing after It's publication and found himself |
famous.
Tho connection between ths poet and his pub
Usher preserved it's friendly character, and reg
mar correspondence passed between the two.
aftar Byron's departure from England. At one
smo, hearing that tho poet @as in pecuniary
,traits, Murray sends him draft for Fl 500,
With generous offers Of further assistance.
Again, Byron presents Murray with IS Parisina
md the " Siege Of Coriath," and returns check
or Fl 900 which tho latter had forwarded IT
lare inclosed your draft, torn writes tho mhin1-
ical poet, " for fear Of accidents by the nay.
sish you would not throw :smptation in mine
t ia not from disdain OF the universal idol. nor
rom present superduity OF his treasures, can
.ssure you, that I refuse to worzhip him; but
phas ia right is right and must not yield to cir
uu.stances." With other tokens Of friendship.
3yroo presented Murray With Bible, which gift
Fas not little gratifying to the publisher, Who
ook hope that \ man could not be
4 Qel5Lt III hA0elba7 VI NUIeo3 HHo1 Ae eeQk |
,iblas about to his publishers" One dey. on
ooking the book over. it was discovered that the
1ayful post had turned the clause ''Now Bhrab-
a. VIE robber." into NOW Barabbas was
After tho death OF Byron, Murray
aud Moore 81, 200 for his biography Of the poet.
Along in these times, the boot-house in Albe-
1ar!c street was favorite resort Of both artists
nd men Of lottern. There, Oh any afternoon,
light be met such writer's IS Scott, Moore,
ampbell, southoy, Lockhart, Hallam, Wash
,Eton Irving, and Mrs- Bomerviile, and the
ainte1s Wi1luo, Phillips, Newton, and PicSers-
ILL., Manay'a generous and honorable dealings
ith authors made him thoir fiiend ~ wall as
ublisher. Tho present representative Of the
ouss succeeded to his fathers business on the
eath OF the latter in 1343. Although his List Of
publications. in the departments Of belles-1etircs
I'd travels ia extensive. he il best known to tho
rb!ic through his "Guide." for tho traveller
I'd aight-seer- -
Mr. Henry George Bohn, who deserves to bo
,,nembezed With gratitude for his efficient
rvico m bringing within the capacity Of limited
,rses many OF tho bost and r1rcat treasures of }
.era.ure, vas the son Of + London bookseller,
AZ