Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
RLAsSE's LITERARY VENTURE.
The Pleasure BIC FOund in Writing the
Eir.: VOltinie-Esis Surprise Il: its sales
From the New York sun.


From the New York sun.
Mr.. Blaine's most intimate friends are aware
that it was with great reluctance that he con-
eented to make the excursion he isnow taking
1t was only after the assurance of those whose
opinions were of weight with him that it
was Of the utmost Importance that he should do
go that he consented. He preferred to remain
In Maine during the whole canvass, and had
consoled himself with the opinion that he could
ind more relief from the annoy ances and bur-
dens of the canvass by continuing the prepara-
ton of the second volume of his book. Twenty
Years of Congress" 1t was his wish that all
the manuscript be in the printers hands before
winter. and the schedule of work which he pre-
pared for himself made ample provision for
thus completing the book. The success of this
WORK. not only financial. but literary, has been
source OF very great qualification to Mr.. Blaine
Last winter he was so absorbed in it that he
paid hut little heed to the political friends who
called on him in his Washington home to talk
With him about his candidacy for the nomination
Tor President. There were four or five hours of
the day when he would not permit even his
most intimate friends to disturb him. He said
frequently that he had discovered that there
was no keener pleasure than the preparation Of
work of literature whose subject was con-
genial. He could i've over the old struggles
in which he had participated without the wear
and tear of such participation, and he could
weigh, test and measure men. issues and events
without other effect than healthy mental stimu-
latiOn.
Much of the work of research and preliminary
preparation was finished long ago and there re-
manned for Mr. Blaine only to write the manuscript
for the second volume when the nomination for
President came TO him. The contract with his
publishers. which was prepared mainly by Mr.
Blaine himself, contains one somewhat tape
measure Clause. 1t provides that there shall be
TWO volumes of q certain number of pages and
q certain number of words to the page. This
has made it necessary for Mr.. Blaine to count
his lines while writing, and has to some extent
embarrassed him. The manuscript of the first
volume is all in Mr.. Baine's own handwriting
v hen asked why he did not employ stenO-
gTai'Eef. hc replied that he thought it would
Impair his worN To do So He found. he said.
than the ilagi,al labor of writing enabled him
10 express ID .5-eit more clearly. and to say
exactly w.fat he desired to say and no mere.
he igUa-i tiat the tendency in Debating was
toward GEd=cuesS Of style and ClOudness of
Ia.G lat
sa-akiHr To a friend about the matter of
II! ie. lie said that he determined. when he sat
down to write the first chapter. that he would
adopt the simplest ard plaincst style possible
He often took sheet of paper and filled it with
synOnymes that he MIGHT select the simplest
ones among them. WebSteT's and WoTccstprs
dictionaries, We'll thumhed stood in a rack, and
while he preferred Webster. lie generally con-
words. and though lie sometimes exceeded that
number. it was very seldom that he wrote less
Tue manuscript OF tile first volume was never
seen 10y any one except himself and his pub
Usher, nor could his most intimate friends get
him to quote anything that he had written.
The enormous sale of the book SURPRISED Mr.
Blaine. He la conceived an edition of $4,000
as one scarcely to be looked for although his
publishers assured him that they We're certain
1t would 30 higher than 100. 600. A very adj
adj and alr DIV
the edition has reached 200 coo. with every pros
pcct OF becoming 80 900 more the book will be
known, aside from its other merits as one of
the phen1minal literary successes of the centu-
~ Mr.. Blaines royalty will amount to about
81 fcr each book of two volumes, and his total
receipts VIII be. Ii rs estimated. not far from q
quarter OF a million dollars The book has been
bonanza TO the publishers, who have been
made wealthy by it. There are but few instances
On record Of such sale and such profits on a
Single literary work OF Mark Twain's limo
c@ats Abroad some eco 600 co,ies were sold
''Unc'e Toms Cabin" has in all probability sold
to the extent OF half million copies: millions
OF NebStcrS 81 ling book and very large edi-
tons OF some ether school books have been is
sued. and ApPietons CycOp2dia was one Of the
Colossal literary and financial successes But
work 81 literature like this it is believed by pub
hshers has never exceeded in sales, at least
within wear of its publication, Blaine's Tween
ty Years
Mr.. Blaine has abandoned all work on the
second volume until after election He expects
then immediately to resume the work, what
ever Dc the result of the election and to COM
Pete 1t in ample time for the publication and
delivery of II next spring. The success of his
book has led to propositions to several eminent
democrats TO write work covering the same
period from the democratic point of view. but
as yet no one has been found TO undertake it,
though MIR S 5. Cox at one time contemplated
doing so.