The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-14
Mark Twain.

A New York letter says: A man who
emerged from one of our restaurants
of high prices and popular approval,
wherein more good meals would be-
served if all the guests knew how to or
der and to eat, had the unmistakable
air of content and prosperity. He was
not SO tall as he looked, for he was not
thick, and a grenadier sort of fur cap
was liable to be counted in as a part of
the stature. He had brown hair, close
cropped, and full mans size of mus
tache. His age would have been esti-
mated at forty. The fur on his over
coat was less stylish than comfortable;
and yet it did not give him that negro
minstrel appearance that such trim
mings usually impart. His face was
grave to a hasty observer, but a quizzi-
cal expression could be seen by looking
twice. Altogether ne was not different
from what anybody might have antici-
pated in the person of Samuel L. Glenn
ems, known to the readers of American
humor as Mark Twain. He had come
to the metropolis from his Hartford
home to 90 to the opera and some of
the theatres.
"And on business, too?' was sug-
gested.
No" he replied, "all my business
is in Hartford.
Mark Twain's use of his pen is pro-
fessional, of course, but his making of
books is quite mercantile. He is one
of the very few authors who do not
divide with the publishers the profits
derivable from their brains. Cireum-
stances have favored his independence
of the ordinary methods of publication;
and yet all he has done other success
full authors might do. Being the first
of his peculiar kind of fun makers, and
possessed of a naturally droll delivery.
he made a small fortune as a lecturer;
and then he married a larger one.
Having thus become considerable of a
capitalist, he was saved from the ne
cessity of turning his manuscript into
daily bread, He could afford to devote
three years to travelling and writing
for ..Innocents Abroad" and when the
manuscript was ready he was not hur-
ried by any stress of finances to turn it
over to publisher of the ordinary mo-
nopolistie sort.
Mark Twain abounds in self-conceit
quite as characteristically as he does in
humor. and he never doubts the merit
or reception of his matter. With un-
shakable faith in the success of that
first book, he saw no reason for deSir-
ing the name of a well known publish
ing firm ON the title page. Above all,
he had no intention of accepting the
usual conditions, which are that the
author shall take all the risks of loss
and take about ten per cent. of the re-
ceipts. His book was, therefore, print
ed in Hartford, under his own super
vision, and sold through peddlers. The
plan worked admirably, and he has
followed it in nearly all of his subse-
quent ventures. The consequence is
that instead of getting 10 cents out of
every dollar which people pay for his
volumes, he receives nearly so. He
looks after the details of manufacture
and sale; he fights his own battles of
copyright: he has profitable side busi-
ness in the manufacture of 4 scrap book
of his own invention; he is an example
TO all authors who discontentedly see
publishers grow rich while to them
selves come only fair livings at best.
Above all, he has hit upon a way to
protect his wares in England. 1t is
perfectly feasible and simple. Our
laws do not permit others than citizens
to copyright their books here; but Eng
land, more just in that respect, extends
copyright to foreigners, with the sole
proviso that the work shall first be pub
lished in her country. sMark Twain,
therefore, publishes his books in Lon
don day before they are issued at
home, and SO protects himself in both
markets. Canada bothered him at first,
but he has Strengthened out the red
tape up there, and is now the only au-
thor who controls his writings through
out the English-speaking world. The
same device is practically used by Dion
Bouci:ault to protect his plays. He
has them acted somewhere in England,
usually before a handful OF audience,
prior to their production in America.