, 1884-01-30
TWAIN's SUCCESS.
How the Humorist Has Managed to
Pocket the Profits.
Book-PeddIIng the Secret or Big
saIes---How Mark Fights His
own Battles of Copy
Right


New York Letter.
Mark Twain's use of his pen is professional,
Of course, but his making Of books is quite
mercantile. He Is one OF the very few
authors who do not divide with publishers
the profits derivable from their brains. Cir
-cumstances have favored his Independence
of ordinary methods of publication; and yet
all that he has done other successful writers
might do. Being the first of his peculiar
kind Of fun-maker, and possessed Of a ma
turally drol delivery, he made a small for
tune early in his career as a lecturer; and
then he married a larger one. Having thus
become considerable of a capitalist, he was
saved from the necessity of turning his
manuscript into daily bread. He could af-
ford TO devote three years to the travelling
and writing for "Innocents Abroad" and
when the manuscript was ready he was not
hurried by any stress of finances to turn it
over TO a publisher of the ordinary monopo-
listic sort.
Mark Twain abounds in self-conceit quite
as Enthusiastically as he does in humor,
and he never doubts the merit or reception
Of his matter. With unshakable faith in the
success of that first book, BE saw no reason
for desiring the name of a well-known pub
fishing firm on the title page. And above
all, he had no intention of accepting the
usual conditions, which are hat the author
shall assume all the risk Of loss, and take
only about 10 per cent. of the receipts. His
book was therefore printed in Hartford,
under his own supervision, and sold through
peddiers. 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 dol
lar which people pay for his volumes, he re-
ceives nearly so cents. He looks after the de-
tails Of manufacture and sale; he fights his
own battles Of copyright; he has a profitable
side business in a scrap-book Of his own in
v%ention; he is IN example for all authors
who discontentedly see publishers grow rich
while to themselves come only fair hvings at
best.
Above all, he has hit upon a way to protect
his works in England. 1t is perfectly feasible
and simple. Our laws do not permit other
than citizens to copyright their books here;
but England, more just in that respect, ex-
tends copyright to foreigners, with the solo
proviso that the work shall be first published
in her country. Mark Twain, therefore,
publishes his books in London u day before
they are issued at home, and so protects him
self in both markets. Canada bothered him
at first, but he has Strengthened out the red
tape up there, and is now the only author
who controls his writings throughout the
English speaking world. The same device,
substantially, is used by Dion Bouclcault TO
protect his plays. He has them acted some
where in England, usually by amateurs be-
fore a handful of audience, prior to their pro
duction in America. OF course, you can
write a book that will sell to the extent of
1000 or so; and now that l have told you
how to save all OF the profits to yourself, you
may as well set about it.