The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
A Prospective Suit for Damages by the Gen.
tury Publishers-Twain's Plan for
Selling Gen. Grants Book.
A Possible Quarrel Over the Collector
ship of the Port of New York.
The Democratic Workers Desire the Appoint
ment of II. 0. Thompson, but the Presi-
dent Hesitates-Harrigan and Hart,
GENERAL GRANTS BOOK.
Circumstances Under Which 1t Was Write
and How 1t VIII BE Sold.

Circumstances Under Which 1t Was Written,
and How 1t VIII Be Sold.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, June 20.-At the time when Gen
eral Grant decided to make bargain with Mark
Twain the principal in the firm Of Webster &
Co., to publish his war book, instead Of carrying
out an understanding with the Century Com
pany that they should issue the work, the situa-
tion was somewhat complicated by the fact that
Grant had already contracted to write certain
number of articles for the Century Magazine
The rapid progress of his disease rendered it un
likely that he could even complete the book,
to say nothing Of the other matter, and he said
that he felt bound to keep the prior engagement
before proceeding with the latter one, notwith
standing his eagerness to leave the book as an
income producer for his wife. Under these
circumstances compromise was fixed
up by Mark Twain and Roswell
Smith, president of the Century Company,
the terms Of which were that the articles to be
provided for the magazine should appear first in
that periodical, and then form part of the forth
coming volumes. Under that agreement, dupli-
cate copy of these papers was given to the editor
of the Century, to be published during the sum-
stereotyping and printing in the History, which
was not to be put on the market until the win
ter. A substantial Illustration of this mutual
bargain has come. Webster & Co. got up an
agents dummy or order book. in itself volume
half An inch thick, and containing sample chap
ters and pictures, selected from the work. for
the use Of canvassers in soliciting subscribers.
newspaper reporter called to get information
on the subject, and Webster, who is a relative
of Mark Twain by marriage, gave to him one of
these small books, from which, of course he
made a comprehensive article, the substance of
which was therefrom telegraphed to
the press Of the whole country. Web
ster declared that be had no idea the
reporter would so utilize the material put
into his hands. The Century folks surprise was
undoubted, and their indignation, too for the
published extracts included most Of the matter
which was first to have been seen by their maya
Zines readers. They have demanded reim-
bursement of the money already paid for the
contributions, and if they do not get it there
will be a lawsuit for damages. They allege that
something exceedingly similar happened as to
portions of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" !"
The inheritance left by General Grant to his
family is altogether comprised in his book, and
it is pleasant to know that for every dollar which
the adroit publishers make out of it nearly two
dollars will 60 to the Grants. Should the work
prove less popular than anticipated, Mark
Twain's fortune would suffer depletion, for his
confidence was so great that he made an offer
which no regular publisher felt like competing
with. Twain says that he knows what he is
about in issuing the book by subscription
and is making no mistake. All of his
that way. and he believes he has made more
money in consequence than brother authors of
even wider fame. His plan is to arrange his
business so as to have nothing else on hand, and
then to bend every energy to the one project
He will in this case employ canvassers by the
thousand, beginning six months before the
volumes are ready for delivery. AS matter of
fact all booksellers will get supply, by hook or
crook; but the agents will assure their victims
that the only possible way to obtain Grants
book is to subscribe in advance. The expecta-
ton is that notless than Ave thousand drunmers
will go out; and if each sells only one book the
successful work attains. General Badeau's life
OF Grant, for instance, reached but three thous-
and, and Cables last novel exceeded that by
only thousand. These are called good figures
in the trade.
Grant has probably uttered his last words for
his loss of voice is regarded as final They were
the relation of an anecdote which is not in the
published excerpts of his history. General But
ler called on him in the evening previous to his
speechlessness, and Immediately after Buffers
departure he fell asleep to awaken unable to
speak Except for good-by to his visitor and a
brief order to his nurse, the story was doubtless
his ultimate oral intercourse. He said that
when the famous Peace Commission called on
him and President Lincoln, in Virginia, he saw
Alexander II. Stephens for the first time He
had often heard much of the Southern states
man, and had supposed him to be a very little
man; but on seeing him in company with the
other commissioners he thought him astonish-
ingly big. Stephens wore huge overcoat
made of some rude material-coarser,
the General said, than any Canadian
cloth he had ever seen. The collar was more
comprehensive than any he had come across, the
tails touched the ground, and the circumference
was in keeping with the rest of the ample pro-
portions. In Grants headquarters Stephens
took off the great coat, and revealed himself the
slender and in every way dimnutive man he had
been represented to be. 1t was the garment that
had afforded bulk. The Peace Commission went
up on the York; river to see Lincoln, and a few
days later the; President came down 10 meet
Grant
''Did you see{Stephens2" Lincoln asked.
Eyes. sir" replied Grant
"See him inShis overcoatp
Eyes, sirp {
'See him f6ke it OFF,
sYes, sirn
We'll an4 Lincoln roared with laughter,