The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-11-15
DAzED BY HER COED LUCK.
How Mrs. Stowe Wrote and Disposed of
.'Uncie Toms Cabin"

The event of events in Mrs. Stoves
life was. of course. the production OF
"Unc,e TOMS Cabin. 4 great deal
has been written about 1t, but the fol-
lowing statement of facts of John j.
Jewett, the original publisher, is per-
haps the most authoritative Of all that
has appeared of that nature. In an
interview in 1883 Mr.. Jewett was
asked:
How did you come to be publisher
of Uncle Toms Cabin?"
Il suspect" he replied, sit was
principally because | was rabid anti
slavery man. although the fact that
bad Prev ously been the publisher of 4
book by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
may have had something to do with it.
After careful examination | conclud
cd that the story would not only repay
The cost of publication in book form
but would yield some profit. Possibly
was helped to that conclusion by my
firm conviction that the volume would
prove a strong anti-slavery document.
At all events | expressed willingness
to publish it, and the next thing was TO
arrange the terms. Prof Stowe was
in favor of selling the manuscript for
a sum down. Il tell wife said he to
me. that if she can get a good black
silk dress or $50 in money for the
story she had better take it, "
''Do You believe that you could have
bought the story for $50?n
Il believe | could have bought it for
$25.
$50 large were the orders for the
book that from the day first began to
print it the eight presses never stopped,
day or night, save Sunday, for six
months, and even then there were
complaints that the volumes did not
appear fast enough. In little while
| was able to inform Prof. and Mrs.
Stowe that their percentage already
amounted to $4,000, and, although
my contract with them required me to
give a note only, l would pay them
that sum in CASH
How did they receive your iniorma-
tion?n
They seemed little dazed by the
news. The sum was 50 vastly beyond
anything they expected or had hereto
fore possessed that it appeared to them
Ike a great fortune. When they call
ed at my Office | handed Prof. Stowe
my check for $4,000, payable to his
order Neither the Professor or Mrs.
Stowe had ever before received a
check, they told me, and they did not
know what to 90 with it or how to get
the money ii represented. | explained
to the professor that he must indorse
the check and present it for payment.
! advised him to deposit his money in
the same bank. We went thither. |
introduced him to the president, and
the professor opened an account.
After instructing him how to keep his
check-book and so on, and cautioning
him and his wife never to go about
with more than s. in their pockets, |
bade them good-day, aud thc- went
their way rejoicing. When | gave
them second check for $4,000
found they needed no further instruc-
tons More than $780, 600 sets of two
volumes each were published in the
first year"
Some other points in the history Of L H.
Gle Toms Cabin are interesting. The
author had accompanied her husband
to Brunswick, Ne, where he had been
appointed a professor in BOwdoin Col
lege, and while there she began writ
ing Q85D her famous novel in weekly
installments for the National Era,
writing it in the midst of domestic
cares and duties, wholly inimical to
composition. She often prepared her
MS. in her lap, sitting in the kitchen,
children clinging to her skirts and
crying vociferously. She had no idea
that her novel would bring her any
special renown. 1t was read eagerly
III the Era. but made no noise in the
literary world until it had been put
between covers, when it at once drew
wide and deep attention, and its sale
rapidly and steadily increased. The
price paid for the Ms. by the proprie-
tor of the Era. Gamaliel Bailey, was
only $500, the author having the privi-
lego of issuingit it afterwards in bound
volume. There was to be originally
only matter enough for single vol
ume. but the subject grew into double
the amount by the time of completion,
and was published in two Volumes
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