St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-09
THEY WILL WRITE BOOKS.
The Whole Grant Family Want to Make
and Sell Literature.
THE CAUSE OF THE MANIA
Col. Fred ARRANGING to Connect Himself
With the Cosmopolitan
Magazine.


| Grant refused Gov. Hills nomination
| to the Office of quarantine commissioner
| 1t was said that his action was due to
hints from Thomas G. Platt. Now
comes the true explanation. The colonel
is going into the publishing business to
WIN laurelS and lueFe. 1t is now nearly
year ago that Col. Grant spoke to
Charles S. Webster, of the firm that
brought out his fathers book, on the
subject, but did not receive much en-
eouragement. With the persistence
that was distinguishing trait of his
father, he nursed his ambition, and is
said to have received the approval OF
his mother and other members of the
family. For some time now his name
has been coupled with that of a New
York magazine. Nh. Webster said to-
day that he had heard of the c0lOneFS
venture, and understood that the maga
zine referred to was the Cosmopolitan.
Mr.. Webster said also that Gen. Grants
book has had the largest sale of any
book ever published within the time it
has been on the market.
I'VE have already sold more than 600
600 volumes, or 100000 SETS" he said,
sand many of these were i'll high
priced bindings. In fact, the proper
ton of finely bound volumes sold was
much greater than it usually is, which
is remarkable when you consider that
the book is q high-priced one anyhow.
We had 10000 canvasserS at work in
the beginning and sold over $1,000,000
worth in the first year. A great many
were bound in sheep, and some were
bound in morocco and half calf. OF the
latter some sold as high as $25 set.
1t is very profitable thing. l have
already paid Mrs. Grant S400,000, and
the book is still having good sale. I
feel quite certain that it will always
pay her 5000 year. She received
20 per cent of the net profits. All but
9 per cent of the amount sold has been
paid up, and we are very lucky in being
able to keep our accounts cleared up
| right alOng.'
'IS the book still sold on subscrip-
tion?"
well, yes, to great extent. The
books have only gotten into the open
market at all through the dishonesty of
some of our general agents. One of
| them SWindled us out of q large amount,
| $4,000. He bought large number of
the first volume and much smaller
number of the second volume. Then
| he refused to pay us and dumped the
extra numbers of the first volume into
| the open market. These were sold at
ratail for much less than the Subscrip-
| ton rate, but very few of the second
| volumes got into the market at all.
| they sold fairly well i'll England,
Australia and Germany. The book was
| translated into German"
''Have you heard that Col Grant is
arranging his fathers papers, letters,
public documents and utteranceS fer
publication in book form:'
mo, hadn't heard it. but | know
that such a publication cannot take
place Immediately anyhow. There is a
clause in the contract that Gen. Grant
made with us which restricts him from
publishing anything else within three
years after the publication of the book
same Injunction upon his heirs and
that would prevent such publication
as you speak of from being issued for
somewhat over year yet"
"Has any proposition been made to
you in reference to such publications."
Mr.. Webster heSitated for moment
before answering. ''Hes." he. finally
said, in a deliberate tone, Mrs. Grant
made such proposal to us about year
ago, and we arranged to publish the
book. IknoW she was perfectly salts
fed with the terms we offered her. but
we have heard nothing more about it.
THE negotiations were broken off
then, presume?@
II would rather not say ANYTHING
about it. Ireally have no right to talk
about anything except the book we
have in hand. l will say, however. of
the publication you speak of that it
would undoubtedly be highly inter-
esting book"
"When Col. Grant spoke of going into
the publishing business l suppose you
enlightened him as to the great risks
that would have to be encountered?' L
yentured to remark.
"Yes, you may be certain [ did. 1t
requires more than famous name Or
even ambition to make a success of such
q venture. 1t IS lio easy undertaking.
When L understood that he had CON
nected himself with the Cosmopolitan I
was surprised. There hardly seems to
be room for more magazines with the
field so crowded as it is"
Upon leaving Mr. Webster I called
upon the editor of the Cosmopolitan.
''Yes, it is true" he said, in answer
TO my question, THAT the Grant family
is interested i'm this magazine. Mrs.
Grant, through her attorney, U. S.
Grant, Jr., has secured a large share i'm
it. The colonel is also interested. The
final arrangements have not yet been
completed, but will be i'll a day or so.
L don't understand how the fact leaked
out, for no one has had any information
upon the subject except the parties in
tereSted, and don't believe that they
desire to have the news SPREAD
''DoeS Mrs. Grant intend, as has been
stated, to contribute a series of remin-
iscenes to the magazine?"
"Well, / really cannot say anything
about that. 1t is natural to suppose, Of
course, that when she does write any
thing it will be for the magazine in
which she has money interest. Fur
ther L cannot say anything except that
the magazine is intended to fill a long
felt want as cheap and popular maga-
zine" s.s ~.
1t is stated Oh good authority that
such series as was outlined in my
question will appear soon from Mrs.
Grants pen in the magazine. The pub
lication of the generals papers will not
fall to Webster & Company, either, al.
though their contract will not be vio-
lated, The large profits that have oe-
Cured from the sale or the generals
book are said to have infatuated the en-
tire family with the business of writing
and selling their own books. The time
and thought they have given to these
subjects may explain why they have
not appeared more prominently before
the public recently.