The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-29
oAzED BY HER GOOD LUCK.
How Mrs. Stowe Wrote and Disposed OF
s'Unclo Toms Cabin"

The event of events in Mrs. Stoves
life was, of course, the production OF
"Uncle Toms Cabin A great deal
has been written about it, 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 l was rabid anti
slavery man, although the fact that
had previously been the publisher of
book by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
may have had something to do with it.
After careful examination / conclud-
ed that the story would not only repay
the cost of publication in book form
but would yield some profit. Possibly
l was helped to that conclusion by my
firm conviction that the volume would
prove strong anti-slavery document.
At all events l 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. i tell wife, said he to
me, that if she can get 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 $5O?"
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
my contract with them required me to
give note only, l would pay them
that sum in cash."
"How did they receive your informa-
tion?"
They seemed little dazed by the
news. The sum was so vastly beyond
anything they expected or had hereto
fore possessed that it appeared to them
like a great fortune. When they call
ed at my Office I 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 do with it or how to get
the money it represented. l explained
to the professor that he must indorse
the check and present it for payment.
l 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 90 about
with moro than s. in their pockets,
babe them good-day, and they went
their way rejoicing. When | gave
them a second check for $1,000 I
found they needed no further instruc-
tions. More than $4,000 sets of two
each were published in the
first year,
Some other points in the history of''Un-
Gle Toms Cabin" are interesting. The
author had accompanied her husband
to Brunswick, Me-, where he had been
appointed professor in Bowdoin Col
lege, and while there she began writ
ing Q851) her famous novel in weekly |
for the National Era.
writing it in the midst of domestic !
cares and duties, wholly inimical to
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 |
n the Era, but made no noise in the
literary world until it had been put
covers, when it at once drew
wide and deep attention, and its sale
.apidly and steadily increased. The
price paid for the MS. by the proprie-
or of the Era, Gamaliel Bailey, was
,nly $500, the author having the privi-
ege of issuingit afterwards in a bound
7olume. There was to be originally
'nly matter enough for a single vol
lme, but the subject grew into double
he amount by the time of completion,
md was published in two Volumes
Philadelphia Telegraph.