Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-11-29
LUCKY BOSTON AUTHORS.
HOW LOOKING BACKWARD" AND
THOU SHALT NOT" ARE SELLING.
Who the Writer of the Latter Book Re-
ally Is-HIs Answer to the Question
"Does Novel Writing Pay?" with Ad-
vice to Aspirants to Literary Fame.
Special Correspondence.l /

vice to AspiTants to Literary Fame.
Especial Correspondence.l
Boston, Nov. 21.-Seated at table
in restaurant the other evening, the
writer saw the man who wrote one of
the two great literary successes of the
year in American fiction.
"Well, how is Thou Shalt Not sell
ing?" asked.
First rate" was the answer; "the
American News company tells me that
my book and Looking Backward are
the only books that are selling to amount
to anything"
The speaker was the man who, under
the assumed name of ALBERT Ross"
wrote that much discussed book, Thou
Shalt Not" and companion novel,
"His Private Character" In that as
sumed name there is an intentional pun
on the name of the series I'm which both
novels were published, the Albatross Sc
ries.
At first the novel Thou Shalt Not"
was put forth to the reading public
anonymously. 1t was not long, how
ever, before there came a demand to
know the name of the author. With
the success of the book assured, it was
deemed advisable to still keep his per-
sonality secret while seemingly salts
flying the demand for the authors name.
His real personality is now for the first
time made known in print in this arti-
Gle. He is Linn Boyd Porter. He is q
man of about "a, of medium height and
stout, with frank and CHEEKY manner.
His pleasant blue eyes light up with a
smile when he meets you, and the chang
ing expressions of his face, which are
unconcealed save by short mustache,
show most Enthusiastically his pleasure in
meeting old or new friends. He has
served an apprenticeship Of many long
years in newspaper work. For years he
was editor of The Cambridge Chronicle,
and latterly he has been one of the night
desk editors on The Boston Herald, from
which he resigned when his book be-
came success.
During our talk, he became rather
more communicative on personal mat
ters than is his wont, and for the first
time openly acknowledged that he was
the author Of "Thou Shalt Not" He
also gave several incidents relating to
the early history of that book which
have never been told. Aspirants for
literary fame and resulting fortune will
be interested in this story of phenom-
enally successful novel. 1t is now near
ing its one hundredth thousand, and its
sale is made more remarkable from its
being the first work of an unknown
writer. l tell the story just as he told
it me.
81 wrote the story" he said, "nearly
three years before it was published. In
order to secure perfectly legible manu-
script l dictated it to typewriter, after
which l laid it carefully away in a bu-
reau drawer. often took it out and
read it over, and | never doubted that it
would be a success if it once got on the
market; but could not muster sufficient
courage to offer it to any publisher. At
last, when going on a pleasure trip to
New York, l took the manuscript with
me, determining to make one desperate
effort to overcome my timidity. The
next morning l walked to Twenty-third
street, and with many misgivings as
cended the elevator, to the office of G.
w. Dillingham;. never felt more re-
lieved in my life than when gentle
manly clerk informed me that the pub
Usher was not in.
Here is some manuscript that l
would like to have him read,'" l said,
laying down my little package. The
clerk took it, informing me that it would
probably be returned at my expense,
which I did not doubt in the least. If
such had been the story's fate, it would,
very likely, have been relegated to the
bureau drawer for another three years,
but within fortnight received a letter
from Mr.. Dillingham;, accepting the novel
and proposing royalty, which was as
generous, ! believe, as is paid by any
American house to its authors"
1t is not likely that any anonymous
novel has ever had such rapid rise to
great circulation in this country, for the
first editions appeared, as stated above,
without any signature whatever, and
with no especial advertising or other
means of attracting attention. When
the second novel was issued last August
there were advance orders for 20, 900 cop
les More than 10000 more have been
sold since that time, and the demand for
both Thou Shalt Not" and "His Private
compels at the present time
the printing of 1000 copies week. They
are sold from Bangor to San Francisco
and from Galveston to Montreal, and the
demand bids fair to continue.
While thus talking over his success,
Mr. Ross" as lie still prefers to be
called, let out the fact that he is en-
gagged on and has nearly finished a story
which will bear the peculiar title
Speaking of Ellen" 1t treats of the
abnr question, and in it is interviewer a
owe a,ory of the kind which has made
lis pen famous. Ellen is the chief of
he sp:nners end weavers of Riverfeld,
md the contest Of intellect" between
ler ana Philip Wcstland, agent of the
in which, of course, the
girl comes out victorious, makes story
which. Is rapidly outlined by Mr. Ross"
n his iAlp6tuous conversation, must be
If absorbing interest.
The writer asked him the question now
% frequently raised: