Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-29
HOW PUBLISHERS MAKE MONEY.
Textbooks Fay Better Than Works 81
Fiction, biography Travel.
[9pectcl Corresnondonce

Especial Correspondence.1
New YORK, Nov. 7.-One Of the great
publishers OF New York was asked by the
writer few months ago what person re-
ceived the largest income from his pen
through the publication Of books, and he
replied that without question the writer
who had earned the greatest amount of
money WIS William Swinton. To a great
number of Americans the name of Swim
ton is familiar, but these are mostly chill
dren in the public schools and students in
the academies Swinton's textbooks have
had an enormous sale, exceeded perhaps
in the aggregate only by Webster's spell
ing book. Mr.. Swinton died recently, leav-
ing an estate estimated at not far from
100000, every penny Of which represented
the work of his pen. Some years he re-
ceived as royalties as much as 10000, and
for the past fifteen or twenty years he has
never received in single year less than
s25.000.
There Is no writer Of fiction, biography
or travel, or even of scientific works who
can show any such result Of pen work as
this.
few years ago young man asked a
publisher in New York how he could best
make living and earn a sufficient fortune
to keep him in his old age by writing, and
this was the reply he received go and
study for a year or so some department Of
education. Then spend another year in
preparing textbook or series Of text
books which are popular in style, up to the
latest demands Of instructors, find good
publisher and energetic agents and you will
make your fortune. There is not much
fame in this work, but there is something
which is Of perhaps more value than fame
and that is good income in it,"
Another publisher in conversation with
the writer said that if 1t were not for
schoolbooks and educational works, three
quarters Of the publishing houses in the
United States would be obliged to sus-
pend. Comparatively small profits are
made on general publications. Not one
work Of fiction in twenty more than pays
the cost Of publication. The reliance of
the publishing houses for profits is almost
wholly In schooibooks.
The most successful schoolbook ever
published was Webster's Dictionary. No
other book, excepting the Bible, has had
such a sale as this. Many millions of
copies of it were sold before the copyright
expired, and the royalties Which he re-
ceived were sufficient to oenable Noah Web.
ster to support himself while compiling
his Dictionary.
Webster's Dictionary gave DR.. Webster
a comfortable fortune in his old age and
made his heirs quite wealthy. It also
made the firm which at present publishes
it rich, and the profits which it has yielded
have been larger than the profits on all of
Dickens works
clsssmate of General Grants at West
Point, and for many years a professor in
Columbia college, published series OF
textbooks with which many persons now
engaged In active life were familiar when
students. Professor Peck died last win
ter and left comfortable fortune to his
family, most OF which was gained by the
royalties these books furnished.
Years ago Pinneo's grammar and arith-
matic were very widely used as textbooks,
and many men who have achieved great
ness learned their first lessons in these
branches from DR.. Pinneo's books He is
dn old man now, past ninety years Of age,
and yet he receives sufficient royalties to
this day upon his books to give him con-
siderable income.
A young woman teacher in-a school in
Connecticut published textbook on com.
position. 1t had q wide sale, and is In con.
stant demand now. The royalties on it are
sufficient to support her and an invalid
husband, and that Is something that no
work OF fiction, excepting possibly uncle
TOMS Cabin" Miss Alcott's stories and
some of Mark Twain's books, could do.
About thirty years ago there was a COL
lege mate Of ex-Secretary William c.
Whitney named Bump. While good
student, he was not esteemed an especially
brilliant man nor one Of great promise
After his graduation he began to practice
law, and congress having passed bank
ruptcy act he made himself familiar with
it, and wrote textbook on that subject
Outside Of the schools and law offices no
body ever heard of this work Yet the
royalties upon 1t were probably more than
were ever received on work Of fiction in
this country, and gave Mr.. Bump larger
income than some Of the ablest lawyers re-
ceive.
While Judge Dillon was struggling along
on beggarly salary for man of his ca.
pacity as United States judge, he wrote
textbook or treatise upon legal subject.
1t had such sale that had it been work
of fiction it would have given him fame.
w VIC 81 COW pStOAiC hSVCA alCetAu VI ttI-
though it gave Judge Dillon larger in
come than his salary as judge.
Millions are expended in textbooks
where thousands are paid for works of fic-
tion, and If a writer acquire happy meth
OF Of exposition and Is careful in his schol-
arship the chances for pecuniary success
are far greater in this field than in any
other which involves literary effort.
Next to textbooks. the most promising
field in the future for a man Of literary
capacity is to be found in the writing
about scientific topics IN a lucid and sim
pie manner, and yet with an attractive
style. Publishers say that this class Of
work always finds ready market, and
that the demand is far greater than the
supply, There is also a chance to gain
fame In such work, which the writing of
textbooks does not offer. Shrewd pub
fishers In New York are inclined to think
that the time is near at hand when the
enormous development Of fiction will ba
curtailed, and able writer's will tell the
story of the marvels Of science instead.
n ET,VrADDc