The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-15

pend. Comparatively small profits ara
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 schoolbooks.
The most successful schoolbook ever
published was Webster's Dictionary. No
other book. excepting the Bible, has had
such sale az this. Many millions of
copies OF it were sold before the copyright
expired, and the royalties which he re-
ceiyed were sufficient toenable Noah Web
ster to support himself while compiling
his Dictionary.
Webster's Dictionary gave DR.. Webster
comfortable fortune in bis old age and
made his heirs quite wealthy. 1t 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.
Professor William G. Peck, who was
classmate 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 a comfortable fortune to his
family, most Of which was gained by the
royalties these books furnished.
Years ago Pinneo's grammar and arith-
metic were very widely used "a textbooks,
and many men who have achieved great
ness learned their first lessons in these
branches from DR. Pinneo's books. He is
an old man now, past ninety years Of age,
and yet he receives sufficient royalties &c
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 a wide sale, and is in con-
slant demand now. The royalties on it are
sufficient 10 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 Marx Twain's books, could do.
About thirty years ago there was col
lege mate of ex-Secretary William &.
Whitney named Bump. While a 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 it 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 a beggariy salary for man OF his ca
pacity AZ United States judge, he wrote
textbook or treatise upon legal subject
1t had such n sale that had it been work
of fiction it would have given him fame.
Yet the great public never heard of it, al
though it gave Judge Dillon larger in
come than bis salary as judge.
Millions are expended in textbooks
where thousands are paid for works OF fic-
ton, and if q writer acquire happy meth
cd of exposition and is careful in his scholi
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 lucid and SIM
pie manner, and yet with an attractive
style. Publishers say that this class OF
work always fnds'a ready market, and
that the demand is far greater than the
supply. There is also 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 be
curtailed, and able writer's will tell the
story of the marvels Of science instead.
Envy ARna