The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-22
FIRST WENT BEGGING.
But Now Works by tho Same Authors
Command Heavy Prices.

l'loSiint chIDihicbCc.I
NEw YORK, Aug. e.--The successful nov
els so far this year have been the historical
romance entitled "i'he Refugees" by A.
Conan Doyle. and 1.-THE Heavenly Twins"
by hitherto unknown writer Mime. Sarah
Grand, which is believed TO be nom lie
plume, and IL IL something Of a coincidence
that only two or three years ago both OF
these writers were unknown and their
manuscripts were being passed from pub
Usher to publisher 10 meet with the same
experience which the story of Jane Eyre"
encountered In its manuscript dress for
nearly a year before a publisher was found
bold enough to print IT,
A. Conan Doyle is now esteemed, per-
baps, the most popular Of the English ro-
mancers, although be cannot be called the
greatest. Three years ago he had yet TO
learn what the exquisite delight Is of re-
ceiving payment in royalties from the sales
OF work OF fiction. Today his income is
estimated 10 DO nearly $4,000 year. The
manuscript of one Of his novels, "The
White Company" was offered in the
United States not only to publishers of
books, but TO those who buy for syndicate
dealings serials TO be published chiefly in
the Sunday newspapers. With single ex-
ceptiou every person who had oppor-
| tunity 10 buy this manuscript refused it..
! The editor of the New York Sun, however,
having examined the story and being de-
lighted whit, bought it and published it
serially In the Sunday issue Of his news
| paper. Before many installments had been
printed DR.. Doyle had conquered in Amer
| lea lust "a he did about the same time in
| England Now the magazine editors APP
/ proach him with propositions, and he has
contracts so far ahead as TO occupy thenext
five years.
The authorizes Of '"The Heavenly Twins"
notwithstanding the very striking title,
! passed her manuscript around among the
| English publishers until it became so
thumbworn and illegible that she was
obliged TO have it recopied. But she perse-
vered and last winter found a publisher
who, with some hesitation, accepted the
novel, and who is now reaping n rich reward
forbis daring. The Heavenly Twins" is
compared with Mrs. Humphry Wards
novel, THE History of David Grieve," as
work Of high literary talent, and The
| Heavenly Twins" themselves are regarded
as quite as unique and fascinating crea-
lions as were those children whom John
| Habberton created and presented TO the
world under the title Of "Helen's Babies"
The experience Of DR.. Doyle and Nine.
| Grand is, however, not an unusual one and
it seems to be almost a law IN the develop
| ment Of great literary success that manu-
scripts which. when they appear In cold
/ type have attracted the attention OF the
literary world should be, at first refused by
publisher after publisher who could per
ceive 30 business merit in them. Habber-
ton himself offered the manuscript Of
| "Helens Babies 20 q number Of New York
| publishers whose readers confessed to the
humOr OF the story in every instance, but
advised against its publication on The
| ground that there would be no market for
It, 1t was only when a Boston publisher,
rather against bis own judgment, consented
10 undertake it that ''Helen's Babies" be-
came the literary event of a summer some
| % wears ago aud reached a sale Of nearly
5000 copies.
| Mark Twain went about with the manu-
script of 1.-THE Innocents Abroad" under
his arm, giving almost every publisher IN
New York AN opportunity TO reap the rich
pecuniary profits which were then concealed
/ within this manuscript and it was not I'M
I'll in something of despair he offered 1t TO
a book subscription house that 1t was &c
cepted, and even then against the advice OF
a majority OF the directors OF that corpora
ton. 1t has paid Mark Twain over 500
coo, and after the first rush had passed
away there followed steady sale for 1t
which Melted him some $50 week.
A year ago Mr. James l.. Ford, who has
since gained some repute as writer OF hui
morous tales, received back from pub
| Usher the manuscript OF a story for boys.
IL was the eighth refusal of the story. Mr..
| Ford determined to make one more effort
and placed the manuscript before another
/ publisber. who accepted il. The story was
/ published and has had the largest sale OF
any story for boys published within the
past 10 years.
Mr.. Howe, the author of 1.-THE Story OF
! Country Town" being in despair because
of his experience with publishers, put II
into type in his own printing Office AFTER
the daily work OF issuing his paper had
been done. aud in this dress the story re-
NAMED unnoticed for more than TWO years
and would probably be unknown TO 'his
| dav had not Mr. William d. howeus
picked up copy of it by chance IN q sec,
/ ondhand bookstore, and beng dehSnteu
with il praised it in The Atlantic Monthly
In a day Mr. Howe found himself famous
! and his other stories, although not conpar
ing with that for merit, have been gladly
accepted by the publishers.
"Ben-Hur" was only accepted AFTER pro
longed NEGOTIATIONS and for two years AFTER
! IL was published was unrecognized. IL was
not until President Garfield had publicly
and enthusiastically praised the work thaV
the attention OF the public was called 10 H.
and it is fact that this novel, which has
returned to its author the largest pecuniary
rewards received by any writer for a single
work in the present generation excepting
Mark Twain and Mrs. Stowe, was for two
wears covered with the dust OF neglect III
the booksellers stores.
Some OF Hawthorne's stories went beg
cling. and Thackeray could not find pub
/ Usher for VANITY Fair" until he had prom
Used 10 risk some Of his own hard earnings,
and Rudyard Kipling's stories were de
clined by an American publisher wio aft
erward printed them without kiplings
/ consent from an English publication Of
/ them. T. =. I'd"
THE DEAD MOTHER.
aov, atm the housed The light peering between