Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-01
A SALABLE BOOK.


A SALABLE BOOK.
When I had finished my cursory ex
animation Of the manuscript, laid
down on the table, and shaking my hea
said:
II am sorry to disappoint you, old fel
low, but should most strongly advis
you not to try any publisher with thi
story. I don't think that there is tn
slightest chance of it's being accepted
anywhere. At the same time must sa,
that for first attempt it does you grea
credit, and certainly if you stick to you
work you will soon be able to produces
something that will be successful"
tell you that that book is going tx
be the biggest success of the year." an.
swered Martin Ross, in whose rooms in
the Middle Temple we were sitting.
! We had been at Oxford together and
had gone down about the same time, to
take my place on a newspaper and Ross
to try his fortune in the city. Although
undoubtedly sharp he had succeeded in
nothing, and had been under the i'm
preston that he had emigrated, when
that afternoon met him in the Strand,
and he told me that he had written a
novel which was to make his fortune.
It was at his invitation that 1 had
accompanied him home to look over the
manuscript in question.
It was very poor story, slovenly and
amateurish in style and vulgar beyond
criticism. I felt sorry to have to dis
courage him, but it was only friendly
on my part to do SO. I accordingly re-
peated, in answer to his remark, 81 am
quite certain that no London publisher
would undertake that book, though am
sorry to say So.
He laughed and said: "fI never said
that should offer it to any publisher.
/ am not such fool I want all the
profits myself Why should 1 put the
lions share of them into publisher S
pockets? There are thousands in that
book, and I'm going to publish it myself
that is to say, at my own expense
and I shall put it into the hands of one
of those firms who publish on commits
SION"
"My dear fellow cried, edo let
yourself be guided by me and don It spend
any money on printing that book. l
don't believe that hundred copies of it
would be sold"
"No, not hundred" he answered
confidently ga hundred thousand is
nearer the mark, though I expect the
sale to go much higher than that. tell
you that I am to make my fortune out
of that book; that have struck oil this
time, and richly"
"But the STYLE" urged.
"Oh, I know that the style isn't up to
much, !" he answered. "I'm no hand at
literature, and, as matter of fact,
took the least possible trouble over writ
ing this book. dashed it off on the
typewriter in less than week. But it
isn't on it's merits as work of art that
this book is going to sell. -
"Well, as what, then?' I asked.
"Why does So-and-so's pill and So
and-so's soap sell? Because they are
we'll advertised. Well, my books going
to be we'll advertised and accordingly
will SELL"
IT fear you will have to spend very
large sum of money to advertise that
book into success" I remarked.
ST know exactly what I shall have to
spend. Sixpence halfpenny per dozen
copies, or little over halfpenny on
each copy. Each halfpenny and fraction
SO spent will sell a copy. The book will
be produced as cheaply as possible, and
calculate the cost to me at about two
pence. Say that, with the advertising,
each copy cost me threepence, which is
above the mark, you may calculate what
my profits will be on sale of even 100,
900 copies.
"You have hit on some novel mode
of advertising the book, them"
"You betl The whole reason of my
confidence in my success of this shocker
is there"
"Would you mind telling what your
plan is?''
"Well, if you won't mind, I'd rather
not" he answered. "You see, l can't
afford to give away the idea. You might
talk about it, and then some other fell
low might snap it up. Don't be offend
ed and just watch the sales of "A Dis
grace to Society'-that is the title I
have decided upon. They will make you
open your eyes.
every we'll, just as you please, -
said rather coldly, rising to take my de-
parture
1 did not see Ross again for some
weeks, for, though called once or twice
at his rooms in the Temple, always
found his oak sported. One day the in
ner door happened to be open, and
through the letter slit could see into
his sitting room. There were six young
ladies seated at a large table busily writ
ing, and in front of each was high pile
of cards. Two large baskets, filed with
similar cards, stood on the floor
Business taking me abroad. Twas not
present at the birth of the book on which
nv friend had built such hopes, and,
though looked in the London papers,
/ could find neither advertisement nor
msstion of it. was therefore rather
surprised when, on landing at Dover on
my return henas. I saw quite heap Of
the shilling volumes Of "a Disgrace to
Society" on the bookstall st the station.
At the Victoria bookstall I saw another
heap of the same book, and on asking
the clerk how this book was selling he
answered. Like hot cakes" Driving
home, ! saw it well in evidence at va
rious bookshops. It was evidently 2 big
snccess, and wondered rather enyious-
]y how Ross had managed to obtain this
for 50 very worthless a production. 1
bad purchased copy at Victoria. and
looking over IL in the cab had had my
first opinion of it confirmed. 1t was a
wretched piece of work, and, moreover,
disgracefully produced, badly printed OF
cheap paper and 60 carelessly bound
that long ere reached my lodgings it
had come to pieces in my hand.
However has he managed it?"
cried as I remembered the very small
sales that my books, on which had
spent SO much time and trouble, and
which had been published by some of
che first houses il London, had reached
The mystery was solved to me as I