The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-04


ity-HOvv the Trade is Conducted.
some Specimen Letters Written by
the Trade Agents.
From the New York Evening sun.
OF the numerous trades, the followers
of which depend for their livelihood upon
the folly, vanity and snobbishuess of their
fellow men. one of the simplest and not
least remunerative is that of the biogra-
ply manufacturer. To succeed in this
branch it is necessary to possess a GER
tain knowledge of mankind considerable
tact, and, above all, good deal of assur-
ance.
There are various ways of conducting
this business. one of the commonest is
by means of the circular letter. This,
which is sent by the biography manufac-
turer to any likely victim, announces that
Messrs. So and So will shortly publish a
Biographical Cyclopedia, and that as the
work would be very incomplete if it omit
led to mention the addresses, the publish
ers would be much obliged to him if he
would furnish them with his biography
at early date. To this is usually added
that no charge whatever is made for print
ing the biography; but we are very anx-
iOus,' the letter goes on to say, ito secure
Your portrait, the cost of which will be
-" The price varies considerably, ac-
cording to its size the status of the BIZ
ography factory, etc. The letter generally
concludes by saying that your orders
and those of as many of your friends as
possible for the complete work are solic-
tied"
Sometimes the biography is written by
a friend, but if ne is a good friend the
result is generally much the same as if
it had been written by the subject him
self. The following extract from the life
of A. b, poet, as submitted to a biog-
raphy factory, win serve to illustrate this:
His many sided nature is illustrated
Ly the following incident. One morning
he went to New York to give his fore
man and workmen some Instructions in
carrying out a contract Tor building
creosote factory in Hoboken. In the af-
ternoon, the Poets Club gave him re-
Ception, and his latest epic was the tonic
of discussion. Later, he went to Sleeps
head Bay to see his famous steeplechaser
Bucephalus engage in race there. In
before a select literary audience aud, af-
terward, before the 49, Athletic Club
he whipped the champion amateur pugi-
Sometimes the photographer endeav-
ors to convey the impression that the life
was written by another. Here is a ver-
batim copy of such a biography: -
- was born in Portland, Me-, Jan.
z, 1854. His fathers name is John Z.
left there when / was p years old. /
went to school until | was IS years old,
and taught school and did clerical work
until l was q years old, and then l came
west to Kansas to work at my fathers
trade. For the past five years of
my life l have taken patents and devel-
oped them. took out a patent five
years ago. it was a machine that done
away with typesetting. got
married in. 1870 to Mary +. Jones. We
have two children"
To this the agent considerably added:
suppose you can write the above from
these data"
Most photographers attach the ut
most Importance to every detail that re-
lates either to themselves, their family
connections or their friends. One of these,
Tor instance, describes at length the ill
ness OF his daughter and concludes with,
IN Jan: Z, this beautiful girl left her
Idther handsome residence on Palisade
avenue, for heaVen"-"her fathers hand
some residence on Palisade avenue" be-
lHg carefully inserted in the original
statement showing it to have been an
aIterthought that the reader might be
Impressed with the desira billy Of both
ends of the route described.
Modesty is not one of the autobiogra-
pner characteristics. After many pages
IeldtlVe 70 his achievements, both in gem
efal and in particularly, but mostly in
PfalIlculaf, A FLORIDA physician asked his
blographers to tell the world what |
nave done.l A dentist thus chronicled
ms work; NSince removing to Dakota,
1f; Molar's career has been a series of
brilliant successes" Twenty pages de-
voted to the achievements, ancestry. per
sonal appearance, etc, of a wholesale gro
Ger wound up with the credible state
lnent; Mr.. Soapandstarch is a modest
man mat the agent is the prime cause
OF biography factory success is proved
ny the following letters. In each instance
me agents letter was accompanied by
pQlky autobiography from the subject:
MeSSrS. --- - & Co.: Cfents-I send
YOU the biogs of Mr.. and Mrs. - under
d separate cover. l have been working
on Mr.. Walker for a 81 600 order ever
9 6iice l nave been in this city but have
not yet secured It, He is very wealthy
and full of conceit judging from the biogs
ne had copied from different publications
ana from what | have observed, but his
reg mas been pulled until it got soar (sic),
anu now 1t is hard to get his name down
agaln. He said he wanted to see how we
VIII write his and his wife's biogs. before
you to write these two biogs at once, ana
eve them all the hattery possible. You
extensively, and after | have the orders
s 81 can cut them. down to suit your
~ the biogs. that have been written about
;tnem don't do them justice atall. They
imagine that they are the greatest people
IN the state. Write above the biogs. that
~ IS written by the editor-in-chief be-
kause told them that / would have the
LOGS written by our editor-in-chief and
1iat ne IS great historian and only
writes the biogs. of great value. You'd
lettef write letter to me, saying thar
aaa Mrs, Walker are entitled TO 4 full
Hage portrait, and that If he is willing to
pay Tor II, you viii publish it. etc.
called on Gen. - and he said that
he don't want the books in his library.
%aa that he viii not pay more than s25
8l making that SIS portrait. He says
ilal ne - connected with PUBLISHING
louise, and that he knows exactly whaf
= fr, costs to make such portrait. You're.
NY
"Gents--Write the enclosed biog. in
tdha style, and send il 10 me right on
means 500 II I succeed ia securing his
.t1ef Write letter 10 nae stating thaI
tiie editorial staff has decided thai Dr
yo,,rhs entlfied 20 q fuil-page portrait
R@ta MNANs