The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-13
A SALABLE BOOK.

AN NAA LlY CuIbOIF GA
animation of the manuscript, / laid il
down on the table, and shaking my heat
said:
Am sorry to disappoint You, old fel.
low, but I should most strongly advise
you not to try any publisher with this
story. I don't think that there is the
slightest chance Of its being accepted
anywhere. At the same time I must say
that for a first attempt it does you great
credit, and certainly if You stick to your
work You will soon be able to produce
something that will be successful"
/ tell you that that book is going to
. 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 q 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 mad written q
novel which was to make his fortune.
1t was at his invitation that / had
accompanied him home to look over the
manuscript in question.
1t was q very poor story, slovenly and
amateurish in style and vulgar beyond
criticism. ] felt sorry to have to dis
courage him, but it was only friendly
ON my part to do So / accordingly re-
peated, in answer to his remark, ST am
quite certain that no London publisher
would undertake that book, though / am
sorry to say So"
He laughed and said: '"I never said
that / should offer it to any publisher.
l am not such q fool. ! want all the
profits myself Why should 1. put the
lions share of them into a publishers
pockets? There are thousands in that
book, and I'm going to publish it myself
that is to say, at my own expense
and / shall put it into the hands of n
OF those firms who publish ON commits
sion"
MY dear fellow" / cried, do let
yourself be guided by me and don't spend
any money on printing that book. /
don't believe that a hundred copies of it
would be sold"
"No, not a hundred" he answered
confidently. "a hundred thousand is
nearer the mark, though I expect the
sale to 60 much higher than that. / tell
you that / am to make my fortune out
Of that book; that I have struck oil this
time, and richly"
"But the STYLE" I urged.
"Oh, l know that the style isn't ND to
much" he answered. I'm no hand at
literature, and, as q matter of fact, !
took the least possible trouble over writ.
ing this book. / dashed it off ON the
typewriter in less than a week. But 1t
isn't on its merits as a work of art that
this book is going to SELL" !
well, as what, them" I asked. !
why does So-and-so's pill and So
and-so's soap sell? Because they are ]
well advertised. Well, my books going u
to be well advertised and accordingly =
will sell" I
Il fear You will have to spend a very
large sum of money to advertise that '
book into success, !" I remarked. .
Il know exactly what / shall have 70 !,
spend. Sixpence halfpenny per dozen =
copies, or a little over a halfpenny on :
each copy. Each ~halfpenny and fraction :
so spent will sell a copy. The book will :
be produced as cheaply as possible, and ,
l 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 a sale of ever 100. :
600 copies. a
You have hit ON some novel modt '
OF advertising the book, them" '
You betl The whole reason of nv y
confidence in my success of this shocker :
is there" =
Would you mind telling what yons !
plan lisp" '
: well, ii you won't mind, I'd rather .
not, he answered. You see, / can't \
afford o give away the idea. You might !,
talk about il, and then some other fel. :
low might snap 10 mp. 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" |.
Very well, just as you please" !;
said rather coldly, rising to take INV de. !
parture.
! did not see Ross again for some :
weeks, for, though / called once or twice
&C his rooms in the Temple, / always
fousd his oak sported. One day the in
ner door happened to be men. and Y
through the letter slit / could see into Y
his sitting room. There were six young 7
ladies seated at q large table busiiy writ \
ing. and IN front OF each was . high pile 7
OF cards Two large baskets, filled with .
similar cards, stood ON the floor. !
Business taxi II me abroad, Twas not !
present at the birth Of the book ON which !
my friend bad built such hopes, and. =
though ] looked In the London papers. !
4 c0uld find neither advertisements nor
mention Ct r. was therefore rather !
Surprised when. On landing - Dover On