St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-06-14
Srlrrtrh Stnru.
A SALABLE BOOK.


laid it down on the table, and shak-
ing my head said
II am sorry to disappoint you, old
fellow, but should most strongly
advise you not to try any publisher
with this story. don't think that
there is the slightest chance of its
being accepted anywhere. At the
same time | 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"
II tell you that that book is going
to be the biggest success of the year."
answered 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 news
paper and Ross to try his fortune in
the city. Although undoubtedly
sharp, he had succeeded in nothing,
and had been under the impression
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 for.
tune.
1t was at his invitation that had
accompanied him home to look over
the manuscript in question.
1t was very poor story, slovenly
and amateurish in style and vulgar
beyond criticism. felt sorry to
have to discourage him, hut it was
only friendly on my part to do so. |
accordingly repeated, i'll answer to
his remark, 81 am quite certain that
no London publisher would under
take that book though am sorry
to say so.
He laughed and said: 81 never
said that should offer it TO any
publisher. am not such fool. |
want all the profits myself. Why
should | put the lions share OF them
into a publishers pockets? There
are thousands in that book and I'm
going topublish it myself-that is to
say, at my own expense-and shall
put it into the hands of one of those
firms who publish on commission"
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 hun
dred copies of it would be sold"
mo, not a hundred he answered
confidently. "a hundred thousand
is nearer the mark, though expect
the sale to go much higher than that.
| tell you that am to make my for
tune out of that book that have
struck oil this time, and richly"
But the style" | urged
"Oh, / know that the style isn't up
to much" he answered. Pm no
hand at literature, and, as matter
of fact, | took the least possible
trouble over writing this book. |
dashed it off on the typewriter in less
than a week. But it isn't on its
merits as work of art that this
book is going to sell"
well, as what. then" | asked.
"Why does So.and-so's pill and So
and-so's soap sell? ?" Because they
are well advertised. Well, my book
going to be well advertised and ac-
cordingly will sell.
II fear you will have to spend
very large sum OF money to adver-
tise that book into success" ! re-
marked.
Il know exactly what l shall have
to spend. Sixpence halfpenny per
dozen copies, or a little over a halt
penny on each copy. Each half
penny and fraction so spent will sell
a copy. The book will be produced
as cheaply as possible, and | calcu-
late the cost to me at about two
pence. Say that, with the advertis-
ing, each copy cost me threepence,
which is above tie 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, then ?"
"You bet The whole reason Of
nv confidence in my success Of this
shocker is there
Would you mind telling what
our plan is?'
"Well, it YOU won't mind, I'd rath-
er not" he ans wered. You see, |
can't afford to give away the idea.
You might talk about it and then
some other fellow might snaplt up.
Don't be offended and just watch the
sales of "A Disgrace to Society'-that
is the title Ihave decided upon. They
will make YOU open your eyes"
VERY well, just as you please" [
said rather coldly, rising to take my
departure.
i 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 inner 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 writing, and
in front of each was high pile of
cards. Two large baskets, filled
with similar cards, stood on the
floor.
Business taking me abroad, was
not present at the birth of the book