The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-03-02
A SAIADIE BOOK.

IA
When l had finished my cursory eS-
animation Of tho manuscripts, l laid it
down Gil the table, and shaking my head
said:
lam sorry to aisaproint you, OLD fel-
low, but shouid 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 first attempt it does you great
credit, and certainly if you stick to your
work yna will soon be ablo to produce
something that will he successful"
tell you that that book is going to
be the biggest success of the year." an
swered Martin Ross, i'll whose oolns in
the Middle Temple we were sitting.
We had been at Oxford together and
had gone down about the same time, l to
take my place on a newspaper and Ross
to try his fortune in the city. Although
undoubtedly sharp, he had succeeded III
nothing, and l had been under the i'm
preston that he had emigrated, when
that afternoon l 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 | had
accompanied him home to look over the
manuscript in question.
1t was 4 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, 81 am
quite certain that no London publisher
would undertake that book, though / am
sorry to say So"
Ho laughed and said: "I never said
that l should offer it to any publisher.
I am not such a fool. want all tho
profits myself. Why should 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 l shall put it into the hands of one
of those firms who publish on commits
sion"
"My dear fellow" l cried, lido let
yourself be guided by me- and don spend
Il money ON printing that book. l
don't believe that a hundred copies Of it
would be sold
mo, not a hundred" he answered
confidently. "A hundred thousand is
nearer the mark, though I expect the
sale to go much higher than that. l tell
you that l am to make my fortune out
of that book; that I have struck oil this
time, and richly"
But the STYLE" l urged.
"Oh, / know that the style isn't up to
much he answered. I'm no hand at
literature, and, as a 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 it
isn't on its merits as a 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 arc
we'll advertised. Well. my books going
to be we'll advertised and accordingly
will sell"
II fear you will have to spend a very
large sum of money to advertise that
book into success" l remarked.
II know exactly what | shall have to
spend. Sixpence halfpenny per dozen
copies, or a little over a halfpenny Oh
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 even 100,
900 copies"
"You have hit on some novel mode
of advertising the book, them"
"You bet! 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, / can
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 !
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-