Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-12
NOTES.

The literary path does not seem
strewn with gold in England. Mr..
Helnemann, the publisher declares that
there are not twenty-five noyellsts in
the United Kingdom who make over
$3.50 Isl 250) year. simultaneously, a
writer In the London Academy, and an
other in the Monthly Review, estimate
the average earnings Of professional
literary man (holding no salaried POSI-
tom at about el50 or $3.50 a year. Ten
years ago the prospects for the Ameri-
can novelist were equally gloomy. To-
day owing In part TO the international
copyright laws. but In part also TO the
Increase in the numbers, the intell-
gence and the monetary liberality of the
reading public, he Is to be congratu
lated on possessing an excellent trade.
The dime novel has disappeared ana
the romantic novel, sort OF glorihed
dime novel, has taken It's place, selling
always as largely, and often far more
largely, and retailing at dollar and
half instead OF a dime, with an enor-
nous multiplication Of profits to both
author and publisher. II would be easy
TO number at least fifty works Of &c.
ton which in the past, twelvem0nth
sold over $4,000 copies. Half q dozen
OF them reached into the hundred
thousands. Now. the copyright paid oil
a dollar and-a- half book would not be
less than fifteen cents, and might be
more. according TO the reputation OF
the author BE on the safe side. how
ever. Put It at fifteen cents per copy.
and the royalties on q sole Of $4,000
would amount TO $3.50. At this rate
novel year would bring In comforta-
bic competency, quite irrespective Of
what the author might be able to make
out Of the magazines the papers, and
other sources of intermittent revenue.
This is the age apparently, OF re-
vivals. A Philadelphia firm is publish
ing complete editions OF Balzac and
George Sand and resuscltating Harrl-
son Ainsworth from the grave Another
publisher has found fame and fortune
In the revival Of Croly's Wandering
Jew" 7 wonder WHY no publisher has
deemed II worth while 10 revive an ex-
traordinary bit Of Rabelalslan humor.
the best English specimen Of this sort
Of drolling, which was published anony-
mously In 1915 under the title THE
History OF John De Castro" Perhaps
revive" IS wrong term, inasmuch as
the book, most unaccountably. dropped
almost still-born from the press. Yet II
II known TO a select circle OF admin
ers.
The humorous side Of the subscrip-
tlon book business is frequently in evil
dence, hut II Is only now and again that
II presents a fresh side. The following
letter was received by the publishers
the other day from a prominent New
England physician after examining
subscription set Of Mark Twain's Best
Books Issued bv Messrs. Harper &
Brothers II must be noted by the way.
that these books have uncut edges
the uncut edges being a feature which
Il Is difficult to ret tho average man
% appreciate. and the exclamation OF
which Is n severe tax on the resources
OF the salesman. Thereby hangs this
CORRESPONDENTS tale Of woe.
"Genilsmen-You do not find enc.o--d
the payment YOU are expecting but YOU
are no more disappointed than were We
when We opened our package Of books
for instead OF finding what we bought
viz. get Of nice-hnished books. we
find hooks with edges IAN eycent the
ton edgel which looked az though thew
had been chewed on hv rats. instead of
being cut smooth only they were not
chewed deep enough. There were left
lnnumerahle leaves stili unchewed
which the reader must dlsconnect ere
he could pursue his narrative. Very
truly yoilrF - -------."