The Washington times., 1901-09-01
PROFITS OF new AUTHORS.
Fortunes Reaped by the Writers
of Popular Novels.
One-eighth of the Population Read
ing Current FictiOn-Addition to
Gains From Observation-Disclosures
Literary Rewards of the Past.

| Whoever VIII give n few moments con-
sideration to the several large outputs an
nounced by the publishers of certain pop
ular novels must, by the mere process OF
simple addition, easily realize that one of
the country's great industries the last
year and a half has been the manufacture
of fiction. One novel, it is stated has
attained a sale of 5O0, 900 copies; and the
sales of four more, of exceptional popu-
larity, swell the grand total to 1iS5, ,00C
volumes. There have been also two or
three other novels which have reached
about 100000 buyers. Then, the usual an
nual supply of editions of 5000 and 10,-
COO, from novelists whose readers have
been selected during a slow growth of
modest success, increases the entire pro-
duct to an approximate of 100000 The
expert statistician usually allows five
readers, at least, to every purchaser of
| book or a periodical. Hence, it may be
taken for granted that these novels have
occupied the attention, more or less. of
ten million persons, or, that is to say,
one-eighth of the entire population of the
| United States.
The profits which the authors have re-
! ceived from these sales, taken collective
ly, 1t is believed by those who know
pretty well what they affirm, have
| vidually. the authors profits on the five
novels that have led all the others in
| sales will stand at present about as fol-
lows: $4,000 s45, GOO. sss 600, s3i oO0 and s3o.
600. Four of these novels have been dram
atized and are now presented on the
stage. With one exception the publishers
are not in position to state definitely
| what additional royalty the authors re-
| cefve for the right of dramatization. 1t is
| said that two authors sold the right for a
stipulated amount. The lowest royalty
| considered for a success is usually per
cent of the gross receipts of every per-
| formance. Those, therefore, whose good
fortune has been associated with the three
| plays which have enjoyed continuous sue
| cess since the early autumn. and often
! drawn audiences paying eight and nine
| thousand dollars a week. will have re-
| ceived between four and five hundred dol
lars every seven days from the theatrical
manager. Old DIR. Johnsons notion that
| Thrale's brewery afforded the potential
| ity of growing rich beyond the dream of
| avarice' may be suggested in comparison
with the idea of wealth aroused by the
| contemplation of the new novelist's reve-
nues. And it should be added that two
of these novels were published serially,
| for which separate payment was received.
| before they were brought out in book
| form.
| The author and the publisher of the
novel that has met with such unexampied
favor are at the-presenr time enjoying
the most agreeable frame OF mind. About
| eighteen years ago the late Joseph Haf-
per wrote to James G. Blaine. who was
fthen writing his Twenty Years in Con-
gress,'' that to the historian the publish
er came to the door and took off his hat.
All that is changed now The historian
Will be detained cooling himself in the
ante-room, while the publisher holds his
hat is his hand and awaits the arrival of
the novelist. especially the historical
novelist. The profit on that kind of fic
ton has been much of a genuine sur
prise that the majority of the publish
/ ers are eagerly watching for every book
in manuscript offered, with the hope that
it may be novel of one sort OF another,
and give some promise of proving prize
| winner. If the author of David Harum'
were alive, he could command very
large amount in advance for another
book. The others who followed with sue
cess in the wake of that novel are al
ready counting substantial returns from
their next productions. Should the next
offerings prove much less attractive it
is believed, even in that event, that the
financial return will be at the lowest one
fourth of the first harvest. These new
authors, therefore-quite unknown to the
public until recently-will have acquired
in money what the majority of those who
toll In one occupation or another might
be glad to consider Independent fortunes.
The writing of novels, as it can just
now be viewed and reviewed, may be
pointed out a new profession with lu-
crative inducements for the young and
ambitious Up to almost the last mo-
ments of the nineteenth century the writ
ing of books of all sorts, unless it might
be school books. was held beggarly
business for anyone in this country.
Oliver Wendell Holmes declared, not very
many years ago, that all the authors
were as poor as church mice. But the
optimist among the publishers asserts
now that the present is only the dawn of
a new constituency OF book readers has !
been discovered or created. Hundreds of
thousands have been enticed to buy and
read a book by the vogue these new |
novels have produced who will naturally |
crave additional literary stimulus. AS |
time advances many of these readers, stiH |
the younger half of the population. may |
acquire ripper taste, and not only read |
novels but even poetry. 1t is In the warm |
sunshine which radiates the vision of this !
genial publisher that the next new author |
should endeavor to bask.
The surprise experienced by the sudden |
turn of fortune in the new authors favor |
incites, naturally, perhaps, some compari- |
son with the best of the good luck, from |
a monetary point of view, that has fallen |
in the authors way in the past. Until |
recently financial successes from books by |
American writer's have been few and very |
far between. 1t will be recalled easily |
that the first decided success was brought |
to pass by Uncle Toms Cabin" publish
ed in 1850. Mrs. Stoves profit the first |
year was about $4,000, and among writer's |
Of books that return was startling. There |
was other literary success, reckoned |
In money, worth mentioning until after [
the civil war. Perhaps DIR. j. G.. Hol- |
lands Life Of Abraham Lincoln" which |,
brought him about 81, go. was one of the |
most notable successes following the war.
The sale of twenty or thirty thousand cop
les of any book was sufficiently eNcep-
tional to be notable then. One of the |
books, now buried among the most OBJ
scure, which achieved such success was |
"A Prince Of the House OF David semi
religious fiction by DR.. Ingraham. An
other similar success was Edmund Kinks
Among the Pines" The real money
winner, however. in the wake of Mrs |
Stowe. was Mark Twain. with "Innocents
Abroad in 1865. More than 109.00 copies
of that book were sold by subscription.
No was heard from again as a for
tune-malser with one book during the next
dozen years. Then. in the spring of 1880,
Judge Tourgee caught popularity with "A
Fools Errand,' his story of life in the
South while reconstruction was going on
So pronounced was the demand for the
book that the publishers kept presses at
work in New York and Boston day and
night for several weeks. The sale reach
ed I01. 900. and the author was said to be
$50. coo richer by the success.
The sale of the novels by the Rev. f.
=. Roe next attracted attention among
the publishers. Although there never
was any necessity to oVerwork the presses
to supply the demand. there was a steady
Ill \, ,f. I