Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-14
NOTES.


D. Appleton & Co. announce that the
nlneteth edition Of David Harun
brought the total publication OF
that book to over half million. and
and also announce that an order has
been placed for the 9lst edition which
will bring the number OF copies printed
% to the enormous total Of $50. 800.
With the close OF the holiday season
Bedltions had brought the total 10 537. =
W. and during January two more edi-
tons were ordered aggregating 1850,
making GO,5OO IN all.
The fame and personality of David.
however have been steadily making an
Impression on British readers and has
penetrated wen into the continent. So
steady has this foreign demand be.
come, that effective measures were re-
CURED to meet II and accordingly an
edition, the slst. Of 100000 copies, was
decided upon and arrangements have
already been made for Its distribution.
Thus In single jump the total was
raised TO over $4,000. With the pos
sibe exception Of Uncle Toms Cabin,
Of which no accurate figures have ever
been obtainable no other book ever at
talned the popularity Of David Harum.
II is safe 10 assume that at least two
others besides the purchaser read each
copy sold. and on this moderate basis
The number Of people who have made
Ae acquaintance of the inlmitable
David will reach approximately two
Millions
Aside from the. tale. itself, a pathetic
interest attaches to the circumstances
attending the writing and publication
this American masterpiece The
sefy has been many times told, and
viii be told many times more. The
author, Edward Noyes Westcott was a
man OF finely organized temperament,
possessed Of a mind above his sur
rcundings, yet keenly alive to the hui
NOR and path0s Of daily existence par !,
Vculary as revealed to bank clerk In |
small city But 1t was when illness
overlook him that he yielded to the
0es'fe TO write, finding In Il a means Of
hUaylng the distress which enforced in
aeuvlty would bring to one OF his high
strung nature, Under these circum-
Stances In the summer OF 1895, the book
vas begun Limited as he was. to a
ngh school education, In common with
ne youth OF his time, although broad
heu by years OF observation and study,
~ work could not attain distinction
= simple literary merit, But as TO It's
haraeter drawing, its humanity" Is
eopls' consistent IN their inconsisten-
ss no man was better able TO under
iAe me task OF portraying such a COM
lslte picture of American life.
Az times, unable to battle with the
wages OF disease, the work would be
70 aside, to be taken up again during
me brief respite. Toward the end OF
y me manuscript was completed.
lflns these is months, the characters
y become personal friends OF the
1eken author and had Frightened
any weary day as they were de-
hed TO do for thousands and thou
nas OF others. But this, Mr.. West
u never Knew. For one solid year |
manuscript travelled backward and /
Mard' one publisher after another +
'hhed i until Il had been refused six I
res thoroughly discouraged and +
piggy tempted to believe that Il
ia have no interest for anyone but
lself he determined to make one
re attempt resolved that II again g
lrhed i would be consigned to the n
le The climax was reached and b
dramatic In It's fulfilment. The a
ehln publishing house to whom II d
offered was u. Appleton Il Co. II ii
accepted The author had the Il
sltacuon OF reading the last proofs, n
tht struggle was at an end. Dis
ned conquered and before the COM W
"a book was printed he had passed pt
, suoh was the irony OF fate The n,
aoused wanderer was TO become Of
mosI popular book OF the age, but pl
y creator was denied the enjoy is
OF Its fruits. n
e recent refusal Of the Presbytery OF
eW York to license young minis fr
BECAUSE he did not believe Adam
ave been a real man OF flesh and
!, definite historic person. has au
w another outburst of religious w
'sioh' which follows close on the tr,
~ bitter attack on one OF the ri,
j, prominent olergymen in Chicago. cy
u I9eas are thought by some 10 be da
W., IL Is a coincidence that in
.e1''al OF religious argument all ,