The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-12
The Literary Outlook.
CBY HERBERT BREWSTER. }

tB1 HERBERT BkEWSIEt.)
The recent requirement of the publish
ing business of Mr.. r. H. Russell by the
Harper house is attracting considerable
attention in the book world, partly be-
cause Mr.. Russell seemed to be doing
n very successful business. particularly
in the special newspaper features which
lie controlled, and partly because the
amalgamation of such a wide range of
publishing interests as the Harper house
now enjoys looks little like an approach
TO the much discussed publishing trust.
AS n matter of fact, of course, 1t would
require the consolidation of many times
as many interests to form an adequate
publishing trust, yet this one house now
has under its immediate control more
periodicals than any other one firm, and
its establishment of newspaper syn
dictate business and its enlarged opera
tons in book publishing give is a big
field. Mr.. Russell gives his reason for
giving up his business and joining
larger organization, as follows:
THE past year has been the most pros
porous that l have ever experienced as
a publisher. but the tendency of modern
business has convinced me that it is only
a question of time when publisher do
ing limited business with an organiza-
tion necessarily small, andt without the
advantage of periodicals under his direc-
ton, will be unable to compete success
fully with a larger house having these
accessories. Having a very large manu-
featuring plant of it's class in the world,
and the use of high class periodicals a
publisher can reach with comparatively
ha Anno IL
ing public, and his advantage over any
publisher who is obliged to pay cash in
large aoumnts to accomplish the same
purpose is such that successful competi-
ton will certainly soon become, if indeed
it has not already become, practically
impossible.
There has been no severance or my
personal relations with any of the au-
thors l have mentioned, but, in justice
to them, knowing that l could not furnish
the advantages that he could offer as
rewards for their work, considered and
Sc did they, that it was desirable from
all points of view to accept Colonel Har-
yey's proposition. which was not only
fair but liberal. 1 hope and believe that
as a member of his big organization 1
shall be able to do work along my spe-
cial lines on much broader scale, and in
a much more effective manner than
would be possible in any other way. In
any event the prospect is most satisfac-
tory and pleasing to me-"
Last year when the centenary of Dumas
was celebrated, it was recalled that some
500 books bearing this authors name
dumas, the elder), had been published
and many amusing stories were told of
the Dumas novel factory in which dozens
OF young writer's turned out books which
the famous romancer signed as author.
There has recently been published in
this country life of Dumas, by A. f.
Davidson, which gives many additional
stories of the man along with a most
entertaining account of his remarkable
life The biography goes far to show that
Dumas lived a more fanciful. romantic
life than did his great creation, The
Count of Monte Cristo. For some years
he spent more than SlG0, 900 a year-he
died miserably poor In the days of his
prosperity he was accustomed to keep
his money stacked in gold coins on his
mantle pieces and his friends were privi-
legged to help themselves as often as they
wished.
Mr.. Davidson relates the following
characteristic stories:
lone day a friend called on Dumas
and asked for a subscription of 10 francs
towards the funeral expenses of a con
stable. The great man pulled a hand
full of money from his pocket. 'You ash
for Il francs to help bury one of those
miserable bill collectors, a" he said. Here
Take 80 francs AMI bury two of thom."
"'My father is so vain. said Duma;
the younger, that in order TO make tho
public believe he keeps black servants
he would put on livery and ride on the
footman's seat of his own carriage.
'When Dumas. broken in health, for
tune and spirit, left Paris for the las
time he took with him his total forum,
"a single gold louis. A few days before
his death he pointed to the single coiI
as it lay on the corner of the mantle
piece:
See there he said. calling to hi
sou. nifty years ago. when l came L
Paris, had / louis in my possession
Why have people accused me OF being
prcdical? / have preserved it aud hay'
it still--look, there it is
DUMAS the younger was shrewd an