The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
HOW HE WAS SAVED FROM PRAC-
TICALLY GIVING 1T AWAY.
with Characteristic Modesty He Had
Not Put n Proper Value on 1t
Mark Twain's Part.
Hamlin Garland. in January Success.


his companion. but regarded the voice as
essentially providential He was at that
time 2 partner in the extremely successful
firm of Charles l.. Webster & Co.,
and considered himself in luck to have
heard so early in the transaction the news
of General Grants intention to write the
book
Early the next morning he sent in his
card at the generals residence, and was
received by the latter in the library. where
he was evidently at work at that very time
upon the story of his life. The house in
which he lived was on Sixty-sixth street,
nea- Central Park, and, being quite feeble
at tue time, he spent most of his days at
home.
''wel. general" said Mr.. Clemens. Il
hear that your are writing your story.
after all?"
Eyes. I've written three chapters alreay.
and the editors seem to like them very
we'll The fact is" he added, with a look
that expressed a certain timiditys I'm
glad 10 be able to earn little money in
thi5 way. just now"
II hope you'll get well paid for them"
said Mr.. Clemens.
'I think I'm very well paid" he replied;
81 get five hundred dollars apiece for
them"
Mr.. Clemens expressed great surprise.
'syyhy, general, you can't afford to let that
matter go at that rate. Five thousand dol
lars would be cheap for them"
The general remained unmoved. I'm
getting more than Sherman got" he re-
piled. quietly. "and I'm satisfied
SHOULD HAVE HAD MUCH MORE.
Mr.
Clemens, seeing that the general was in
deed thoroughly satisfied with the serial
rights.
The general took up a paper which lay
On the table before him. 81 am about to
sign contract; here it is"
Mr.. Clemens was deeply interested.
Would you mind letting me see that
paper. gene.al?'
mot at ALL" the latter replied. hand
ing the document to Mr.. Clemens, who
read il III amazement. AT the end he said,
In his peculiar drawing voice, General,
why you just give il to them?
Il don't understand YOU"
Clemens, II wouldn't bother about any
royalty at ALL Then, changing his tone
and becoming serious, he said, General
Grant, you should have four times the
This contract is absurd: you must not
sign away your valuable rights"
1.-THE publishers not only give me 10 per
cent. but they bear all the expenses of
publication
Mr. Clemens was amused and astonished
at the generals simplicity. suppose they
do: that's their business. You ought to
have 20 per cent. OF all the profits. the pub
I vertising. clerk hire. and every other ex-
pense- Why, general there is a fortune
! for you IN this book. and you must not
allow yourself to be deprived of your just
share
The general still remained unmoved and
unconvinced. They guarantee me $4,000.
which is the amount Sherman got. and
I'm quite satisfied"
Mr.. Clemens persisted. 1.-The way to test
this matter IS to go to these people with my
profits on the basis | have just named, or
221z per cent. on subscription sales-that is
sales by atents-or % per cent on trade
sales, they'll take it," concluded Mr.. Glenn
..You must be mistaken" the general re-
piled, showing that what Mr.. Clemens said
had had Its effect; mo publisher would give
that"
Mr.. Clemens arose. I'm a publisher, and
I'm here to do just that You try your peo-
pie on MS proposition, and, If they don't
come 10 II. you return to me and I'll make
my offer good
II guess I'll let. them have it. They guar
antee ne $4,000 out of Ii, you know" the
general said, at length, as If the matter
were settled.
HARD TO CONVINCE THE GENERAL.
Mr.. Clemens then said TO him, very earn.
estly: General. you mustn't sacrifice your.
self in this way. You are ignorant of these
matters. You know all about war; and
know whole lot about the book business
You take my advice; you need money, ant
here Is chance to earn money-a grea
deal o. money. Now, I'll tell you what II
do to convince you that I'm in earnest; IL
draw check right here for $4,000 on your
royalty account. and guarantee you a:
much more when the manuscript is pu
into my hands. L calculate you are worth
lust ten times as much as | am as an au
thor-in this case, at least. 1 realized or
ny last book upwards of $4,000 Even i
you publish at $3.50 and sell through tn,
trade, you'll get, say, Is cents on every
copy; that viii make you. say. 100000; or
10 MAKE conservative estimate, we will
say $3o0eao. You see. I've been publishing
subscription books for twenty years. and
know what can be done. Your book will
cell on sight. and. in my Judgment, will sci
$4,000 copies. There is a fortune in tn,
book. ard | know It, and I'm willing t.
At this point the generals son. Col
Frederick u. Grant. who had been listening
TOOK the contract from his fathers han,
and said, Mr.. Clemens has convinced M
that We have not sufficiently investigate,
this matter; we must look into it littl
further before you sign this paper. I'll e
10 the company at once with PROPOSE
ton SUCH as Mr. Clemens suggests. am
They'll take it, said Mr.. Clemens, witt
a smile: ''no doubt of that"
The general thanked him for his inter
est and courtesy. and the interview closed
Mr.. Clemens went away feeling quite sur
that the other publishers would accep
the proposition. ana that he had helped I
put a large sum of money into the general
hands.
The publishers listened to Colonel Grant
demands in silence. and asked time 10 con
slider. IL was. they said. most eKtraor
binary royalty. and it was necessary I
ngure very carefully before returning a
answer. In few hours however the
replied that they had decided to acquiesc
IN Generai Grants demands.
however. when Colonel Grant brOugh
the new contract To his father to sign tn
old general very quietly said. NO If tn
business Is to be as profitable as thes
people seem TO think it, then il must &
10 Mr. Clemens. who has enabled us to sc
cure such splendid Offer
WOULD KEEP FAMILY FROM WANT
This decision, so characteristic OF Grant
remained unalterable; the contract with c
L. Webster x &C. was at once signed. an
the old warrior weak and suffering from
painful ulcer in his throat. set TO work i
grim earnest. He had a premonition O
the short time in which he would be able
do this work. and he knew now the i'm
portance OF IT, He was rearing bulwar
between his wife and children and tn
forces Of want. and Ii was his hone that n
might be able in this way to shield Their
when he should be no longer In the flesh