The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-13
By HERBERT BREWSTER.

by the Harper house is attracting con-
siderable attention in the book world,
party because Mr.. Russell seemed to
be doing a very successful business,
particularly in the special newspaper
features which he controlled, and part
ly because the amalgamation of such
a wide range of publishing interests
as the Harper house now enjoys looks
a little like an approach to the much
discussed publishing trust. AS a mat
ter of fact, of course, it would re-
quire 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 it's establishment of a news
paper syndicating business and its
enlarged operations in book publish
ing, give is a big field. Mr.. Russell
gives his reasons for giving up his
business and joining a large organiza-
ton, as follows
THE past year has been the most
prosperous that 1 have ever experienced
as a publisher, but the tendency of
that it is only a question of time when
a publisher doing a limited business
with an organization necessarily small,
and without the advantage of period
icals under his direction, win be I'M
able to compete successfully with a
larger house having these accessories.
Having a very large manufacturing
plant of its class in the world, and
the use of high-class periodicals
publisher can rAach with COMPARE
lively little expense the entire Amerl-
can reading public, and his advan-
tage over any publisher who is obliged
to pay cash in large amounts to ac-
complish the same purpose is such
that successful competition will GER
tainly soon become, if indeed it has
not already become, practically i'm
possible.
There has been no severance of my
personal relations with any of the
authors l have mentioned, but, in JUS
tice to them, knowing that 1 could
not furnish the advantages that he
could offer as rewards for their work.
1 considered, and so did they, that 1t
was desirable from all points of view
to accept Col. Harveys 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 special
lines on a much broader SCALE and
in much more effective manner than
would be possible in any other way.
In any event the prospect is most
satisfactory and pleasing to me-
Last year when the centenary of Du-
mas was celebrated, it was recalled
that some $500 books bearing this au-
thor's 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 addition
al stories of the man along with a
most entertaining account of his re-
markable life. The biography goes
far to show that Dumas lived a more
fancifui, romantic life than did his
great creation, the Count of Monte
Cristo. For some years he spent more
| than $100,000 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 privileged
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 Is
| francs towards the funeral expenses
of a constable. The great man pulled
handful of money from his pocket
You ask for Is francs to help bury
one of those miserable bill collectors"
he said. Here. Take 80 francs and
bury two of Them
| My father is so vain,' said Du-
mas the younger, that in order to
make the 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 last
| time he took with him his total for
| tune-a single gold louis. A few days
before his death he pointed to the sin
| gle coin as it lay on the corner of the
| mantelpiece.
See there he said, calling to his
| son, fifty years ago, when l came 10
Paris. l had l louis in my possession.
Why have people accused me of be-
| ing a prodigal? I have preserved it
and have it still-look, there it isl
Dumas the younger was shrewd and
acquisitive where the father was reck-
less and prodigal.
If my father does not set me a
good example, said the younger man
| on one occasion, he at least provides
me with good excuse
The best book of the week in prom
Use of popularity is David Graham Phil
lips Golden Fleece" the adventures
of a fortune hunting Earl in America.
! Mr.. Phillips has been most daring in
| giving his picture of a certain phase
of social life in this country and peo-
pie of New York, Washington, Bos-
ton and Chicago will have no difficulty
in recognizing some of the social lead
ers of these cities as characters of the
| story. 1t is not because the story is
| primarily a satire, or because of any
| scandal in the story that readers will
like the book; it merely gives an anus
! ing picture of our "seething, sensation
| al, social life" The Earl of Frothing-
ham, a distinguished, but poverty
| stricken member of English nobility,
| comes to this country in search of a
rich wife. Thus far the plot is ordi-
nary, but no farther Mr.. Phillips has
made his Earl entirely frank in his
purpose and the American characters
| thoroughly understand his mission.
| More than this American high society
| puts forth its best for the Earls in
spection. The New York millionaire
heiress who first acquires the Earl
throws him over because she has sub
sequently fallen in love with a young
American. In Boston the Earl almost
succeeds, and the story of his defeat
| is curiOuSlV interesting Then ba ~; lac