The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-27
The Kiss Of Fire

[Original.l
''There's your novel. I've read it."
'eWellg
'&There's no use of my trying to let
you down easy, Jimmy. l may as well
tell the truth. It's only fitted to be
read by the occupants of a lunatic
asylum"
Jimmy looked as if his friend had /
thrust a knife into his bosom. He was
one of a lot of artists who inhabited
the same rookery and every man OF
them ON the verge Of starvation.
81 tell you what, JIM" continued the
speaker, I'm a practical fellow at bot
tom and have no business with either
art or literature. 1 have a scheme for
working off this stuff you've written on
a friend who is publisher. He's prac-
teal too. I'm going to see him."
"Do you want the manuscript
"No."
John Melcher, the merciless friend
critic, went to the publisher and made
proposition which induced him to
publish ''The Kiss of Fire" Melcher
was to take charge Of the introduction
of the book to the public in his own
way. He relied implicitly on the mem
bers of his gang, who were to act as
claque under his direction. Hardly had
the book been issued when all of
them, having been coached by Mel
cher, went in different directions.
Each stopped upon passing q stand
or store where books are sold and ask
ed for THE Kiss of Fire" When told
that they had no copy Of the book the
inquirer would be struck dumb with
amazement and hurry away. Before
nightfall Of the first day there had
been from half a dozen to a dozen
inquiries for the novel in every book
shop in the city. Melcher had instruct
ed his band to work the trumpeting
and the inquiries among the book
sellers with equal zeal, well knowing
that to ''nake a market without pro-
viding a supply would be useless.
The booksellers gave small orders
for the book, and occasionally some
one to whom the gang sounded its
praises bought one. Meanwhile Melcher
was not idle. He persuaded a friend,
Olcott, who was the leader of a literary
club, to read the story. The readers
report upon it was, For idiots, fools
and lunatics, the most remarkable
work of the century" Melcher went
about telling all book lovers that Oh
colt had pronounced "The Kiss of
Fire" the most remarkable work of
the century, failing to mention for
what class of readers. Before Olcott
heard Of his criticism and had cor
rected it number Of people who were
ambitious of being up in the literature
Of the day had read the novel None
Of them could understand why it was
remarkable, but since Olcott said SO
none of them dared say it was not.
One independent fellow pronounced it
rot" but the best rot he had ever
read. All young girls entering society.
hearing of the commotion 1t was Great
ing and assuming for that reason the
book must be a model of literary ex-
cellence. pronounced it perfectly love
"" Then it was announced as "the
best seller of the week"
Checks began to come in from the
publisher. They were sent to Melcher
| - liz <tp1Ol lAeln between Inc au-
thor and his gang. Thus encouraged
the claque worked on. But further eff.
fort was not necessary. The flame had
been kindled, and if Melcher had led
them in an attempt to put it out they
could not have done So 1t must burn
till the fuel was exhausted. The crit
les abused the book, inveighing agains
: the decline of literary taste, but they
were not beeded. Every one read ant
talked about THE Kiss Of Fire" Their
suddenly. at the end of three months
! the babel ceased. Everybody had reaC
the book and was ready for the mex
: wonder
About this time the literary editor O
a prominent magazine fell I'll. and Bel
Hathaway, an understrapper. who tool
e care Of the books to be reviewed, hap
f pened on THE Kiss Of Fire" He reaC
: 1t and was delighted with il. 1t en-
g tered his head TO try his hand at writ
S ing criticism on it He did so. an.
l. the criticism got into the magazine be
fore the editor resumed his post.
The late Robert Louis Stevenson