davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21
BEST SELLER SELL

one of the best in the last decade but owing to ths
season, etc, they do not feel they put up the
whole price. If the author will supply S35217, just
half the OF producing the book, they will the
other half As matter of fact, the author pays the
whole cost and is simply roped in.
"Oh, in a while you come across an author
who will talk real democratic In fact they are some
what like other persons, but think it will take them
only another decade develop into distinct species
I'll say this for them, though. they what they
make. Most persons have idea that the gentle
writer rises with the lark and writes chapter two
before breakfast by debating somewhat faster than
his stenographer take it down. Then he steps
into his 60 horsepower automobile and either goes
the city goes fishing, according to whether he is
writing a nature book urban meodrams.
but as matter of fact the poor devils do have to
work. and the proportion of them who don't make any
money to speak of isn't small you need micro
scope to see it.
Maybe you didn't know that of them get
popular and write fast that the publishers have
make persons out of them. For instance if
popular writer like E. Philips Oppenheim gets up
steam and puts two of his thrills on the market
nearly together it spols the sale of the other
A person who is unwilling to buy more than one
Oppenheim book at time may be glad to take that
other cash and buy one by Anthony Partridge Well.
Mr.. Partridge and Mr. Oppenhcim and the
same person, as is we'll known in the publishing
houses, but not elsewhere. Try them both and you'll
find that the by another would smell
sweet Many naive and unsuspeetng reviewers have
remarked that Mr. Partridge strongly resembles Mr..
Oppenheim in style, etc.
Then / suppose you know that Kate Douglass
Wiggn has two names. However, l suppose all trades
have their little secrets"
How about the methods of of these writers?"
j asked.
Il suppose you, like most persons, thought highly
of o. Henry" he said. His methods of work, he
described them, were simple enough. Rule Write
stories to please yourself Rule 2-There is rule.
ELLIS Parker Butler recently said something / came
the other day. 1t struck my funny bone Just
right and l remembered it. 1t ran something like
this: My method of producing literature is
less the spur of the order and resembles
a cat having fit. A cat hardly plans At
very carefully. When it gets ready to have ht il
goes ahead and has it, Sometimes it is good ht and
sometimes it turns out 10 be hzzie, and
times the thinks it is having of the best fits it
had, and then ht critics say it it mighty poor
ht. may have lot of fits this summer for instance
and may not have any. That's the way it goes.
AS to the utility OF the popular author in the
scheme of things, think his place is mighty honor
able one, cynical reviewers to the contrary notwith-
standing. He satisfies clearly defined need.
He won't improve your mind too much, but he'll
give you mighty fine four, five six hours of it, up
TO the time when Hymen takes charge OF the hero and
heroine and you sight the Islands of the Blest"
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21
MAKING THE

compact criticism of the work is also fled and need
less to say some of these would make mighty inter
csting reading if the public could them Some of
them really very finc
Well suppose the book does survive all this and is
accepted. The author is notified, and in case he
knows nothing about the publishing business, as he
generally does not he doubtless will to put it
the market right away, regardless. He is angry
when tell him it will appear say, in six months
year, and wants to know why. We try to explain
that the summer is likely to be dull and that he and
the publishers will lose money it if it is published
now. We arc, of course, governed by many other
considerations in this matter and have smooth the
writer down as best AS matter of fact, we
could GET a book out in couple of weeks if we
had to.
"The artist is engaged if the book is to be illus
trated and the prices paid for good illustrating
among the heaviest incurred 1t very easy spend
500 $500 illustrating book. The total cost
varies, of course according to the quality of paper
and binding, the typo and little of everything.
Presently produce dummy. This consists OF
the cover, and say, the first 10 pages of the book
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21
Famous Lost Manuscripts

THE loss OF many of the worlds famous manu-
scripts is perhaps 10 be ascribed to fire. More
than 100000 were burned during the siege of
Alexandra by Julius Caesar and in more recent times
the famous Cotton manuscripts partly destroyed
by FIRE Ben Jonson. by reason of FIRE in his dwell
ing, lost entire drama, life of Henry V, with
notes and other works.
Not few precious manuscripts have been lost at
sea Veronese lost shpload of classical manuscripts
while returning Italy from Constantinople and
Spenser suffered serious loss by the shipwreck of
servant WHO crossing from Ireland with the last
six books OF the "Fseric Qucene" and number of
other productions.
Domestic have been resposible for the loss
OF good many works Several plays destroyed
bv servant Of Mafburton, who used some to- light
the fire and others TO make into pie crust frils while
servant of John Stuart Mil consigned to the flames
part OF the first manuscript of Carle's French Rev
oluon" Molicres translation of Lucretius" was in
adverteny used by of his servants to make curl
papers.
There are some instances record of authors who
have destroyed their own works. Along these may
be mentioned Pope and George Crabbe. Samuel Rog-
ers burned his drama, The Vintage of Burgundy"
and Hawthorne is said TO have made holocaust of
certain OF his tales Trscastor eminent scholar of
the sixteenth century, wrote in Latin remarkable
History of Venice" which, il is said, he burned
while in fever.
Tennyson's I'm Memoram" narrowly escaped being
lost to the world The author had given up his lodg-
ines in consequence of disagreement with his land
lady but he forgot take with him the manuscript
and nothing could induce him TO go back. A friend,
however, returned to the lodgings and found the
poem which had already been thrown into drawer
OF rubbish.
IN the middle ages manuscripts were SO carelessly
preserved that they frequently fell into the hands of
those not approaching their true value and met
viii, all manner of curious fates Aubrey the histo-
rian of Wiltshire gives notable instance Speaking
of the rector OF Yatton Keynel Mamesbury he says:
"A proper rector he was and good fellow. When he
brewed barrel of special ale his to stop the
bunghoe under the clay with sheet of manuscript.
He said nothing did we'll.
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21
Money Talks

RE you depositing confidence in the hearts Of your
fellow men?
Are you straining your credit of patienc.
with your friends'
Do you pay the world reasonable rental for
the space you occupy
Are you providing sinking fund of kindnss. to
liquidate ofenses against your brother men:
Are you Strengthening the tie that binds yourself
to your loved ones?
Do your actions create feeling of confidence ans
optimism?
Can you draw upon the credence OF your friends
without preeipitating panic of distrust'
Have you any good deeds out at compound
interest,
Does your check of honor ever come back marked
NO funds?
Are you building up reserve fund of health for
the red blood stringency OF old age,
Do your friends bank yous
Is your word as good your bonding company?
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

NHFHEA the reading public buys a certain pop
M I ular novel it takes what it finds without ques-
M ton and asks more. But of the processes
by which that book reached the stalls or of
the way in which II became best seller no questions
are asked
The buyer buys innocently, supposng il is he who
is making the book popular but if he knew of the deli
cate underground manpulatons by which the crafty
publisher plays upon his psychology through carefully
arranged prices carefully distributed advertisements,
carefully chosen covers and the rest, he would be
startled, and possibly somewhat piqued. 1t is mat
Ter which your average publisher is dumb; but if
one viii look far enough il is impossible find
one OF the craft who will talk
The popular novel is much gamble the
popular play" said OF them recently Its mat
ter N which you can more tell what the public is
going to do than which way the wind will blow
morrow. I turned down book last year that
another house took and sold TO the of $4,000
copies. And that's just example OF many On
the other hand. is likely to get lemon in
q while, and that costs money
Still" I said. TO extent you the
success of a readable book-you can create taste
for it. can't you?"
oh, yes" he nodded. in fact the novels that
ceed without the help OF the judcious publisher are
mighty few I'll tell you frankly, since I'm talking at
al this matter that the circulation OF lot of the
best sellers is the equivalent of much watered
stock It's the public that gets the small end of the
deal, too.
For example. there is certain publishing house
that used to make practice OF buying readable
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

is less of experiment yet.
"Now, suppose your popular book has been super
success 1t has sold to the hundred thousand mark
it has glutted the market it has brought profits
the publisher royalties the author and qualification
the public. Then, while the publisher is still stand
ing over the author with club, trying to make him
do it again, the sales begin decline They dwndle
as if by magic.
I'VE promptly rent the plates to a certain firm of a
different class from our own. Firms of this type
draw in like other houses, that they do
business in this line scale that would be impos-
sble house with only to its copy
rights They will take former best seller and make,
say, 10000 copies, which they sell for so cents a
volume We get the rent; they have all they make
that minus the royalty they pay This is
arranged by contract, of course, and to- say,
10 cents on volume. Of this we take 5 cents and
send to the author. 1t makes a very nice little
pickup
AND THE AUTHOR
There is general curiosity as to the usual rate of
profit which goes to the author The average author
is allowed 10 per cent on the first $500 books Sold
l2K per cent on the $500, Is per cent on the
next 2,500 H1s per cent the $500 and 20 per
cent on all over that OF course authors with rep
utation demand big and dispropordonate profits
right at first Some demand, say, 20 per cent
or IS per cent on all the books sold and some even
to 80 per cent.
"In fact, the author is the troublesome thing
in the whole business. He becomes so exacting that
it difficult deal with him times This is largely
because he thinks that when he gets his 10 per
on $3.50 novel his publisher is getting the other
$l3s Naturally he thinks he's not getting his share
1t used to be in the good old days, when publishers
had the say So that the author didn't get any money
till some books sold. Now how is it' Why,
the author say Here, give FIVE thousand
down. and the publisher does it. l have done it
even II
There is prevalent idea that the publisher often
makes the author put up bond to guarantee against
loss if the book does sell This is So Repu-
table publishers take all the risk except in few
special where it is not intended that the book
shall have large circulation. There firms, you
know, who will advertise that they manuscripts
of books. The trusting author sends his effort and
they tell him very ngenuously that they think it is
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

SOAP or what you will, you can afford to advertise
largely, because the effect is cumulative You plaster
the of your goods streetcars signboards,
backs of transfers, magazines, newspapers, IN
the green fields and beside the running brooks, on
the mountain side and on the roofs OF barns where
the railroad passes In short you deprive yourself Of
any real right place IN this otherwise tolerable
universe.
The publisher, the other hand brings his book
before the public by carefully chosen advertis-
ing medium. If he publishing solid books,
which practically advertise themselves and sell for
years moderate quantities. the problem is easy But
the popular novel is feeting thing
"One way of getting past the difficulty is to adver
the author rather than his books Another is to
advertise your firm and build up reputation that
will sell your books when the public finds you don't
publish poor stuff Consider, when you buy book,
how much weight the name of the publisher is likely
have with you'll
ITO my mind this method of advertising the
author is of the most promising plans.
Some firms turning out many as 3oOO,-
600 mail articles year for that purpose 1t
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

repeated till the volume is of the right thickness We
pass this dummy on to the travelling salesman about
four months before we launch the book. That per-
shows it right and left among the book dealers
that when the book appears they are good and
ready for it. We also supply them with posters and
other matter. which they place view. Virtually
the book has been the market couple of months
before it is on sale
TALKING OF MONEY
According to the arrangements in vogue present
the dealer sells at the fixed price of Sl.2o-no
and less. This book sell to him for " cents
that his profit is 48 This fixed price plan
has superseded to great extent the old plan of
placing books a nominal price of Sl50 Those
books sold for that price trains and in railroad
stations. Aside from that, the dealers cut the price
to suit themselves. Competition forced the average
price to $l20 but the price the dealer paid for the
book was 90 cents the profit only 80 cents, as
compared to the 48 cents on the fixed price books
Naturally, the dealer preferred the fixed price plan,
and the old $l.50 system pretty we'll knocked
IN the head
"The objection to the $l.50 plan was just this
Many dealers, especially department stores forced
the price down to S108, and even down to 90 cents
The big department stores were able to do this al
though it involved selling at money loss for the
reason that it brought other trade But the small
dealer could not compete and hence ordered fewer
books
THE natural effect strike directly at the life
of the publishing business, and great howl went up
The American publishers association took action and
in the of at least one store refused to sell
books at all to its propretors unless they would stop
cutting rates. The American publishers association
was sued by this firm as being combination in re-
straint of trade but the courts finally decided that
the publishers had right to uphold the price Of
copyrighted books, though not of uncopyrghted ones
"It was about this time that the fixed price plan
was put into by Doubleday. Page & Co. and
Houghton, MifAn & Co. All this of course, explains
the variations of price in the different stores.
well, as soon as the book is the market and =
little before if anything, advertise in many ways
This takes caution. Advertising is essential,
but owing the fact that the life of the average
popular novel is about six months it doesn't pay it
might. If you are marketing product of which
The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

novel outright from the author They'd pay him FIVE
hundred and let him go. Then they'd print big edi-
tion cheaply as they could and call it book
This product attractively covered and supplied with
pictures of the broad shouldered hero and the
rect heroine, shipped to every book dealer, big
and little that they could put finger Instead Of
making him order many copies and pay for them
the spot they told him to place the books in his
windows in large numbers, and that such he could
sell they would take back.
The result that, instead of ordering about Is
copies to be put up beside lot of other books got
out by other houses, the dealer, running risk in
the matter, very glad to make the most of the
windfalL Result-fabuous circulation. They ran
the circulation of popular and frothy book up to
the hundred thousand mark and over, and / suppose
they successful in that respect than any
other firm in this country.
But it didn't pay and they finally had to quit it
for plan that was advanced by another house This
house simply made circulation out of thin air by
selling cheaply to the dealers, who of course made
proportonate profits. 1t is true that the publisher
made less at first by this method, but after the first
1000 copies of book have been sold that covers the
cost of production, SO that the profits mount very
rapidly after that. 1t paid do not to imply
that there not lot of good books published and
sold this way. only that it is true of worth
less well, and proves consummate art on the
part of publishers.
RESENTED THE CHARGE
Il know personally writer whose first popular
book hundred thousand copies under the first
method | mentioned His sales were SO big that he
accused of being popular author charge he
resented So he left that firm, abandoned the goose
that laid the golden egg and tried company with
methods that conservative. He wrote a more
less serious book and did his best The result I'm
sorry to say, frost think the circulation ran
to $4,000, which, comparatively speaking, was poor
return
when we receive manuscript it is of course, first
turned to the readers If it is hopeless it is
turned down with reading If it is possible it is
passed through half dozen hands If you will con-
slider how difficult it is get half dozen persons TO
agree doubtful proposition you will have some
idea of the mill that manuscript has go through
The reader fills out form giving the reason for
rejection. For example, Not UP to our standard, A
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
GYMNASIUM IS NEEDED
President WidtSoc Of Agricultural NoI-
leEc WI ASK the Next LeEislaturc
for an appropriation.

That the Utah Agricultural college ie
u need OF Symposium. is one OF the
oherIurcF to the board OF trustees hy
Dr. q. a.. Widteoe president of fre coli
IeEe- at a. meeting yesterday. who fu
turn VIII make requests at the next
legislature for appropriations fo en-
nrovcucute.
br. W Idtsoo has been i'm salt Lake for
several DAYS presenting bis proposed
changes and wants to the trustees and
compl citing bis report Co the Governor.
Tie explained I'm detail Co the boa rd
tnc changes needed. who will make their
recominc ndatious 60 the Legislature.
Iu bis list. Dr. Widfsoc sets forth
that fHo increased enrolment has
crowded the college Tor working room.
M ith tic addition ~ students after the
ftrst OF THE year. no US. the school
VIII De more crowded than ever and
asks that additional working space be
provided.
Or. widtsoe left for Logan yesterday
afternoon.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
COMMISSIONERS TO
MEET THURSDAY
Land Board will Report to
Governor Spry and Discuss
Piute Project.

After short session yesterday
morning. tbs board OF land commits
siouers adjourned until next Thurs
day. when 60 viii meet with Governor
William Spry Co decide the Piute
project question.
Matters pertaining TO the annual
and biennial reports OF the board Co
lthc governor and the legislature viii
ialso be- discussed next THURSDAY.
sThcse reports VIII contain FRI FUN the
various land reclamation projects uu-
fdertaken by the board since the last
meeting ~ the legislature.
At yesterdays meeting the secretary
was instructed 60 submit "a draft OF the
contract under which the water rights
at the Pluto project are To- be disposed
l"f to the attorney general FOR ap-
provaL Following the iattcr's opinion
Z 500 copies az the contract win be
printed Tor distribution among pros
fpcCtive homestcaders BY 10 tho water
rights are 60 sell az 22s per acre.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
THEFT Of CURRENT
FORMALLY CHARGED
Majestic Theatre Accused of
Stealing Energy to Operate
Picture Machine.

Alleging theft Of electrical energy
FOR the purpose Of operating "a moving
picture machine. n complaint was filed
with the county attorney yesterday by
the Utah Light O. Railway company
against the Majestic theatre manage
ment
Harry Ecvicr. manager of the Ma
1estiC. who viii also try to manage
Webbing Willard Boo his celebrated con
again. of again water wagon stunt at
the Shubcrt. must now explain how the
theatre has been able To- operate its
moving picture apparatus without the
little wheels in the light company's
meter recording the flow Of the iuvisi-
BILE current OF energy.
The company claims that some i'm
Eeni0us Individual has devised q scheme
whereby the current used BOZ the pic
turo machine passed through the ma
chine and operated BE- without passing
through the meter. thereby leaving the
company without means OF knowing
how much energy was used. and what
the theatre owed the light comDauv.
Itcvicr declares that ne knows Moth
ing about the alleged theft OF electrical
current. and says his men have Moth
ing whatever to do with the maninu-
iation or the wires or meter.
Tho light company takes another
view OF the matter. and DO win prob
ably De left to the court to decide what
shall Do the last scene in the thrilling
little melodrama. "Swipiug Juice. or
How Co Cut Down Your Light Pills
A complaint was also filed bv the
company against T. r. Banks of ~
North Second West street charging
him with stealing So worth Of current
to light his house
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10

of Mcthodist Bazaar causes the ladies
10 continue 10 until 1880 tonight. Visit
1i3 East Second south.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
BOARD MAKES REPORT
Wore Than One Hundred and Fifty Den
tHi Eertificntc- Issued DURING
Last Two Years.

Little or no trouble has been mot
with hF tUc board or dental examiners
profession is being uracticod after n
high standard iu Utah. according Co
tho biennial report filed with the Gov
tarr.
That fno board is meeting with much
success ir regulating the profession fs
shown nF tnc fact That 151- certified
copies of dental certificates have been
issued during Che two years ending no
ven nor 80.
DufirG I1.a rnTr covered hr the roe
port. tWrntr-fHrce applicants have been
granted rcrtfitafcs ON eN1minntfon br
fHe board and three certificates have
been issued on credentials from Other
states EiEnt Applicant were rejected
Tor Incompetence.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
SUIT AGAINST UTAH COPPER
COMPANY IS DISMISSED

Ou Gre motion for the ATTORNEYS for
Che plaintiff Judge John s.. Marshall OF
fne United states district court dis
missed without nrcfudfcr tho case OF
Frank TT. celleveutfra against the Utah
Copper company
tcIlcrcuttra was adminisfra tor Of the
estate uf IT. ~. King who was killed in
orr accident at Bingham last winter. for
which tcllcvcutfru asked DAMAGES
amounting 90 $4,000 King was n steam
shovel enginecr and was KILLED bv uy-
Ing rock from blast above him said
to have been fired without the usual
warning.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10

Christmas Shopping Is On In Earnest
Walkers reflects the spirit of the season. Festoons
of evergreen strung from pillar to post the pretty
booths aglow with variegated lights, twinkle vel
come; hosts of old and helpers are eager to
assist you in Christmas shopping
Our WatchUOrd is Service
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-10
TANGL..n - b cALLrn.

Before judge Richie. the deeply
tangled case Of the Central Foundry
company against ~. r. Alhertson. re-
ccivcd 81 the salt Lake Public Service
company. 60 recover s. 600 due on 2.o1-
feet 81 pipe alleged to be wronEfully
held by Alherfson. was taken up vcs-
terday. Tho case involves half a dozen
counter claims and inferrentions and
VIII probably consume several days in
the noaring.