The Washington herald., 1910-07-07
9 mETTXS
BOOK r EVTEM
ASTR.

John Adams Thayer, best known per-
hsps through his connection with Every
body's Magazine. has written in "Astir.
Publishers Life Story" true narra-
tive of his own life, which is as unique
as the autobiography of Benjamin
Franklin. He says that the book-deal-
ing as it does with meme and affairs
of the present day-was originally in
tended for posthumous publication. but
he has consented. on the opportunities
of his friends to allow ii to come
out now. 1t is just as well that It should
be So for the story of modern business
success that is here told has many and
potent lessons for the age.
II was a disgruntled author, not salts
lied with his royalties. that first para
phrased the Scripture 20 read And Bar
rabas was a publisher" That was the
extreme outside point of view Mr.
Thayer seeks in his book to give the ex-
IRENE inside view, and a mighty inter-
esting book he has made Of It. Instead
Of a preface Mr.. Thayer writes what he
calls a Confidence" and an extract
from this shows not only the style of the
man. which is not his least charm, but
also helps to show the purpose that
animated him in writing the book Thus
he writes:
This autobiography is a story Of hard
work, not luck To quote an apprecia-
tive friend: when a man starts In as
a printer and makes a habit Of working
unlimited hours day using every pound
of pressure and energy. developing every
atom Of his originality and Initiative,
don't think It particularly lucky II he ar
rives somewhere at the end of forty
years. 1t recalls Maurice Barrymore's
remark at billiards when he made twice
around the table shot on a fluke which
caused his opponent to drop his cue and
exclaim; Holy Godr With his sweet
smile. Barrymore replied: NO. not who'll
ly God; was in Il. too" Hard work has
entered into these pages. but with the
work has come pleasure To live ones
business life over again, as have here.
is a privilege which few know. with the
optimism which has been my lifelong
tonic. I send this book forth. American
youth is ambitious to do something worth
while. AS see it there is but one legitl-
mate road to that goal
That road. the road along which Mr..
Thayer lets as travel with him step by
step. is the road Of hard work He tells
US how be started IN at thirteen TO be
printer; how he learned the printing
business and established himself in bush
ness, how he become an expert In
a dVnfffGfRr
way up TO the position OF advertising
manager Of the Ladies' Home Journal
Without any undue egOtlsm and with
little false modesty Mr. Thayer re-
counts the steps Of his success until. bit
by bit. his salary having been raised. he
felt II was time for him to ask for a
substantial financial interest IN the bust
ness. This being declined he resigned
and went 10 work for Mr. Frank 4. Nun
sey.
Up to this period of his autobiography,
Mr.. Thayer's story is one of an unbroken
line Of successes. none of them due TO
pull but all to hard work ability. and
unremitting attention to detail He went
10 work for Mr. Munsey at a salary OF
1850 year and stayed there only one
month and a day. Not the least inter-
esting part OF this book is the story of
his failure with Mr. Munsey told with
just as much engaging frankuess as the
story of his success. We do not pro-
pose to retell it here; we should only
make hash Of II with the space at our
disposal, and We can only assure our
readers that they viii be amply repaid
If they get the book for themselves.
After the failure to satisfy Mr. Munsey.
Mr.. Thayer took service with q Boston
paper for a year. then took hold Of The
Delineat0r,' where for once he was
enabled to carry out his campaign for
clean advertising which has been a pay
ing business hobby OF his always When
he left, it was to take his publisher with
him, and then began Mr. Thayers career
with Everybodys," which not only made
the magazine, but made a fortune for
Mr.. Thayer.
Very interesting is the inside history
Mr.. Thayer tells Of the dealing of Every
body's with Tom Lawson, whose articles
IL was that made the magazine famous
above its competitors. and Il is inter-
esting to know that the large amount of
advertising that was done for Every
body's heralding the Lawson articles
Mr.. Lawson Insisted on paying for HIM
self; and he refused absolutely 10 take
"A cent for what he wrote.
II was over the question of the es-
Enlistment of Ridgeways. that Inflated
weekly that cost so much money and so
many people their jobs, that Mr.. Thayer
split with Everybodys. He drew out of
the venture with a fortune The story
OF this life is inspiring and should be
OF enormous benefit to young men as
showing what sheer industry and perse-
verance can do at least in the making
of money. This true story is infinitely
more interesting than most novels that
are written nowadays, and It would
not be at all surprising if this narrative
had a wider sale than most modern
books. Boston: Small, Maynard & Coz