Ithinkthateverymanoughttoworkforhisliving，withoutexception，andthatwhenhehasonceavouchedhiswillingnesstowork，societyshouldprovidehimwithworkandwarranthimaliving。Idonotthinkanymanoughttolivebyanart。Aman’sartshouldbehisprivilege，whenhehasprovenhisfitnesstoexerciseit，andhasotherwiseearnedhisdailybread；anditsresultsshouldbefreetoall。Thereisaninstinctivesenseofthis，eveninthemidstofthegrotesqueconfusionofoureconomicbeing；peoplefeelthatthereissomethingprofane，somethingimpious，intakingmoneyforapicture，orapoem，orastatue。Mostofall，theartisthimselffeelsthis。Heputsonaboldfrontwiththeworld，tobesure，andbrazensitoutasBusiness；butheknowsverywellthatthereissomethingfalseandvulgarinit；andthattheworkwhichcannotbetrulypricedinmoneycannotbetrulypaidinmoney。Hecan，ofcourse，saythatthepriesttakesmoneyforreadingthemarriageservice，forchristeningthenew—bornbabe，andforsayingthelastofficeforthedead；thatthephysiciansellshealing；thatjusticeitselfispaidfor；andthatheismerelyapartytothethingthatisandmustbe。Hecansaythat，asthethingis，unlesshesellshisarthecannotlive，thatsocietywillleavehimtostarveifhedoesnothititsfancyinapicture，orapoem，orastatue；
andallthisisbitterlytrue。Heis，andhemustbe，onlytoogladifthereisamarketforhiswares。Withoutamarketforhiswareshemustperish，orturntomakingsomethingthatwillsellbetterthanpictures，orpoems，orstatues。Allthesame，thesinandtheshameremain，andtheavertedeyeseesthemstill，withitsinwardvision。Manywillmakebelieveotherwise，butIwouldrathernotmakebelieveotherwise；andintryingtowriteofLiteratureasBusinessIamtemptedtobeginbysayingthatBusinessistheopprobriumofLiterature。
II。
Literatureisatoncethemostintimateandthemostarticulateofthearts。Itcannotimpartitseffectthroughthesensesorthenervesastheotherartscan；itisbeautifulonlythroughtheintelligence；itisthemindspeakingtothemind；untilithasbeenputintoabsoluteterms，ofaninvariablesignificance，itdoesnotexistatall。Itcannotawakenthisemotioninone，andthatinanother；ifitfailstoexpresspreciselythemeaningoftheauthor，ifitdoesnotsayHIM，itsaysnothing，andisnothing。Sothatwhenapoethasputhisheart，muchorlittle，intoapoem，andsoldittoamagazine，thescandalisgreaterthanwhenapainterhassoldapicturetoapatron，orasculptorhasmodelledastatuetoorder。Theseareartistslessarticulateandlessintimatethanthepoet；theyaremoreexteriortotheirwork；theyarelesspersonallyinit；theypartwithlessofthemselvesinthedicker。ItdoesnotchangethenatureofthecasetosaythatTennysonandLongfellowandEmersonsoldthepoemsinwhichtheycouchedthemostmysticalmessagestheirgeniuswaschargedtobearmankind。Theysubmittedtotheconditionswhichnonecanescape；butthatdoesnotjustifytheconditions，whicharenonethelesstheconditionsofhuckstersbecausetheyareimposeduponpoets。Ifitwillservetomakemymeaningalittleclearerwewillsupposethatapoethasbeencrossedinlove，orhassufferedsomerealsorrow，likethelossofawifeorchild。Hepoursouthisbrokenheartinversethatshallbringtearsofsacredsympathyfromhisreaders，andaneditorpayshimahundreddollarsfortherightofbringinghisversetotheirnotice。Itisperfectlytruethatthepoemwasnotwrittenforthesedollars，butitisperfectlytruethatitwassoldforthem。Thepoetmustusehisemotionstopayhisprovisionbills；hehasnoothermeans；
societydoesnotproposetopayhisbillsforhim。Yet，andattheendoftheends，theunsophisticatedwitnessfindsthetransactionridiculous，findsitrepulsive，findsitshabby。
Somehowheknowsthatifourhucksteringcivilizationdidnotateverymomentviolatetheeternalfitnessofthings，thepoet’ssongwouldhavebeengiventotheworld，andthepoetwouldhavebeencaredforbythewholehumanbrotherhood，asanymanshouldbewhodoesthedutythateverymanowesit。
Theinstinctivesenseofthedishonorwhichmoney—purchasedoestoartissostrongthatsometimesamanofletterswhocanpayhiswayotherwiserefusespayforhiswork，asLordByrondid，forawhile，fromanoblepride，andasCountTolstoyhastriedtodo，fromanobleconscience。ButByron’spublisherprofitedbyagenerositywhichdidnotreachhisreaders；andtheCountessTolstoycollectsthecopyrightwhichherhusbandforegoes；sothatthesetwoeminentinstancesofprotestagainstbusinessinliteraturemaybesaidnottohaveshakenitsmoneybasis。I
knowofnoothers；buttheremaybemanythatIamculpablyignorantof。Still，IdoubtifthereareenoughtoaffectthefactthatLiteratureisBusinessaswellasArt，andalmostassoon。Atpresentbusinessistheonlyhumansolidarity；weareallboundtogetherwiththatchain，whateverinterestsandtastesandprinciplesseparateus，andIfeelquitesurethatinwritingoftheManofLettersasaManofBusiness，IshallattractfarmorereadersthanIshouldinwritingofhimasanArtist。
Besides，asanartisthehasbeendoneagreatdealalready；andacommercialstatelikeourshasreallymoreconcerninhimasabusinessman。Perhapsitmaysometimesbedifferent；Idonotbelieveitwilltilltheconditionsaredifferent，andthatisalongwayoff。
III。
InthemeantimeIconfidentlyappealtothereader’simaginationwiththefactthatthereareseveralmenoflettersamonguswhoaresuchgoodmenofbusinessthattheycancommandahundreddollarsathousandwordsforalltheywrite；andatleastonewomanofletterswhogetsahundredandfiftydollarsathousandwords。Itiseasytowriteathousandwordsaday，andsupposingoneoftheseauthorstoworksteadily，itcanbeseenthathisnetearningsduringtheyearwouldcometosomesuchsumasthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesgetsfordoingfarlessworkofamuchmoreperishablesort。Ifthemanofletterswerewhollyabusinessmanthisiswhatwouldhappen；hewouldmakehisfortyorfiftythousanddollarsayear，andbeabletoconsortwithbankpresidents，andrailroadofficials，andrichtradesmen，andotherflowersofourplutocracyonequalterms。But，unfortunately，fromabusinesspointofview，heisalsoanartist，andtheveryqualitiesthatenablehimtodelightthepublicdisablehimfromdelightingituninterruptedly。\"Norosebloomsrightalong，\"astheEnglishboysatOxfordmadeanAmericancollegiansayinathemewhichtheyimaginedforhiminhisnationalparlance；andthemanofletters，asanartist，isapttohavetimesandseasonswhenhecannotblossom。Veryoftenitshallhappenthathismindwillliefallowbetweennovelsorstoriesforweeksandmonthsatastretch；whenthesuggestionsofthefriendlyeditorshallfailtofruitintheessaysorarticlesdesired；whenthemuseshallaltogetherwithholdherself，orshallrespondonlyinafeebledribbleofversewhichhemightsellindeed，butwhichitwouldnotbegoodbusinessforhimtoputonthemarket。Butsupposinghimtobeaverydiligentandcontinuousworker，andsohappyastohavefallenonathemethatdelightshimandbearshimalong，hemaypleasehimselfsoillwiththeresultofhislaborsthathecandonothinglessinartisticconsciencethandestroyaday’swork，aweek’swork，amonth’swork。Iknowonemanofletterswhowroteto—day，andtoreuptomorrowfornearlyawholesummer。Butevenifpartofthemistakenworkmaybesaved，becauseitisgoodworkoutofplace，andnotintrinsicallybad，thetaskofreconstructionwantsalmostasmuchtimeastheproduction；andthen，whenallseemsdone，comestheanxiousandendlessprocessofrevision。ThesedrawbacksreducetheearningcapacityofwhatImaycallthehigh—costmanoflettersinsuchmeasurethatanauthorwhosenameisknowneverywhere，andwhosereputationiscommensuratewiththeboundariesofhiscountry，ifitdoesnottranscendthem，shallhavetheincome，say，ofarisingyoungphysician，knowntoafewpeopleinasubordinatecity。
Inviewofthisfact，sohumiliatingtoanauthorinthepresenceofanationofbusinessmenlikeours，IdonotknowthatIcanestablishthemanoflettersinthepopularesteemasverymuchofabusinessmanafterall。Hemuststillhavealowrankamongpracticalpeople；andhewillberegardedbythegreatmassofAmericansasperhapsalittleoff，alittlefunny，alittlesoft！
Perhapsnot；andyetIwouldrathernothaveaconsensusofpublicopiniononthequestion；IthinkIammorecomfortablewithoutit。
IV。
Thereisthistobesaidindefenceofmenoflettersonthebusinessside，thatliteratureisstillaninfantindustrywithus，andsofarfromhavingbeenprotectedbyourlawsitwasexposedforninetyyearsafterthefoundationoftherepublictotheviciouscompetitionofstolengoods。Itistruethatwenowhavetheinternationalcopyrightlawatlast，andwecanatleastbegintoforgetourshame；butliterarypropertyhasonlyforty—twoyearsoflifeunderourunjuststatutes，andifitisattackedbyrobbersthelawdoesnotseekouttheaggressorsandpunishthem，asitwouldseekoutandpunishthetrespassersuponanyotherkindofproperty；butitleavestheaggrievedownertobringsuitagainstthem，andrecoverdamages，ifhecan。Thismayberightenoughinitself；butIthink，then，thatallpropertyshouldbedefendedbycivilsuit，andshouldbecomepublicafterforty—twoyearsofprivatetenure。TheConstitutionguaranteesusallequalitybeforethelaw，butthelaw—makersseemtohaveforgottenthisinthecaseofourinfantliteraryindustry。Solongasthisremainsthecase，wecannotexpectthebestbusinesstalenttogointoliterature，andthemanoflettersmustkeephispresentlowgradeamongbusinessmen。
AsIhavehinted，itisbutalittlewhilethathehashadanystandingatall。Imaysaythatitisonlysincethewasthatliteraturehasbecomeabusinesswithus。Beforethattimewehadauthors，andverygoodones；itisastonishinghowgoodtheywere；butIdonotrememberanyofthemwholivedbyliteratureexceptEdgarA。Poe，perhaps；andweallknowhowhelived；itwaslargelyuponloans。Theywereeithermenoffortune，ortheywereeditors，orprofessors，withsalariesorincomesapartfromthesmallgainsoftheirpens；ortheywerehelpedoutwithpublicoffices；oneneednotgoovertheirnames，orclassifythem。Someofthemmusthavemademoneybytheirbooks，butI
questionwhetheranyonecouldhavelived，evenverysimply，uponthemoneyhisbooksbroughthim。Noonecoulddothatnow，unlesshewroteabookthatwecouldnotrecognizeasaworkofliterature。Butmanyauthorslivenow，andliveprettilyenough，bythesaleoftheserialpublicationoftheirwritingstothemagazines。Theydonotlivesonicelyassuccessfultradespeople，ofcourse，orasmenintheotherprofessionswhentheybegintomakethemselvesnames；thehighstateofbrokers，bankers，railroadoperators，andthelikeis，inthenatureofthecase，beyondtheirfondestdreamsofpecuniaryaffluenceandsocialsplendor。Perhapstheydonotwantthechiefseatsinthesynagogue；itiscertaintheydonotgetthem。Still，theydoveryfairlywell，asthingsgo；andseveralhaveincomesthatwouldseemrichestothegreatmassofworthyAmericanswhoworkwiththeirhandsforaliving——whentheycangetthework。Theirincomesaremainlyfromserialpublicationinthedifferentmagazines；andtheprosperityofthemagazineshasgivenawholeclassexistencewhich，asaclass，waswhollyunknownamongusbeforethewar。Itisnotonlythefamousorfullyrecognizedauthorswholiveinthisway，butthemuchlargernumberofcleverpeoplewhoareasyetknownchieflytotheeditors，andwhomaynevermakethemselvesapublic，butwhodowellakindofacceptablework。Thesearethesortwhodonotgetreprintedfromtheperiodicals；butthebetterrecognizedauthorsdogetreprinted，andthentheirserialworkinitscompletedformappealstothereaderswhosaytheydonotreadserials。Themultitudeoftheseisnotgreat，andifanauthorrestedhishopesupontheirfavorhewouldbeamuchmoreembitteredmanthanhenowgenerallyis。Butheunderstandsperfectlywellthathisrewardisintheserialandnotinthebook；thereturnfromthathemaycountassomuchmoneyfoundintheroad——afewhundreds，averyfewthousands，atthemost。
V。
Idoubt，indeed，whethertheearningsofliterarymenareabsolutelyasgreatastheywereearlierinthecentury，inanyoftheEnglish—speakingcountries；relativelytheyarenothinglikeasgreat。Scotthadfortythousanddollarsfor\"Woodstock，\"
whichwasnotaverylargenovel，andwasbynomeansoneofhisbest；andfortythousanddollarshadatleastthepurchasingpowersofsixtythousandthen。Moorehadthreethousandguineasfor\"LallaRookh，\"butwhatpublisherwouldberashenoughtopaytwenty—fivethousanddollarsforthemasterpieceofaminorpoetnow？Thebook，exceptinveryrareinstances，makesnothinglikethereturntotheauthorthatthemagazinemakes，andtherearebuttwoorthreeauthorswhofindtheiraccountinthatformofpublication。Thosewhodo，thosewhosellthemostwidelyinbookform，areoftennotatalldesiredbyeditors；withdifficultytheygetaserialacceptedbyanyprincipalmagazine。
Ontheotherhand，thereareauthorswhosebooks，comparedwiththoseofthepopularfavorites，donotsell，andyettheyareeagerlysoughtforbyeditors；theyarepaidthehighestprices，andnothingthattheyofferisrefused。Theseareliteraryartists；anditoughttobeplainfromwhatIamsayingthatinbelles—lettres，atleast，mostofthebestliteraturenowfirstseesthelightinthemagazines，andmostofthesecondbestappearsfirstinbookform。Theold—fashionedpeoplewhoflatterthemselvesupontheirdistinctioninnotreadingmagazinefiction，ormagazinepoetry，makeagreatmistake，andsimplyclassthemselveswiththepublicwhosetasteissocrudethattheycannotenjoythebest。Ofcoursethisistruemainly，ifnotmerely，ofbelles—lettres；history，science，politics，metaphysics，inspiteofthemanyexcellentarticlesandpapersinthesesortsuponwhatusedtobecalledvariousemergentoccasions，arestilltobefoundattheirbestinbooks。Themostmonumentalexampleofliterature，atoncelightandgood，whichhasfirstreachedthepublicinbookformisinthedifferentpublicationsofMarkTwain；butMr。Clemenshasoflateturnedtothemagazinestoo，andnowtakestheirmintmarkbeforehepassesintogeneralcirculation。Allthismaychangeagain，butatpresentthemagazines——wehavenolongeranyreviews——formthemostdirectapproachtothatpartofourreadingpublicwhichlikesthehighestthingsinliteraryart。Theirreaders，ifwemayjudgefromthequalityoftheliteraturetheyget，aremorerefinedthanthebookreadersinourcommunity；andtheirtastehasnodoubtbeencultivatedbythatofthedisciplinedandexperiencededitors。SofarasIhaveknownthesetheyaremenofaestheticconscience，andofgeneroussympathy。Theyhavetheirpreferencesinthedifferentkinds，andtheyhavetheirtheoryofwhatkindwillbemostacceptabletotheirreaders；buttheyexercisetheirselectivefunctionwiththewishtogivethemthebestthingstheycan。Idonotknowoneofthem——andithasbeenmygoodfortunetoknowthemnearlyall——whowouldprintawhollyinferiorthingforthesakeofaninferiorclassofreaders，thoughtheymaysometimesdeclineagoodthingbecauseforonereasonoranothertheybelieveitwouldnotbeliked。
Still，eventhisdoesnotoftenhappen；theywouldratherchancethegoodthingtheydoubtedofthanunderratetheirreaders’
judgment。
Newwritersoftensupposethemselvesrejectedbecausetheyareunknown；buttheunknownmanofforceandqualityisofallothersthemanwhomtheeditorwelcomestohispage。Heknowsthatthereisalwaysadangerthatthereigningfavoritemayfailtoplease；thatatanyrate，intheorderofthings，heispassingaway，andthatifthemagazineisnottopassawaywiththemenwhohavemadeit，theremustbeaconstantinfusionoffreshlife。Feweditorsaresuchfoolsandknavesastolettheirpersonalfeelingdisabletheirjudgment；andtheyoungwriterwhogetshismanuscriptbackmaybesurethatitisnotbecausetheeditordislikeshim，forsomereasonornoreason。
Aboveall，hecantrustmethathiscontributionhasnotbeenpassedunread，orhasfailedoftheexaminationitmerits。
Editorsarenotmenofinfalliblejudgment，buttheydousetheirjudgment，anditisusuallygood。
Theyoungauthorwhowinsrecognitioninafirst—classmagazinehasachievedadoublesuccess，first，withtheeditor，andthenwiththebestreadingpublic。Manyfactitiousandfallaciousliteraryreputationshavebeenmadethroughbooks，butveryfewhavebeenmadethroughthemagazines，whicharenotonlythebestmeansofliving，butofoutliving，withtheauthor；theyarebothbreadandfametohim。IfIinsistalittleuponthehighofficewhichthismodernformofpublicationfulfilsintheliteraryworld，itisbecauseIamimpatientoftheantiquatedandignorantprejudicewhichclassesthemagazinesasephemeral。
Theyareephemeralinform，butinsubstancetheyarenotephemeral，andwhatisbestinthemawaitsitsresurrectioninthebook，which，asthefirstform，issooftenalastingdeath。
Aninterestingproofofthevalueofthemagazinetoliteratureisthefactthatagoodnovelwillhavewideracceptanceasabookfromhavingbeenamagazineserial。
Iamnotsurethatthedecayofthebookisnotowingsomewhattothedecayofreviewing。Thisdoesnotnowseemtomesothorough，orevensogeneralasitwassomeyearsago，andI
thinkthebookoftenercomestothebuyerwithoutthewarrantofacriticalestimatethanitoncedid。Thatisneverthecasewithmaterialprintedinamagazineofhighclass。A
well—trainedcritic，whoisboundbythestrongesttiesofhonorandinterestnottobetrayeitherhisemployerorhispublic，hasjudgedit，andhispracticalapprovalisawarrantofquality。
VI。
Undertheregimeofthegreatliteraryperiodicalstheprosperityofliterarymenwouldbemuchgreaterthanitactuallyis，ifthemagazineswerealtogetherliterary。Buttheyarenot，andthisisonereasonwhyliteratureisstillthehungriestoftheprofessions。Two—thirdsofthemagazinesaremadeupofmaterialwhich，howeverexcellent，iswithoutliteraryquality。Veryprobablythisisbecauseeventhehighestclassofreaders，whoarethemagazinereaders，havesmallloveofpureliterature，whichseemstohavebeengrowinglessandlessinallclasses。I
sayseems，becausetherearereallynomeansofascertainingthefact，anditmaybethattheeditorsaremistakeninmakingtheirperiodicalstwo—thirdspopularscience，politics，economics，andthetimelytopicswhichIwillcallcontemporanies；Ihavesometimesthoughttheywere。Buthoweverthatmaybe，theireffortsinthisdirectionhavenarrowedthefieldofliteraryindustry，anddarkenedthehopeofliteraryprosperitykindledbytheunexampledprosperityoftheirperiodicals。Theypayverywellindeedforliterature；theypayfromfiveorsixdollarsathousandwordsfortheworkoftheunknownwriter，toahundredandfiftydollarsathousandwordsforthatofthemostfamous，orthemostpopular，ifthereisadifferencebetweenfameandpopularity；buttheydonot，altogether，wantenoughliteraturetojustifythebestbusinesstalentindevotingitselftobelles—
lettres，tofiction，orpoetry，orhumoroussketchesoftravel，orlightessays；businesstalentcandofarbetterindrygoods，groceries，drugs，stocks，realestate，railroads，andthelike。
Idonotthinkthereisanydangerofaruinouscompetitionfromitinthefieldwhich，thoughnarrow，seemssorichtouspoorfellows，whosebusinesstalentissmall，atthebest。
Themostofthematerialcontributedtothemagazinesisthesubjectofagreementbetweentheeditorandtheauthor；itiseithersuggestedbytheauthor，oristhefruitofsomesuggestionfromtheeditor；inanycasethepriceisstipulatedbeforehand，anditisnolongerthecustomforawell—knowncontributortoleavethepaymenttothejusticeorthegenerosityofthepublisher；thatwasneverafairthingtoeither，noreverawisething。Usually，thepriceissomuchathousandwords，atrulyodiousmethodofcomputingliteraryvalue，andonewellcalculatedtomaketheauthorfeelkeenlythehatefulnessofsellinghisartatall。Itisasifapaintersoldhispictureatsomuchasquareinch，orasculptorbargainedawayagroupofstatuarybythepound。Butitisacustomthatyoucannotalwayssuccessfullyquarrelwith，andmostwritersgladlyconsenttoit，ifonlythepriceathousandwordsislargeenough。Thesaletotheeditormeansthesaleoftheserialrightsonly，butifthepublisherofthemagazineisalsoapublisherofbooks，therepublicationofthematerialissupposedtobehisright，unlessthereisanunderstandingtothecontrary；thetermsforthisareanotheraffair。FormerlysomethingmorecouldbegotfortheauthorbythesimultaneousappearanceofhisworkinanEnglishmagazine，butnowthegreatAmericanmagazines，whichpayfarhigherpricesthananyothersintheworld，haveacirculationinEnglandsomuchexceedingthatofanyEnglishperiodical，thatthesimultaneouspublicationcannolongerbearrangedforfromthisside，thoughIbelieveitisstilldoneherefromtheotherside。
VII。
Ithinkthisisthecaseofauthorshipasitnowstandswithregardtothemagazines。Iamnotsurethatthecaseisineverywayimprovedforyoungauthors。Themagazinesallmaintainastaffforthecarefulexaminationofmanuscripts，butasmostofthematerialtheyprinthasbeenengaged，thenumberofvolunteercontributionsthattheycanuseisverysmall；oneofthegreatestofthem，Iknow，doesnotusefiftyinthecourseofayear。Thenewwriter，then，mustbeverygoodtobeaccepted，andwhenacceptedhemaywaitlongbeforeheisprinted。Thepressureissogreatintheseavenuestothepublicfavorthatone，two，threeyears，arenouncommonperiodsofdelay。Ifthewriterhasnotthepatienceforthis，orhasasoulabovecoolinghisheelsinthecourtsoffame，ormustdohisbesttoearnsomethingatonce，thebookishisimmediatehope。HowslightahopethebookisIhavetriedtohintalready，butifabookisvulgarenoughinsentiment，andcrudeenoughintaste，andflashyenoughinincident，or，betterorworsestill，ifitisabithotinthemouth，andpromisesimproprietyifnotindecency，thereisaveryfairchanceofitssuccess；Idonotmeansuccesswithaself—respectingpublisher，butwiththepublic，whichdoesnotpersonallyputitsnametoit，andisnotopenlysmirchedbyit。
Iwillnottalkofthatkindofbook，however，butofthebookwhichtheyoungauthorhaswrittenoutofanunspoiledheartandanuntaintedmind，suchasmostyoungmenandwomenwrite；andI
willsupposethatithasfoundapublisher。Itishumannature，ascompetitionhasdeformedhumannature，forthepublishertowishtheauthortotakealltherisks，andhepossiblyproposesthattheauthorshallpublishitathisownexpense，andlethimhaveapercentageoftheretailpriceformanagingit。Ifnotthat，heproposesthattheauthorshallpayforthestereotypeplates，andtakefifteenpercent。ofthepriceofthebook；orifthiswillnotgo，iftheauthorcannot，ratherthanwillnotdoit（heiscommonlyonlytoogladtodoanythinghecan），thenthepublisheroffershimtenpercent。oftheretailpriceafterthefirstthousandcopieshavebeensold。Butifhefullybelievesinthebook，hewillgivetenpercent。fromthefirstcopysold，andpayallthecostsofpublicationhimself。Thebookistoberetailedforadollarandahalf，andthepublisherisverywellpleasedwithanewbookthatsellsfifteenhundredcopies。Whethertheauthorhasasmuchreasontobesoisaquestion，butifthebookdoesnotsellmorehehasonlyhimselftoblame，andhadbetterpocketinsilencethetwohundredandtwenty—fivedollarshegetsforit，andblesshispublisher，andtrytofindworksomewhereatfivedollarsaweek。Thepublisherhasnotmadeanymore，ifquiteasmuchastheauthor，anduntilabookhassoldtwothousandcopiesthedivisionisfairenough。
Afterthat，theheavierexpensesofmanufacturinghavebeendefrayed，andthebookgoesonadvertisingitself；thereismerelythecostofpaper，printing，binding，andmarketingtobemet，andthearrangementbecomesfairerandfairerforthepublisher。Theauthorhasnorighttocomplainofthis，inthecaseofhisfirstbook，whichheisonlytoogratefultogetacceptedatall。Ifitsucceeds，hehashimselftoblameformakingthesamearrangementforhissecondorthird；itishisfault，orelseitishisnecessity，whichispracticallythesamething。Itwillbebusinessforthepublishertotakeadvantageofhisnecessityquitethesameasifitwerehisfault；butIdonotsaythathewillalwaysdoso；Ibelievehewillveryoftennotdoso。
Atonetimethereseemedaprobabilityoftheenlargementoftheauthor’sgainsbysubscriptionpublication，andoneverywell—knownAmericanauthorprosperedfabulouslyinthatway。Thepercentageofferedbythesubscriptionhouseswasonlyabouthalfasmuchasthatpaidbythetrade，butthesalesweresomuchgreaterthattheauthorcouldverywellaffordtotakeit。Wherethebook—dealersoldten，thebook—agentsoldahundred；oratleasthedidsointhecaseofMarkTwain’sbooks；andweallthoughtitreasonablehecoulddosowithours。Suchofusasmadeexperimentofhim，however，foundthefactsillogical。NobookofliteraryqualitywasmadetogobysubscriptionexceptMr。Clemens’sbooks，andIthinkthesewentbecausethesubscriptionpublicneverknewwhatgoodliteraturetheywere。
Thissortofreaders，orbuyers，weresousedtogettingsomethingworthlessfortheirmoney，thattheywouldnotspenditforartisticfiction，orindeedforanyfictionall，exceptMr。
Clemens’s，whichtheyprobablysupposedbad。Somegoodbooksoftravelhadameasurablesuccessthroughthebookagents，butnotatallthesuccessthathadbeenhopedfor；andIbelievenowthesubscriptiontradeagainpublishesonlycompilations，orsuchworksasowemoretotheskilloftheeditorthantheartofthewriter。Mr。Clemenshimselfnolongeroffershisbookstothepublicinthatway。
Itisnotcommon，Ithink，inthiscountry，topublishonthehalf—profitssystem，butitisverycommoninEngland，where，owingprobablytothemoistureintheair，whichlendsafairyoutlinetoeveryprospect，itseemstobepeculiarlyalluring。
Oneofmyownearlybookswaspublishedthereontheseterms，whichIacceptedwiththeinsensatejoyoftheyoungauthoringettinganytermsfromapublisher。Thebooksold，soldeverycopyofthesmallfirstedition，andinduetimethepublisher’sstatementcame。Ididnotthinkmyhalfoftheprofitswasverygreat，butitseemedafairdivisionaftereveryimaginablecosthadbeenchargedupagainstmypoorbook，andthatfrailventurehadbeenmadetopaytheexpensesofcomposition，corrections，paper，printing，binding，advertising，andeditorialcopies。Thewonderoughttohavebeenthattherewasanythingatallcomingtome，butIwasyoungandgreedythen，andIreallythoughtthereoughttohavebeenmore。Iwasdisappointed，butImadethebestofit，ofcourse，andtooktheaccounttothejuniorpartnerofthehousewhichemployedme，andsaidthatIshouldliketodrawonhimforthesumduemefromtheLondonpublishers。Hesaid，Certainly；butafteraglanceattheaccounthesmiledandsaidhesupposedIknewhowmuchthesumwas？Ianswered，Yes；itwaselevenpoundsnineshillings，wasnotit？ButIownedatthesametimethatIneverwasgoodatfigures，andthatIfoundEnglishmoneypeculiarlybaffling。Helaughednow，andsaid，Itwaselevenshillingsandninepence。
Infact，afterallthosechargesforcomposition，corrections，paper，printing，binding，advertising，andeditorialcopies，therewasamostingeniousandwhollysurprisingchargeoftenpercent。commissiononsales，whichreducedmyhalffrompoundstoshillings，andhandsomelyincreasedthepublisher’shalfinproportion。Idonotnowdisputethejusticeofthecharge。Itwasnotthefaultofthehalf—profitssystem，itwasthefaultofthegladyoungauthorwhodidnotdistinctlyinformhimselfofitsmysteriousnatureinagreeingtoit，andhadonlytoreproachhimselfifhewasfinallydisappointed。
Butthereisalwayssomethingdisappointingintheaccountsofpublishers，whichIfancyisbecauseauthorsarestrangelyconstituted，ratherthanbecausepublishersareso。IwillconfessthatIhavesuchinordinateexpectationsofthesaleofmybookswhichIhopeIthinkmodestlyof，thatthesalesreportedtomeneverseemgreatenough。Thecopyrightdueme，nomatterhowhandsomeitis，appearsdeplorablymean，andIfeelimpoverishedforseveraldaysafterIgetit。Butthen，IoughttoaddthatmybalanceinthebankisalwaysmuchlessthanI
havesupposedittobe，andmyownchecks，whentheycomebacktome，havetheairofhavingbeeninaconspiracytobetrayme。
No，weliterarymenmustlearn，nomatterhowweboastourselvesinbusiness，thatthedistresswefeelfromourpublisher’saccountsissimplyidiopathic；andIforonewishtobearmywitnesstotheconstantgoodfaithanduprightnessofpublishers。
Itissupposedthatbecausetheyhavetheaffairaltogetherintheirhandstheyareapttotakeadvantageinit；butthisdoesnotfollow，andasamatteroffacttheyhavetheaffairnomoreintheirownhandsthananyotherbusinessmanyouhaveanopenaccountwith。Thereisnothingtopreventyoufromlookingattheirbooks，exceptyourowninnermostbeliefandfearthattheirbooksarecorrect，andthatyourliteraturehasbroughtyousolittlebecauseithassoldsolittle。
Theauthorisnottoblameforhissuperficialdelusiontothecontrary，especiallyifhehaswrittenabookthathasseteveryonetalking，becauseitisofavitalinterest。Itmaybeofavitalinterest，withoutbeingatallthekindofbookpeoplewanttobuy；itmaybethekindofbookthattheyarecontenttoknowatsecondhand；therearesuchfatalbooks；buthearingsomuch，andreadingsomuchaboutit，theauthorcannothelphopingthatithassoldmuchmorethanthepublishersays。Thepublisherisundoubtedlyhonest，however，andtheauthorhadbetterputawaythecomfortingquestionofhisintegrity。
TheEnglishwritersseemlargelytosuspecttheirpublishers（I
cannotsaywithhowmuchreason，formyEnglishpublisherisScotch，andIshouldbegladtobesotrueamanasIthinkhim）；
butIbelievethatAmericanauthors，whennotflownwithflatteringreviews，aslargelytrusttheirs。Ofcoursethereareroguesineverywalkoflife。IwillnotsaythatIeverpersonallymetthemintheflowerypathsofliterature，butI
haveheardofotherpeoplemeetingthemthere，justasIhaveheardofpeopleseeingghosts，andIhavetobelieveinboththeroguesandtheghosts，withoutthewitnessofmyownsenses。I
suppose，uponsuchgroundsmainly，thattherearewickedpublishers，butinthecaseofourbooksthatdonotsell，Iamafraidthatitisthegracelessandinappreciativepublicwhichisfarmoretoblamethanthewickedestofthepublishers。Itistruethatpublisherswilldriveahardbargainwhentheycan，orwhentheymust；butthereisnothingtohinderanauthorfromdrivingahardbargain，too，whenhecan，orwhenhemust；anditistobesaidofthepublisherthatheisalwaysmorewillingtoabidebythebargainwhenitismadethantheauthoris；perhapsbecausehehasthebestofit。Buthehasnotalwaysthebestofit；Ihaveknownpublisherstoogeneroustotakeadvantageoftheinnocenceofauthors；andIfancythatifpublishershadtodowithanyracelessdiffidentthanauthors，theywouldhavewonareputeforunselfishnessthattheydonotnowenjoy。Itiscertainthatinthelongperiodwhenweflewtheblackflagofpiracythereweremanyamongourcorsairsonthehighseasofliteraturewhopaidafairpriceforthestrangercrafttheyseized；stilloftenertheyremovedthecargo，andreleasedtheircapturewithseveralweeks’provision；andalthoughtherewasundoubtedlyagooddealofactualthroat—cuttingandscuttling，stillIfeelsurethattherewaslessofitthantherewouldhavebeeninanyotherlineofbusinessreleasedtotheunrestrictedplunderoftheneighbor。Therewasforalongtimeevenacomityamongtheseamiablebuccaneers，whoagreednottointerferewitheachother，andsowereenabledtopayovertotheirvictimssomeportionoftheprofitfromtheirstolengoods。Ofallbusinessmenpublishersareprobablythemostfaithfulandhonorable，andareonlysurpassedinvirtuewhenmenoflettersturnbusinessmen。
Publishershavetheirlittletheories，theirlittlesuperstitions，andtheirblindfaithinthegreatgodChance，whichweallworship。Thesethingsleadthemintotemptationandadversity，buttheyseemtodofairlywellasbusinessmen，evenintheirownbehalf。Theydonotmakeabovetheusualninety—fivepercent。offailures，andmorepublishersthanauthorsgetrich。Ihaveknownseveralpublisherswhokepttheircarriages，butIhaveneverknownevenoneauthortokeephiscarriageontheprofitsofhisliterature，unlessitwasinsomemodestcountryplacewhereonecouldtakecareofone’sownhorse。Butthisissimplybecausetheauthorsaresomany，andthepublishersaresofew。Ifwewishtoreversetheirpositions，wemuststudyhowtoreducethenumberofauthorsandincreasethenumberofpublishers；thenprosperitywillsmileourway。
VIII。
Sometheoriesorsuperstitionspublishersandauthorssharetogether。Oneoftheseisthatitisbesttokeepyourbooksallinthehandsofonepublisherifyoucan，becausethenhecangivethemmoreattentionadsellmoreofthem。Butmyownexperienceisthatwhenmybookswereinthehandsofthreepublisherstheysoldquiteaswellaswhenonehadthem；andafellowauthorwhomIapproachedinquestionofthisvenerablebelief，laughedatit。Thisboldhereticheldthatitwasbesttogiveeachnewbooktoanewpublisher，forthenthefreshmanputallhisenergiesintopushingit；butifyouhadthemalltogether，thepublisherrestedinavainsecuritythatonebookwouldsellanother，andthatthefreshventurewouldrevivethepublicinterestinthestaleones。Ineverknewthistohappen，andImustclassitwiththesuperstitionsofthetrade。Itmaybesoinotherandmoreconstantcountries，butinourficklerepublic，eachlastbookhastofightitsownwaytopublicfavor，muchasifithadnosortofliterarylineage。Ofcoursethisisstatingitratherlargely，andthetruthwillbefoundinsideratherthanoutsideofmystatement；butthereisatleasttruthenoughinittogivetheyoungauthorpause。Whileoneispreparingtosellhisbasketofglass，hemayaswellaskhimselfwhetheritisbettertopartwithalltoonedealerornot；andifhekicksitover，inspurningtheimaginarycustomerwhoasksthefavoroftakingentirestock，thatwillbehisfault，andnotthefaultofthequestion。