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It did not seem wise to me to invest twenty-five dollars in this way and so I declined this offer. December 14, a letter came to me from the Saulsbury Publishing Co., Rippel Bldg., Baltimore, Md., as follows: we have

Dear Mr. McCorkendale We have made strong efforts to permit you to see the publication of your book concerning which been in negotiation. A contract was submitted to you which was acceptable, but the publica

tion is kept out of your reach, apparently for lack of necessary money to assist us in the issuance.

We want to see this book of yours published. Why should the Ms. lie dead, month after month, year after year? We have now decided to suggest an experiment to you easily within your power to embrace and which if successful will allow you to see your book published without any further outlay on your part whatsoever.

We propose to issue a fine Descriptive Folder, containing an ORDER BLANK, to be circulated among book buyers, dealers, jobbers and also to lists of your personal friends (to be supplied by you) with an object of securing such a number of Advance Orders as will permit the issuance of the book without cost to you. This Folder would be beautifully printed and whatever number you wanted for your own personal use to be supplied free, the remainder to be used by us for a vigorous and immediate Campaign.

All we would require of you would be the nominal assistance of $25.00 to help us out in the expert preparation of the Folder, printing, distribution, etc. This payment would be credited to you and added to the first royalty payment accruing after the issuance of your book. Your total liability would be the small sum named should our efforts fail in the sale of

your book we accept the total responsibility

and loss.

You will therefore kindly submit to us a brief synopsis of your book in your own words (to

New York Office 305 Broadway Phone, 2130 Worth

Cleveland Office Schofield Bldg. Phone, Main 5268

SAULSBURY PUBLISHING COMPANY

Incorporated Rippel Building Baltimore, Md.

December 13th, 1917.

Mr. A. A. McCorkendale, Caledonia, N. Y.

Dear Mr. McCorkendale Your book Ms. together with memo of your correspondence has been referred to us by The McLean Co. as they are going out of business. We have carefully considered your Ms.

You no doubt know from your experience in sending your Mss. to publishers, that very few, if any, put out books unless the author has a pen name of commercial value or unless the author has faith in his work and co-operates with his or her publisher. Good interesting work will sell no matter who puts it out.

Our facilities are such that we believe we can make your book attractive and possess selling value. We are willing to publish it under the terms of the enclosed contract which we send in blank. If you decide to take up the matter we will send contracts duly executed. Our

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Specific Contract and Agreement for the Production of a Book (with Special Service Attached) Between THE MCLEAN COMPANY, Publishers, of Baltimore, and

Mr. Allan A. McCorkendale of Caledonia, New York.

1. Under the terms of this contract it is agreed that we will issue in attractive form your Ms. entitled "A Jewel-Decked Castle to be priced at $.50, style and paper, designing, to be submitted to you, if desired, before using. The Ms. contains 42 lines; volume to be artistically printed, and illustrated. It is understood that the copyright of the book is to be in the author's name and is to be secured by us, we paying all the expense of same.

2.

3. We agree under this contract to render the following specific work and service on the production of the book, typesetting, paper, printing, designing, distribution of review copies, listing in the trade journals, advertising in magazines, cataloguing, advisable correspondence with book dealers and the production and distribution of the book according to the explicit provision for the production and for the special service comprised by this contract; announcement at the back of book at publisher's option (which will constitute our sole responsibility).

4. We agree to assume the entire expense of subsequent necessary editions, during the existence of this contract, it being understood that the aggregate orders in such case must total 500 copies of the book in order to render this clause operative, it being understood that the contract runs for one year from date, renewable by mutual consent in writing.

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it is stipulated that if the amount of royalties accruing before the accounting period, at any time exceeds five hundred dollars, a statement shall be made in the interval. 8. It is agreed that we are to distribute from 40 to 100 copies of your book in order to secure reviews and for other advertising objects, inclusive of advisable samples to dealers and buyers (at our expense) said copies exempt from accounting.

9. In consideration of the above costly and expert special and specific service it is agreed that you will pay to The McLean Company the sum of $100.00 (One Hundred Dollars) which may be paid half down on signing of contract, and the balance on receipt of proofs, which acquits you of further liability under this contract.

10. In witness whereof we have hereto attached the signature of this company which with the affixing of your signature will constitute this a valid contract of which you' are to retain one copy and return the other. THE MCLEAN COMPANY,

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[ It should be observed that the manuscript which the McLean Company thinks of bringing out "in volume form" is described by Mr. McCorkendale as some rhymes," and that the contract forwarded to him says: "The manuscript contains 42 lines." He is asked to pay one hundred dollars for bringing out a 42-line poem, illustrated, "in volume form." Obviously, if one thousand copies of the "volume" are sold at fifty cents apiece the author will get two hundred dollars, in addition to two hundred copies free, which he can perhaps sell for fifty cents apiece, and if two thousand, five hundred copies are sold, his profit will be proportionately greater. The statement of "specific work and service," later described as "costly and expert special and specific service," to be rendered by the publishers, is quite impressive. Returns if any must be prompt, since the contract runs only for a year, "renewable by mutual consent in writing." The subtle suggestion in paragraph that the amount of royalties accruing in a six-months' period may exceed five hundred dollars would doubtless make an impression on an author. At the same time, it

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will be noticed that the McLean Company does not make any definite promises which it might possibly regret, although it agrees to assume "the entire expense of subsequent necessary editions"

memorandum that is to say, if it has

unfilled orders for five hundred copies of the "book" at any time within a year. Editor THE WRITER.]

I did not have one hundred dollars for this purpose, and informed Mr. Burchall, contract manager, of the fact. June 26, I received from him a letter which read as follows: :

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Dear Mr. McCorkendale We have made strong efforts to permit you to see the publication of your book concerning which we have been in negotiation. A contract was submitted to you which was acceptable, but the publication is kept out of your reach, apparently for lack of necessary money to assist us in the issuance.

We want to see this book of yours published. Why should the Ms. lie dead, month after month, year after year? We have now decided to suggest an experiment to you easily within your power to embrace and which if successful will allow you to see your book published without any further outlay on your part whatsoever.

We propose to issue a fine Descriptive Folder, containing an ORDER BLANK, to be circulated among book buyers, dealers, jobbers and also to lists of your personal friends (to be supplied by you) with an object of securing such a number of Advance Orders as will permit the issuance of the book without cost to you. This Folder would be beautifully printed and whatever number you wanted for your own personal use to be supplied free, the remainder to be used by us for a vigorous and immediate Campaign.

All we would require of you would be the nominal assistance of $25.00 to help us out in the expert preparation of the Folder, printing, distribution, etc. This payment would be credited to you and added to the first royalty payment accruing after the issuance of your book. Your total liability would be the small sum named; should our efforts fail in the sale of

your book we accept the total responsibility

and loss.

You will therefore kindly submit to us a brief synopsis of your book in your own words (to

be elaborated and perfected by us) enclosing also your photograph if you wish it to be used; together with the remittance named and we will go ahead full speed. Sign and return the carbon of this letter enclosed which will be a of our important undertaking. Let us now get together and see if we can't get out this booklet of yours without further delay. If this offer is not acceptable, let us know and the Poem will be returned at once. Faithfully yours,

THE MCLEAN COMPANY,

per A. M. Burchall [ It will be observed that Mr. Burchall, like Mr. Hobart, writes "Ms." for "MS." It should be remembered that the "book," of which Mr. McCorkendale is requested to submit "a brief synopsis," to be used in the Folder, with the ORDER BLANK, is the 42line poem. Editor THE WRITER.]

It did not seem wise to me to invest twenty-five dollars in this way and so I declined this offer. December 14, a letter came to me from the Saulsbury Publishing Co., Rippel Bldg., Baltimore, Md., as follows:

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Mr. A. A. McCorkendale,
Caledonia, N. Y.

Dear Mr. McCorkendale Your book Ms. together with memo of your correspondence has been referred to us by The McLean Co. as they are going out of business. We have carefully considered your Ms.

You no doubt know from your experience in sending your Mss. to publishers, that very few, if any, put out books unless the author has a pen name of commercial value or unless the author has faith in his work and co-operates with his or her publisher. Good interesting work will sell no matter who puts it out.

Our facilities are such that we believe we can make your book attractive and possess selling value. We are willing to publish it under the terms of the enclosed contract which we send in blank. If you decide to take up the matter we will send contracts duly executed. Our terms. as per clause No. 9. would be for you to assume at least 40 per cent. of total outlay, royalty to be in proportion. This would necessitate a payment of $100.00 half to be deposited in your bank subject to our sight draft on presentation of proofs, the balance to be paid in small monthly installments. This plan, which

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CHAPTER VI.

SETTING.

Stage Setting and the Setting of the Novel The Attitude of the Old Epic Poets Toward Nature Landscape, Inanimate Objects, Animals, and Human Beings Setting Represented as in Harmony with or in Opposition to the Characters.

Definition of Setting. — In no respect is the distinction between the novel and the drama more clearly marked than in the matter of setting. By the term "setting" is here meant the environment (including foreground and background) in which the action proceeds, whether that environment be nature and the accompaniment of natural forces, animate or inanimate objects, or actual human beings.

Stage Setting. In the production of a play, landscape and houses or other structures which comprise the material surroundings in which the characters move must be portrayed by painted scenery. The illusion of thunder, rain, tumult, and the like must be created by imitative noises; lightning, sun

set, sunrise, etc., by the manipulation of electric lights. The effect of setting upon situations and characters must be visibly shown: it cannot, except in rare instances, be verbally described. In fact, any description of setting whatsoever emanating from the characters. (and it must so emanate if employed at all) can hardly fail to be irrelevant, since the pictorial representation of the scene described is visible to the eye.

The Privilege of the Novelist. The novelist, on the other hand, may suspend his dialogue for a time and indulge in the most elaborate descriptions of background. Though compelled by the necessities of his craft to paint his scene in words, he may, if he chooses, convert that necessity into a privilege, and make his setting a vital part of the story itself. To be sure, the dramatist is not altogether fettered in this regard. Zangwill has wonderfully vitalized his background in "The Melting-Pot." But the freedom of treatment, the opportunity for personal explanation and interpretation, which the novelist enjoys, is denied the dramatist, whose

descriptive powers are restricted to the spoken comment of his characters upon a tangible, visible scene.

Neutral Treatment. There is a certain type of novel in which the treatment of locality is analogous to the playwright's description of stage setting. Nature is lifeless, and landscape of no greater significance than the conventional scenery of the theatre. Stevenson has called attention to this fact in conOther nection with the novels of Fielding. critics have found a like defect in Richardson's work.

Nature and the Epic Poets. The old epic poets attached far greater importance to nature and natural phenomena than did the early English novelists. Back of forest, hill, stream, wind, wave, and cloud stood the immortal gods using the forces of nature to aid and abet the earthly children whom they loved, or to harass those who had incurred their enmity.

Eolus at the instigation of Juno releases the raging winds in order to disperse the fleet of Eneas, whose goddess mother is Juno's rival. Thus Virgil reveals the antagonistic side of nature.

When the Trojan women set fire to the boats, Æneas prays to Jove for succor. The beneficent offices of nature are thus disclosed :

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from any suggestion of the intervention of pagan gods, but equally sentient and vital.

Charlotte Brontë's description of background is worthy of careful study. In "Jane Eyre" nature reflects, interprets, and foreshadows events and emotions. The great moorland into which Jane strays after she has fled from Thornfield receives her with a sympathy that is almost human. She declares :

Not a tie holds me to human society at this moment not a charm or hope calls me where my fellow-creatures are none that saw me would have a kind thought or a good wish for me. I have relative but the universal mother, Nature I will seek her breast and ask repose.

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I struck straight into the heath; I held on to a hollow I saw deeply furrowing the brown moor-side; I waded knee-deep in its dark growth; I turned with its turnings, and finding a moss-blackened granite crag in a hidden angle, I sat down under it. High banks of moor were about me; the crag protected my head: the sky was over that.

I touched the heath; it was dry, and yet warm with the heat of the summer day. I looked at the sky; it was pure a kindly star twinkled just above the chasm ridge. The dew fell, but with propitious softness; no breeze whispered. Nature seemed to me benign and good; I thought she loved me, outcast as I was; and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness. Tonight, at least. I would be her guest as I was her child : my mother would lodge me without money and without price.

Inanimate Objects Represented as Sympathizing with Characters. Hawthorne in "The Marble Faun" has frequently imparted sympathy and feeling to even the inanimate objects in his setting a treatment peculiarly adapted to a novel laid in Italy and breathing the very air of ancient Rome.

Miriam and Donatello have been estranged for a while by their crime, but through the intervention of Kenyon are reunited at last under the shadow of the pontiff's statue in the public square of Perugia.

At this moment it so chanced that all the three friends by one impulse glanced upward at the statue of Pope Julius ; and there was the majestic figure stretching out the hand of benediction over them, and bending down upon this guilty

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