Life, 1903-10-01 · page 34 of 36
Life — October 1, 1903 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the publishing industry's commercialism versus artistic merit. The humor lies in three contrasting letters about the same manuscript, "Lord Leathern Lumphead": **The Setup:** A publisher's effusive acceptance letter praising the work as "the historical novel of the week" is immediately undercut by the actual rejection letter from the same firm (Puff, Bluff & Company—itself a mocking name). **The Reality:** The publisher demands the author cut one-third of the text, replace the "artistic" tragic ending with a happy one, and accept that their policy is "cash without art"—not artistic merit but commercial viability ("hot seller"). **The Punchline:** The author's private letter reveals he cynically complied, admitting the book is "beastly rot" but accepts it as good "advertisement" and lucrative regardless of quality. The satire targets early 1900s publishing houses that prioritized profit over literature, forcing authors to compromise artistic vision for commercial appeal and happy endings over historical accuracy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
_+ LIFE: Behind the Literary Scenes. (Supposed Letter from Publisher to Author.) Purr, Buurr & Company, Puorisiers. My Dear Mr. Treasure Trove: After but one glance at the manuscript you were good enough to submit to us yes- terday, I felt reasonably sure that we had something unusual with which to deal. A careful personal reading has convinced me completely that you have given us the his torical novel of the week. Permit us to ac- cept “Lord Leathern Lumphead” at once, quite as it stands, and to hope that you will consider favorably our proposition for rush- ing from the presses at once a big first edi- tion of the book. The title in itself cannot fail of making a great hit. As to royalties, etc., we shall leave you to make your own'terms. A book such as yours is worth a whole year's business to us. Cordially yours, J. Bic Burr, Puff, Bluff & Company. (The Real Thing from Publisher to Author.) Purr, Burr ann Company, Puntisiers. Mr. UNKNown Avtior: Mr. Read 'Em Through assures us that in “Lord Leathern Lumphead,” a manuscript you left with us, we believe, some six months ago, we have a book that bids fair to be pleasant enough companion to a steamer rug. Before we could undertake to bring out the manuscript in book form, however, it must be cut fully one-third and provided with a happy ending. Let us add in ttris respect that nothing but the happy ending is nowa- days popular and salable. Although you urge, we understand, that the tragic ending is more artistic, as well as more true to his- tory, you must remember that our policy, in common with that of every other large pub- lishing house, is not art for art's sake, but cash without art. In other words, we must have a hot seller. That is what we say to our entire staff of popular authors of the day. If you should decide to conform to our reg- ular rule for the popular historical novel, we shall be glad to place you in communica- tion with Mr. Put 'Em Through regarding contract, royalties, etc. Yours very truly, Purr, Biurr & Company. (Strictly Personal Letter from Author to Old Chum.) Dear Old Bob:—You'll be glad to know. I'm sure, that I've worked off that historical horror I wrote some three years ago in col- lege on Puff, Bluff & Company. All they held out for was a happy ending. Fortu- nately enough, I still had pigeon-holed that happy ending Large Profits & Company wanted and then flung back on me while I was signing the contract. Of course the thing is beastly rot, but ‘tis a good advertisement to be brought out by Puff, Bluff & Company, and I’m not in the “popular author” business for my health. And by the way, old man, they've offered me bigger royalties than I could possibly ex- pect to get elsewhere. I'm telling you this as a straight tip on the literary races. You can safely bet that anything you have salted down in the “rejected manuscript” barrel is good enough for Puff, Bluff & Company. Try them with something soon. “Lord Leathern Lumphead” will be out next week. Yours always, Tou Mabel Warren Sanford. M AY: Did Clara’s husband leave her much when he died? Bette: He left enough to make her com. fortable, but not enough to get her a sec- ond husband. -ASPAR: Jones once played a practical joke on Smith. Jumpurre: Was it a success? “I should say it was. Why, they haven't spoken since.” = lover is an astronomer who has dis- DHE " ho has di covered a new planet. A ZADY who pined for a kodak “Walked all the way eastward from So. Dak., But when she got here, The things were so dear, There was nothing to do but to go bak. Hendrik Van Duzer. An Annual Income Guaranteed For Wife or Children Without committing myself to any action, 1 shall be glad to receive free Particalars and Rates of Whole Life Policies showing Trust Fand Privilege. Name____ Adée — Occupation __ wi Alms Dept. 0. { Send Coupon | for Particulars PRUDENTIAL a F. Dryden, Prest. INSURANCE CO. OF AMERICA Home Office: Newark, N. J. NORTHERN*10"0 Built for speed, strength, style and comfort. The sturdy Northern ideally combines these qualities essential to a high-grade gasoline runabout. in its class. Write for catalogue and name of nearest agent. NORTHERN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, - Detroit, Mich. Members National Assoctatioa of Licensed Actomobile Manufacturers, Not an experiment but a proven leader comicbooks.com