17? August 1881 • Elmira, N.Y. (MS: DLC, UCCL 02010)
pages 1 and 2 (about 175 words) missing
of some Betsy Bobbett books of a most taking character with Tom, Dick & Harry, they have sold huge editions; also of my rubbish they have sold colossal editions. And it is just as I say—if a little energy & money are needed to make a book go, it simply doesn’t go. That’s Hartford subscription style—at least as regards our house. I think, if you will apply to Col. Tom Knox & Mrs. Stowe, you will find that the two other chief houses there, are strictly of the same style.
All subscription houses in America are “equipped” alike; for they all use the same canvassers—but they differ in that some of the houses (in Philadelphia, for instance,) use some energy & some money.
Osgood is organizing a subscription t department, & will make his first experiment with a book of mine in this fall. I shall have one advantage, there, for if he fail to sell my book he will at least not swindle me.
I judged you wanted a frank statement—well, I’ve done my best. Many thanks for your kind invitation—which in margin: (over I gladly accept on condition that when you are in Hartford you will take bed & bite under the roof of
MS, John Esten Cooke Papers, DLC.
MicroPUL, reel 2.
The Cooke Papers were acquired by purchase in 1907–8 and by donation from N. N. Wallack in 1942.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.