Fifty Years among Authors, Books and Publishers

Aldrich met Fitz-Greene Halleck through Frederick S. Cozzens after Aldrich's poem "The Ballad of Baby Bell" caught Cozzens's attention.

Derby writes that one of George W. Carleton's early publications as a publisher was "that celebrated society poem, by William Allen Butler, then and now a distinguished lawyer of New York, entitled, 'Nothing to Wear' (236). Carleton initially made sketches for the illustrations himself, but later gave them to his friend Augustus Hoppin, who made the drawings into woodcuts. The book was "immensely popular" and Derby notes that despite a financial panic in 1857, the book sold steadily. Derby prints an excerpt from the poem on p.237 which dicusses "Miss Flora McFlimsey, of Madison Square." Shortly after the poem's publication in book form, a Miss Peck of an Episcopal minister in Greenwich, Conn., claimed to be the author of the poem. She claimed to have lost the manuscript while shopping in New York and riding on the Madison Ave. stage, where she argued that Butler must have found it and claimed it as his own. The controversy helped book sales, and to keep things going, Carelton offered Mortimer M. Thomson one dollar a line for a humorous poem on the situation. Thomson wrote eight hundred lines (and was paid eight hundred dollars)- four times the length of Butler's poem - for "Nothing to Say," illustrated by John McLenan. This book also sold very well (237-238).

Derby writes that P.B. Shillaber recollected Charles F. Brown (Artemus Ward) dining at Pfaff's with Ada Clare (412).

Derby recalls that Curtis returned from his "Eastern travels" thirty-five years before his writing, and, that upon his return, he brought a manuscript that discussed his travels to Harper & Brothers for publication. Col. John Harper looked over his manuscript briefly and told Curtis' "We will publish your book, and you may bring us all the manuscripts on Syria you choose, if written as well as this" (683). The books that followed were: "Nile Notes on the Howadji," "Howadji in Syria," and Lotus-Eating," illustrated by John F. Kensett. The last book appears to have been well received by the London press (683-684).

Derby and Curtis met "when he was connected with a publishing house whose disastrous failure soon terminated his career as a book publisher;" the firm accrued great debts, which Curtis was not obligated to pay, "but he considered himself morally responsible for the debts, and did pay every dollar from the proceeds of the earnings of his pen and eloquent lectures which became so popular throughout the whole country" (684).

In 1854, Curtis was a contributor to Putnam's Monthly and was also on the magazine's editorial staff. His contributions were "a series of satirical sketches on fashionable society, which obtained great popularity and were afterwards published in a volume under their title, 'The Potiphar Papers'" (684).

Derby writes that "In 1856, Mr. Curtis entered the political arena, not as an office-seeker or an office-holder, for he has never been either, but a steady friend of all that is pure in politics" (684).

According to Derby, at the time of his writing, "Mr. Curtis has been, for more than a quarter of a century, the editor of Harper's Weekly, which under his guidance has become not only an influential factor in politics, but emphatically what it claims to be -- a journal of civilization" (685). Derby also notes that aside from being an "author, journalist, and statesman" he is also a "lecturer and orator, and in my opinion, the most eloquent and graceful since the voices of Phillips and Sumner have been forever silenced" (685).

Curtis was one of the writers gathered at the complimentary fruit and flower festival held for distinguished authors by New York publishers at the Crystal Palace in 1855 (35).

Derby quotes Curtis in the "Editor's Easy Chair" of Harper's about James Harper's fatal accident (96). Curtis is also quoted discussing Fletcher Harper after his death (101). Derby quotes Curtis's "Easy Chair" column about Fletcher Harper on p.105. He is also quoted discussing the division of labor among the Harper brothers on p.107.

During the early days of the Civil War, Curtis was appointed the political editor of Harper's Weekly, a position he "continues to hold with commanding ability" at the time of Derby's writing (104-105).

Derby quotes some lines written by Curtis that are incsribed over the fireplace of the Harper's private office in Franklin Square, which he feels "express, in the most felicitous manner, the traditional spirit of the [Harper publishing] house:

"My flame expires; but let true hands pass on
An unextinguished torch from sire to son" (109).

Derby describes Curtis as a "graceful orator" in his discussion of the memory of William Cullen Bryant. Part of Curtis's "commemorative address" at the Academy of Music, for the New York Historical Society, December 30, 1883 is quoted on p.171-172.

Derby notes that Curtis's "celebrated" "Potiphar Papers" were first submissions to Putnam's Monthly Magazine (314).

Curtis's recollections of James Fields and his bookstore are reprinted by Derby p.627-629.

Derby reprints the following excerpt from an article contributed to the Century Magazine by S.S. Conant, executive editor of Harper's Weekly:

"His devotion to journalism and political affairs has prevented Mr. Curtis from pursuing authorship as a profession, if we are to regard authorship as the writing of books; but although he has put forth no new volume since the publication of 'Trumps,' the readres of the 'Easy Chair' in Harper's Magazine, and on 'Manners upon the Road,' in Harper's Bazaar, with recognize in him the most charming essayist of the day. The delicate, graceful humor of these papers, the purity of style, the wide range of culture and observation which they indicate, but which is never obtrusive, give them a distinctive character of their own. The 'Easy Chair' is the first part of the magazine to which the reader turns. The author of 'Trumps,' 'The Potiphar Papers,' and 'Prue and I,' could hardly have failed as a novelist, had he chosen to pursue the path of literature; but we will not regret his choice, for while we have many novelists, where shall we look for another name like his in the field of American journalism?" (685).

Emerson gave "a characteristic address" at the gathering to celebrate Bryant at the Century Club (158).

Derby also notes that at this time Houghton, Mifflin & Co. were the publishers of Emerson's works, along with other "celebrated writers of prose and poetry" (277).

Emerson included Stedman's "How old Brown took Harper's Ferry" in his "Parnassus" (535).

Derby recalls that shortly after the establishment of the New York Daily Times, letters from the Paris correspondent, Dick Tinto, were printed in the paper. "Dick Tinto" was Goodrich's nom-de-plume; Goodrich was the only son of Samuel G. Goodrich (Peter Parley). These letters caught the public's attention and were printed in Harper's (123).

He is mentioned as one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day," known to rally around the book store of George W. Carleton. Derby notes that "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restuarant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohemians." Derby notes that his pen name was "Dick Tinto" (239).

According to Derby, Goodrich was a classmate and life-long friend of Nathaniel Hawthorne (113).

For publisher George W. Carleton, Goodrich translated the entire novels of Balzac. "The work was well done and although Balzac was the most popular novelist in France, and is even now talked of as the greatest French novelist, the books proved a failure." Goodrich was also the author of the "Court of Napoleon" and other popular works. He was one of "Peter Parley's" sons and had been the French correspondent to the Times, writing under the name "Dick Tinto" (241).

Aldrich met Fitz-Greene Halleck through Frederick S. Cozzens after Aldrich's poem "The Ballad of Baby Bell" caught Cozzens's attention.

Derby quotes James Parton's "Triumphs of Enterprise" for his account of the beginning of Nast's career (696-97). In “Triumphs of Enterprise” James Parton provides details about the beginning of Nast’s career: “Being remarkably short for his age, and of a boyish expression of countenance, the publisher looked at him with astonishment. ’What, my boy,’ said he, ’so you think you can draw well enough for my paper, do you?’ ’I would like to try,’ said the youth” (qtd. in J. Derby 696).

Leslie gave Nast the task of capturing the image of the waterfront as the Hoboken ferry was docking: “This was putting the lad to a severe test. Mr. Leslie . . . had not expectation of the ’little fellow’s’ doing it, and gave him the job merely for the purpose of bringing home to his youthful mind the absurdity of his application. The young artist repaired immediately to the ferry-house, where he at once proceeded to the performance of the difficult task assigned to him. He struck boldly, however, upon the paper, and produced a sketch, which, though far from correct, abounded in those graphic and vigorous touches so needful in popular illustration. Mr. Leslie saw at a glance its merits and defects, and at once made a place for him in his establishment" (qtd. in J. Derby 696-697).

He is listed as one of the "associates" of the Saturday Press. Derby notes that he is deceased at the time of his writing (232).

He is mentioned as one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day," known to rally around the book store of George W. Carleton. Derby notes that "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restuarant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohemians" (239).

When the Times doubled its size in 1852, O'Brien was among the "brilliant corps of assistant editors" hired by Raymond (354).

"In 1878, the firm of James R. Osgood & Co., who were the successors of the old and well-known house of Ticknor & Fields, was consolidated with Hurd & Houghton, and H.O. Houghton & Co." Osgood left this new firm May 1, 1880, to found a new publishing house that operates under his name (277).

After the original publishers of the Atlantic Monthly ceased to exist, the periodical became the property of Ticknor & Fields, then James R. Osgood & Co., and finally, Hougton, Mifflin, & Co., the magazine's publishers at the time of Derby's writing (281).

At the time of Derby's writing, James R. Osgood & Co., were the publishers of Joel Chandler Harris's works (438).

Derby writes that for "many of the brigtest and most popular humorous men of the day" "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restaurant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohmians" (239).

Derby writes that after working for Shillaber at the Carpet Bag, Charles F. Browne ("Artemus Ward") met his old boss in New York, where Shillaber described him as "transformed into a city buck, associating with Henry Clapp in editing Vanity Fair, and dined at Pfaff's with Ada Clare and the Bohemians" (412).

Briggs was one of the "brilliant corps of assistant editors" hired by Henry J. Raymond of the Times in 1852.

Derby writes that Savage "is well-known in the literary world as a poet, dramatist and biographer." Derby lists his books to date as follows: "Songs of Fatherland" (Redfield, 1850), "History and Literature of Ireland" (Redfield, 1856), "Our Living Representative Men" (George Childs), "Life of Andrew Johnson" (Derby & Miller, 1865) (724).

Savage is also listed among the "distinguished people of literary tastes" whom he met at the Cary sisters' home in the 1850s (250).

Stoddard was one of the writers gathered at the complimentary fruit and flower festival held for distinguished authors by New York publishers at the Crystal Palace in 1855 (35). Stoddard was also one of several poets to give a "poetical tribute" to William Cullen Bryant at a dinner held for him at the Century Club (158). Derby also reprints a section of Stoddards's article on the death of Bryant from the New York Evening Post p.162-163. Stedman, Taylor, and Stoddard were among the poets who wrote and read original poems at the funeral of William Cullen Bryant (169).

He is mentioned as one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day," known to rally around the book store of George W. Carleton. Derby notes that "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restuarant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohemians" (239). Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard are also listed by Derby among the "distinguished people of
literary tastes" whom he met at the home of the Cary sisters in the 1850s (250).
Derby writes that Stoddard was introduced to Stedman through Bayard Taylor. Stedman and Taylor had recently met, and Stedman asked Taylor about Stoddard, "the poet, whom he had always wanted to know." Taylor introduced the two men the next day and began a life-long friendship between the two men. Derby also writes of Stedman and Stoddard's prose and poetic tributes to Taylor after his death (535).

After the publication of Stoddard's first volume of poems (approximately thrity years prior to Derby's writing), Mary Russell Mitford commented in a letter to James T. Fields, "Mr. Stoddard is one of the poets of whom America may well be proud" (595). Derby follows this statement with his own: "America is proud of Mr. Stoddard's poetical talents, and no critic of authority will deny that that writer possesses the true poetic gift of imaginative composition" (595).

Stoddard's first publication appeared in 1843, when Stoddard was about nineteen years old, in the literary paper the Rover, edited by the poet Seba Smith (595). Shortly after this, Stoddard brought N.P. Willis some of his manuscript poems and asked him to review and critique his work. Willis wrote the following note that Stoddard received when he called at the offices of the Home Journal a few weeks later: "I should think the writer of these poems had genius enough to make a reputation. Pruning, trimming and condensing is necessary to make them what they should be; the same labor was necessary to make Lord Byron's genius, and that of Tom Moore. It is hard work to do, but well paid when done" (596). Derby writes, "These words were the first real encouragement that he had ever received, an Mr. Stoddard further says, that no young person possessing any kind of talent ever appealed to N.P. Willis without receving aid and encouragement" (596).

Stoddard's second published poem was published in Union Magazine bu Mrs. C.M. Kirkland, who appears to have been quite supportive and influential in Stoddard's early career. On one occasion, she showed him the manuscript of Poe's "Ulalume" and asked him to read and give his opinion of the work. Stoddard admitted that he could not understand the story, and Mrs. Kirkland told him that it had been submitted for publication in the Union Magazine, but would be returned to Poe (596-597).

Stoddard met Bayard Taylor through Mrs. C.M. Kirkland. When she left for Europe, she left Taylor in charge of the Union Magazine, and "told Mr. Stoddard, that during her absence, he had better call upon the latter, as he would be sure to like him" (597). Derby reprints Stoddard's account of their first meeting from recollections of Bayard Taylor, contributed to the New York Independent p.597-599.

On the recommendation of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Stoddard obtained a position of at the New York Custom House in 1853,and held his position for seventeen years, during which he also wrote continually for magazines and newspapers (600). Derby also mentions Stoddard's Life of Baron Humboldt, published on by Carleton on the condition that the introduction be written by Taylor, a friend of Humboldt's. The book was quite successful, but Derby notes that this might have been due to the book being marketed as Taylor's Life of Humboldt (600).

Derby also notes that "Mr. Stoddard has been on familiar terms with most of the literary people of the day" and discusses Stoddard's friendships and opinions of other poets (601).

Derby reprints what he believes to be William Cullen Bryant's last letter, written to Stoddard, p. 602-603.

Derby notes that at the time of his writing, Stoddard has lived in New York for nearly fifty years. At this time, he is "connected with the editorial department of the New York Evening Mail, to which position he is eminently fitted, by his long experience as a literary critic. As a poet, Mr. Stoddard ranks in public estimation with his friends Edmund C. Stedman and Thomas Bailey Aldrich, contributing more frequently, however, to magazines and other literary journals of the day" (603).

Derby concludes his discussion of Stoddard noting "The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard is filled with many mementoes of their literary and artistic tastes, gathered together with much care, during their eventful literary career" (603).

Taylor was one of the writers gathered at the complimentary fruit and flower festival held for distinguished authors by New York publishers at the Crystal Palace in 1855 (35). Derby reprints a section of Taylor's "interesting reminiscences" about Horace Greeley originally published in a memorial volume by the Tribune Association p.137-138. Taylor also delivered one of several "poetical tributes" to Bryant at a dinner held in his honor at the Century Club (158). Stedman, Taylor, and Stoddard were among the poets who wrote and read original poems at the funeral of William Cullen Bryant (169).

Taylor edited Picturesque Europe for D. Appleton & Co., and also contributed "some of the descriptive letterpress." This book, and others in the "Picturesque" series sold by subscription only (184).

Derby writes of the first meeting between Bayard Taylor and the publisher George Palmer Putnam:

"In the year 1847 Mr. Putnam received a call at his office in Waterloo Place from a young American printer, who had been making a journey through the continent, and whose funds were exhausted. Some remittances he had expected had not come to hand, and he was entirely destitute of the means of support, endeavoring to secure work at his trade in a London printing office, where he succeeded temporarily, but was thrown out of the first position he secured through the jealousy of English compositors, who were not willing to have in the office a foreigner not belonging to their typographical guild. Mr. Putnam sympathizing with the young American, gave him temporary clerical work. This timely assistance laid the foundation for a friendship, a very close one, which lasted as long as their lives.

"Within a year after the acquaintance was formed, Mr. Putnam had the pleasure of publishing the narrative of this young printer's trip over the continent under the title of 'Views Afoot, or Europe seen with a Knapsack and Staff,' by Bayard Taylor. On its publication, the English reviews gave it unstinted praise" (301-302).

At the time of the publication of "Views Afoot," Taylor was twenty-one years old; Derby notes that this book has been in demand for over forty years and has sold more than one hundred thousand copies (302).

According to Derby, Stedman's "How old Brown took Harper's Ferry" was the "indirect cause of the beginning of a lasting friendship with Bayard Taylor." Taylor was lecturing in the West when the poem was published in the Tribune, and would sometimes read the poem to his audiences. When he returned to New York, he and Stedman met for the first time. Stedman asked Taylor about Stoddard, and Taylor introduced the two men the next day, beginning another life-long friendship. Derby also writes that "The death of Bayard Taylor was a great blow to his brother poets, and both Mr. Stedman and Mr. Stoddard have in prose and poetry rendered affectionate tributes to the memory of their friend, the distinguished poet, traveler, and diplomat, whose death created a vacancy in American literature which has never been filled" (535).

According to Derby, "When Bayard Taylor, who was always a favorite with Mr. Willis, returned from Europe, the first time, he took the letters which he had written to a Philadelphia paper, to Wiley & Putnam, to publish in book form, and that firm agreed to do so, provided Mr. Willis would write an introduction for the same, and this secured the publication of 'Views Afoot'" (596).

Stoddard met Bayard Taylor through Mrs. C.M. Kirkland. When she left for Europe, she left Taylor in charge of the Union Magazine, and "told Mr. Stoddard, that during her absence, he had better call upon the latter, as he would be sure to like him" (597). Derby reprints Stoddard's account of their first meeting from recollections of Bayard Taylor, contributed to the New York Independent p.597-599.

Derby also mentions Stoddard's Life of Baron Humboldt, published by Carleton on the condition that the introduction be written by Taylor, a friend of Humboldt's. The book was quite successful, but Derby notes that this might have been due to the book being marketed as Taylor's Life of Humboldt (600).

Derby writes that Stoddard enjoyed a parody of Taylor's "Manuela" called "Martha Hopkins" by Phoebe Cary. "The merit of her parody was not merely that she paraphrased the text of the author comically, but that for every serious situation in his poem she found a corresponding comical one. Mr. Taylor was very much complimented by this parody, as he should have been" (601-602).

Derby notes at the time of his writing "Mrs. Taylor has just completed the biography of her eminent and lamented husband, whose labor of love, in book form, is looked forward to with lively interest by thousands of her late husband's friends" (280).

He is listed as one of the "associates" of the Saturday Press. Derby notes that he is deceased at the time of his writing (232).

He is mentioned as one of the "brightest and most popular humorous men of the day," known to rally around the book store of George W. Carleton. Derby notes that "the noonday hour frequently found most of them at Pfaff's celebrated German restuarant, in a Broadway basement, near Bleecker-street, the rendezvous at that day of the so-called Bohemians." Derby notes that his real name is Charles F. Brown (sic) (239).

Derby writes that "Artemus Ward -- His Book" was a great success for publisher George W. Carleton; more than forty thousand copies of the book sold in its first six months (242).

Derby also includes the following about Brown/Ward: "My readers will remember the humorous lectures of Mr. Charles Brown ('Artemus Ward'), which became so popular throughout the country, and soon place him at the front of the humorists of the day. A little incident is told of him, during the days of his great popularity. He was puffing away at a cigar in Mr. Carleton's private office, when a telegram was handed to him from San Francisco, wired by Maguire, the manager of the Opera House of that city, who inquired, 'What will you take for two nights in California?' Brown immediately replied by the same messenger, without altering his position on the sofa, 'Brandy and water. -- A. Ward.' But he did take something else after all, in the shape of a large sum of money from his California audiences, where he lectured with pronounced success. The funny dispatch having been previously printed in the California papers, made everybody laugh, and all wanted to hear him. When Artemus Ward was in Utah lecturing, some one spoke to him about giving a pass to Brigham Young. He immediately wrote a pass, admitting, 'Brigham Young and One Wife'" (242).

Derby notes that the earliest writings of Browne/Ward appear in the weekly paper, the Carpet Bag, started in 1850 by B.P. Shillaber (411).

Derby writes about Shillaber's early recollections of Browne: "Mr. Shillaber says that Charles F. Browne came to the Carpet Bag office from Maine, a shrewd, verdant, good-natured printer, not out of his time. He gave no early evidence of hidden genius, and rarely let himself out beyond joking with his printer associates, and an occiasional short article, modestly submitted, over the signature of 'Lieut. Chub.' These attracted attention, especially one, a reprint, where the Battle of Yorktown was described as the programme of a country muster, and General Washington, under the influence of liquor, got kicked. It was intensely funny. Browne showed that under a rough covering there was a big promise. He soon left for New York, where Mr. Shillaber next met him, a year or two afterwards, transformed into a city buck, associating with Henry Clapp, editing Vanity Fair, and dined at Pfaff's with Ada Clare and the Bohemians. He soon after went off on his lecturing tour, taking the world captive under the nom de plume of 'Artemus Ward' (412).

Derby writes that "Henry J. Raymond once related a curious anecdote about the Proclamation of Emancipation. He said that Secretary Chase told him that the President came into the meeting of the Cabinet after the battle of Antietam, and said he had come across something very amusing in one of Artemus Ward's letters, and he read it through for the edification of the Secretaries. He then said he had brought another document to read to them -- not for their advice and criticism, for his mind was fully made up on the subject, but for their information." According to Raymond, the document was the Proclamiation of Emancipation (492).

Derby writes that one of the "anecdotes that Mr. [George W. Carleton] relates about his comic authors, is, that Charles H. Webb ('John Paul') characteristically added on the title-page of one of his burlesques, 'Author of John Paul Sketches, and other books too humorous to mention'" (242).

He is listed as one of the "associates" of the Saturday Press. Derby notes that he is deceased at the time of his writing (232).

Some poems Aldrich submitted to the Home Journal caught the attention of N. P. Willis, the editor, who introduced them to his readers in a very flattering manner.

He is listed as one of the "associates" of the Saturday Press. Derby notes that at the time of his writing, Winter is the only "associate" he lists who is not deceased. Winter is, "at the present time the brilliant editor of the dramatic department of the New York Tribune" (232).