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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
Truly Yours
S. L. Clemens
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