An instance of a work published not because of its merit, but
“from a cold and calculating publisher’s point of view of very
doubtful sale,” is McMaster’s “History of the United States.”
The manuscript of the first volume was sent to the house by the
author without introduction or comment of any kind. The author
was a young tutor in mathematics at Princeton, had published
nothing on any historical subject, and as far as any one knew
at Princeton, had made no special historical study. It appeared
that one very prominent New York house had declined to risk
the publication of the work, and the historical expert of the
house could not bring himself to recommend it as a reasonable
publishing venture. Finally, the senior member of the firm read
the manuscript himself, and decided to undertake the venture,
believing in its probable success. The author was written to,
he presented himself for the first time, being personally
unknown in the office, and arrangements for the publication of
this most popular and successful work were concluded within ten
minutes.--_Appleton’s Magazine._
(2017)
=Merit Recognized=--See INCONSPICUOUS WORKERS.