The MS. in a Red Box

  Produced by Al Haines

  [Transcriber's note: the source book had no listed author, however, theBritish Library catalog shows John Arthur Hamilton as the author.]

  THE MS. IN

  A RED BOX

  LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD

  NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY

  _Cheap Edition_

  BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. LTD., LONDON

  THIS WORK IS DEDICATED

  TO ITS UNKNOWN AUTHOR

  BY THE PUBLISHER

  ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S NOTE

  One day in April last a parcel was sent to the Bodley Head. On beingopened it was found to contain a MS. in a red box, without anyaccompanying letter, without title, author's name, or address. Forsome days it was not entered in the book of the firm kept for thepurpose of registering the receipt of MSS.; but, as no letter wasreceived, towards the end of the month it was recorded in pencil asfollows: "The MS. in a Red Box." According to the usual course it wasthen sent to the publisher's reader, who reported on it withenthusiasm; meanwhile there had been no inquiry from the author, andthe publisher read it for himself, and fully endorsed the opinion ofhis literary adviser. After some discussion, the followingadvertisement was inserted in the pages of _The Athenaeum_ and _TheAcademy_:--

  TO AUTHORS.

  NOTICE.--If the Writer of a Historical Novel, without Title, Author'sName, or Address, sent some weeks ago to the Bodley Head in a Red Box,will communicate with the Publisher, he will hear of something to hisadvantage.

  JOHN LANE.

  Vigo Street, London, W.

  This gave rise to much comment in the press, and of course broughtseveral applications from authors of MSS. which had gone astray.

  The publisher learnt, to his bewilderment, that MSS. of novels have atendency to wander irresponsibly in space, somewhat after the fashionof comets.

  Later on the publisher again advertised, stating that he would publishthe book on a certain day under the title of "The MS. in a Red Box,"unless the author communicated with him before the advertised date.

  For the selection of the title, the publisher is indebted to Mrs. W. K.Clifford, Mrs. Ford of Pencarrow, Mrs. Wilberforce, Mr. I. N. Ford ofthe _New York Tribune_, Mr. Henry Harland, Mr. W. J. Locke, andProfessor York Powell, as it happened that these seven all suggestedthe same title on the same day; and the superstitious instinct of thepublisher was not proof against this consensus of opinion.

  Mr. Ford is responsible for the cover, which represents the Red Box inwhich the MS. originally reached the Bodley Head; but to the Hon. Mrs.Anstruther is due the witty suggestion of adding the Della Robbiaplaque from the Florentine Foundling Hospital.

  The author may, perhaps, ask why the publisher did not wait longer forhim to reveal himself. The reason was that it appeared that theinterest aroused in this foundling romance, through the author'smodesty or carelessness, would be best maintained by publication whilethe incidents were still fresh in the minds of the public. Thepublisher holds that what is the author's interest is also his.

  With regard to the business side of this transaction, the publisherwill try to meet the author's demands in a spirit of fairness; but,should there be any dispute arise, he, for his part, will be quitewilling to leave the decision with the President of the Society ofAuthors, Mr. George Meredith, and the President of the Publishers'Association, Mr. Charles James Longman, the prince of Englishpublishers.

  For the author's protection, some slight changes have been made in theMS., in no way, however, affecting the story, but of sufficientimportance to prevent any false claim from being successfully advanced.The author's interests have been further safeguarded by "The MS. in aRed Box" being copyrighted and published in the United States ofAmerica. The work has been seen through the press by Mr. RichardUpton, of Jesus College, Cambridge.

  Apart from the interest the publisher has had in reading the book, hehas to thank the author for relieving the tedium of ordinarypublishing, and, in addition, for providing him with the uniqueexperience of dedicating a book to its unknown author.

  THE BODLEY HEAD

  _The MS. in a RED BOX_