have been
made at a more opportune moment. A fierce controversy was precipitated.
Saleeby and Haeckel indorsed and defended "The Shame of the Sun," for
once finding themselves on the same side of a question. Crookes and
Wallace ranged up on the opposing side, while Sir Oliver Lodge attempted
to formulate a compromise that would jibe with his particular cosmic
theories. Maeterlinck's followers rallied around the standard of
mysticism. Chesterton set the whole world laughing with a series of
alleged non-partisan essays on the subject, and the whole affair,
controversy and controversialists, was well-nigh swept into the pit by a
thundering broadside from George Bernard Shaw. Needless to say the arena
was crowded with hosts of lesser lights, and the dust and sweat and din
became terrific.

"It is a most marvellous happening," Singletree, Darnley & Co. wrote
Martin, "a critical philosophic essay selling like a novel. You could
not have chosen your subject better, and all contributory factors have
been unwarrantedly propitious. We need scarcely to assure you that we
are making hay while the sun shines. Over forty thousand copies have
already been sold in the United States and Canada, and a new edition of
twenty thousand is on the presses. We are overworked, trying to supply
the demand. Nevertheless we have helped to create that demand. We have
already spent five thousand dollars in advertising. The book is bound to
be a record-breaker."

"Please find herewith a contract in duplicate for your next book which we
have taken the liberty of forwarding to you. You will please note that
we have increased your royalties to twenty per cent, which is about as
high as a conservative publishing house dares go. If our offer is
agreeable to you, please fill in the proper blank space with the title of
your book. We make no stipulations concerning its nature. Any book on
any subject. If you have one already written, so much the better. Now
is the time to strike. The iron could not be hotter."

"On receipt of signed contract we shall be pleased to make you an advance
on royalties of five thousand dollars. You see, we have faith in you,
and we are going in on this thing big. We should like, also, to discuss
with you the drawing up of a contract for a term of years, say ten,
during which we shall have the exclusive right of publishing in book-form
all that you produce. But more of this anon."

Martin laid down the let