783. Story of a Tramp.—New interest is being taken in this erratic and omnipresent individual. And the time is ripe for a facile pen to portray his vagaries and his wanderings. The “Story of a Tramp” affords an almost unparalleled scope for an author, and there is no phase of civilization which may not be drawn upon to make the story interesting.
784. Story of a Lunatic.—A very thrilling story, somewhat perhaps after the manner of C. Brockden Brown’s “Weiland,” could be worked up from the ravings of a lunatic. There are a vast number of persons who have wild, harrowing tales. In fact, the audience for such stories is larger than the number of readers of the finer quality of literature. A writer in a recent newspaper says: “The masses do not read the magazines, but they do read sensational literature in the form of dime novels and weekly story papers, and this flashy fiction earns far more money for its writers than is made by more ambitious authors and more pretentious publications.”
785. Story of a Criminal Lawyer.—A retired criminal lawyer might make money by the narrative of his most extraordinary cases. If he does not care to write the narrative himself he might in odd moments give it to you. With the pen of a Doyle you might reap that author’s immense royalties.
786. Story of the Klondike.—Many stories of adventure and hardship will doubtless be written about the new land of gold, but the harvest will be reaped by the keen pen of him first in the field. If Alaska has been unkind to you, you may revenge yourself by digging gold from her bowels with the pen.
787. The Exposition of Frauds.—A very interesting book might be written with this title. Take a few national scandals, like the “Panama Fiasco,” “The South Sea Bubble,” “The Grant-Ward Swindle,” “The Tichborne Claimant.” These subjects when handled with a skillful pen are very interesting to business men.
788. Sermons of Modern Preachers.—We have volumes of collected and selected sermons, but no volume which contains various specimens of the preaching of the present day. Have one sermon each from the very newest of pulpit celebrities, such as S. Parkes Cadman, Hugh Price Hughes, Wilbur Chapman, together with one each from such well-known preachers as Phillips Brooks, T. DeWitt Talmage, and Sam Jones. There are over 100,000 ordained clergymen in the United States, and at least one-half of them would want this book.
789. The Wonder Book.—A book describing briefly and graphically a few of the great wonders of the world, such as London the greatest city, Niagara the greatest cataract, Monte Carlo the greatest gambling place, while other chapters would be headed, “The Greatest Picture Gallery,” “The Longest Railroad,” “The Tallest Pyramid,” “The Deepest Well,” etc. The book would have a vast sale among young people, and would be popular among all classes.
790. Health Resorts.—Their number is legion. Select a few of the principal in all parts of the country, and write charmingly of their peculiar merits. Especially impress upon your public the specific diseases for which they are beneficial. The 500,000 invalids of the country would want the book.
791. The All-Cure Book.—A book which treats thoroughly the newest systems of cure, such as the Magnetic, Water Cure, Massage, Barefoot, Christian Science, etc., giving a history of the same, and an account of the alleged cures.
792. Success.—A book for young men. Get twenty business men in different lines to tell you each in a few pages how he was successful. It would be very popular if you could secure as authors such men as John Wanamaker, George Gould (for his deceased father, Jay Gould), James Gordon Bennett, Murat Halstead, etc.