but chiefly upon the kind of man. The right man selling the right book
can make enormous wages. An agent selling a commentary on the Bible made
sometimes $25 in half a day. An agent for the “People’s Encyclopædia”
earned $3,000 in one year, and spent only about half the time in the
work. Many agents for “Memoirs of General Grant” earned from $10 to $20
a day. Ordinarily, an agent should be satisfied if he can make from $3
to $5 a day. From this sum must come his expenses. Book agents receive
from 25 to 45 per cent., according to the nature of the work. Forty per
cent. is considered excellent compensation.