Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-09-13
HARPER BROTHERS.

Not tar from where the present establish
ment Of the Harpers stand, James Harper
began ms work. He held the lowest nosi-
li0n IN the atice All mean and serviie
work was put upen him. The sons Of
Judges, aldermen lawyers and men Of money
We're N trade and merchandise around the
printing Office. These pert, well dressed.
and proud strDling5 often crossed the path
way OF the rustic tad His shoes we're
heavy, course aud angaiuly. Ills clothes
made from cloth manufactured In the Cd
homestead, wera rough IN material and
1lGyeuiy IN make. The young bucks deiigh-
ted 60 rIdlcule James. They would shout
to hIln across the street, Did your boots
come from Paris2 dim. give Us card to
your tailor nat did gaur mother give
a yard for your broadcloth2' Sometimes
the rude fellows came near and under the
prstense of feeling Of the fneness OF the
cioth, would grab the flesh. Insulting and
tauntIng as al this was, he bore It TOR a
while with meekness. This was construed
into e0wardlce.
The young prlntar saw that he must end
! TINS treatment, and he could only do it By
taxing a firm and manly stand He had no
idea ct wealth or position Il was his pur-
pose 70 DO rIght-t0 50 conduct himself that
his mother would not be ashamed of him
All the-success and position that could az
tend fidelity 70 duty, he meant to secure,
but he resolved not to be imposed upon.
One day, while doing some menial work
be was assaulted by 0ne OF his t0rmentars.
de deliberately set down the pail that he
was carrying, sITned on his assallant, booted
nm severely and then SAID. Take that
that my card; take good care Gift When
am cut OF my time and set up fer myself
and you need employment, as you Will
come TO me and bring chat card, aad I'll
give YOU work. Strange To say, Eorty-0ne
years after, Ufla5 same person came Go J lmes
ii arPer establishment and asked employ
ment, claiming it on the ground tha5 the
card he had given hIm f0r5y-one years
ago. he had kept to that day.
w hen James was trea, having served cut
his time, bis master said 70 Inn, y on have
been faithful, and shall always have i good
place In my office. The master was Tot a
little surprised 60 hear the young man an
u0unce hIs intention Of seL5Ing up for him-
self Already be SAID be could have the
printing Of a book if he could get certificate
that he was worthy Of It. IT his master
would gIve alm the certificate he could gat
the job This was readily given. and the
/ work begun. Ia 1877 James and john
Harper opened a small book and Job printing
I Office in Dover street Egert Duyckiue6,
: -he leading publisher Of Ihat dag. was the
I Inst to employ the IEpers. The first book
published bv he firm was Seneca s Morais,
/ L.9g3 copies # which we're delivered on lEo
18th day Of August. 1871. The second JOB
/ was Of more c0nsgr EGuCe. The book TO Be
I printed was the EpisC0pa. Prayer Book
Z 1t was 30 be stareCt-ped. That part Of the
] L- rNr y t4 es.s
/ the work rudely done. They had a8uGaC-
ted -a do the work for i3iv cents token.
They found that they would have 20 pay the
full sum 10 have is stgrs0tTpeG, and no pro-
4 would be left 10 themselves They resoi-
we'd 60 stereotype She work. Ii was difficult
and aIoyvf os4E 5t dune. anu gave grea.
/ satisfaction, 1t WIS pronounced the best
/ piece Ct sJeraoJypIng ever seen II New York,
The character Jt the WORK coming from IhIE
( iTru, it, industry pr0DItyt pr8mpEness. and
enterprise placed &c at once nc the heud o.
che business n New York. In SIX years the
establishment became the largest IN the city.
To the original irn, in ISIS, the name 0l
Joseph w astley Harper Yas added. In
SOB Fletcher Harper joined the firm.
These four make the house Of harper BrGta-
ers. The house has now world wide tame
Ii IS the largest Of the kind III the world.
The g7euc establishments Of Europe do not
cCm5Ine, rs 10 she Harpers, al the depart
ments OK labor needfui for the production OF
q perfect book. European books are mainly
sold in sheets. The binding Is carried on as
a distinct business. Ii has no connection
with printing. The Hdrpers embrace priu-
ang, eIectrotyping, sJereoJYpIng and BIN
ding. A roll of manuscript Is taken from
the author, types from the foundry, 4 side
OF leather from the eerrier- and paper from
the manufacturer. These leave the esJa5-
ishment a complete book, printed and illus
tratad in the highest style OF ar.