New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-04
" TAKE TT OR NOTW

Peddling printed literature is an old bust
ness, as all collectors of cheap books know
nor are sales by subscription or in numbers
new devices. One of SmO1ett's novels was
vended in parts just as Mr.. Tbackeray's or
Mr.. Dickens's once were. Canyassing having
become business by which many men and
many women seek for support, we are not
surprised to find the publishers of subscrip-
ton books issuing instructions to their wan
dering agents, pointing out to them the surest
method of pushing the work in hand.
One of these circulars, furnished by
a large house to its canvassers, wisely
begins: always secure the most influen-
"tal men first" These important characters
are to be importuncd for their names, and
"tO be at liberty to take the book or not
"when it is brought For instance, the can
vasser lays siege to village. He sees the
clergyman, and perhaps gets his autograph by
the promise of gratuitOus copy. He then
obtains the conditional" subscriptions of the
lawyer, the schOol-cOmmitteeman, and the
doctor Having thus got well started, the
" thing will go like an epidemic" says this
sly circular Gentlemen Of local distinction
may object to being thus made decOy ducks;
but they may also object to the loss of valu-
able time, OF to being bored within an inch of
their lives, and so impatienty lend their
names, without much thought of the morality
of the matter.
We suppose that this little game, and all the
other little games will be likeliest to succeed
when the canvasser is female. 1t is hard to
say "No" to weary, dusty, tagged out wO-
man in the dingy weeds of widOwhOOd, who
may be struggling to support two or three
little orphans and who has walked about all
day with the specimen copy under her arm.
The compromise of subscribing without taking
the book strikes us az most felicit0us inven-
ton. 1t will save the feelings of the tender
hearted; it is q cheap way of winning the
reputation OF n literary character; and it gives
the signer a certain kind Of personal import
ance. Still, if we were to be one of these dunn
mics, we should want that "Need MT take the
"book, if you don't like it" in writing. Parol
agreements of that sort might lead to compll-
cations of legal nature. Upon tho agents
coming back Oh his GRAND of delivery with
the fresh volumes in their shiny covers, the
private agreement might not be remembered
by him with that clearness which would be
desirable. You might be forced to receive the
dreadful volume" Travels Beyond the Rocky
Mountains" or MOrmonism Revealed,n OF
"9,273 Recipes or "The Female Authors of
Connecticut, with Is Portraits on Steel" BY
all means let this contract of taking or not n
be in writing-that is if you are forced to re-
sort to it to save your reason.
Good friends, let us not be stirred up to any
sudden flood of mutiny against the canvassers
They mean no harm. They simply desire their
daily bread. All they want il to sell book /;
and it MT fiat felony TO sell books it 7
So when they do largely expatate upon the
brilliant merits Of the work which they are
working for, say "Non If you must, but say
it sweetly. Don't slam the front-door in the
face Of the deliquescent young woman who
says: IL have called to ask your subscription
" for the Memoirs Of the Maries' to be pub
lished In about thrce months beautiful
book bound in Turkey morocco Gen. Jones
OF your town has taken copy and the Rev.
Mr.. Smith about 10000 copies are already
subscribed for I'll show you specimen