New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-13
THE BOOK AGENT.
Eoln Tsras Sutinqs.

We used to think that the book agent was
mereenary miscreant-a memo IN nunan ioi ~ scoS
hand an guage and the prospectus OF an DOCK
in twelve monthly parts We confess Ina We os
shame We even wrote OF him, and printed what we
wrote We called him vampre ana naw2n arees
in which we described how he worked on the ieehg OF
his andsdy and scattered eoqucnce all over the mousse
from attic to cellar persuaded TO purchase
81 copy of Civil Engineering IN rive Easy us us
Female Beauties OF the Eighteenth Century ana kicked
fbe agent down the front steps he found nun I'VE nn
utes afterward In the Kitchen sehns DooA Vi nu'e''
Forms TO the hired girl ,,.oo,
But We have had an awakening We nave experienced
change of heart toward the book agent since we nave
given he peculiar usefulness in the economy o nature
ore mature consideration and since we nave oooS
being sold oy subscription ana
nv book asents Our conscience stngs os lOr whal We
may have said IN the past tnat may nave huf tne sS9s
Injury we have done him ana MAKE dhende h0to.uO.e'
Tie book agent s an educator ne %d ecouS
hand wood.cut Illustrations He 10 an exemplary cltzen
s,, NJ ,ndnc.s MIN 10 buy leather-bound edition OF
The Encyclopedias Britannica, when not only insuucts
him, but affords him an excellent tnins 10 S0p us faA'
He goes out in to country and tackles the sgrcu
furist his lair and sells him The Diseases OF tne
and their Cure in one volume-a book without which
the farmer might down to lis grave ignorant shA' MS
The agent ministers 20 the rlcn ana poor anke:
He calls the mechanics @iie aho sells her EveIy Ly
with a collection Of Latin aud Greek phrases IN an APP
nendx a book that will teach her how 10 construct
rhaSsr6 ps or build a hard.boiled doughnut. and that
will store her mind with choice aphorsms III the dead
ianeuaees while she is waiting for a cake 10 rise
Now that several thousand book agents are tranpng
oyer the country offering our book for sae we regard
one Of the greatest oyersghts OF tho last LEGISLATURE
tbat il failed to pass law making IL felony 10 use
r,lde language to a book agent. Inc members OF the
Jegisatre would have earned the everlasting respect
IF an classes Of citizens II they had rendered money
VINO visits the state on Ms
Ini.sion of mercy and disinterested Denevoence
Parents shod instruct their children 10 watch OUT ana
A. fhey see a man whom they suspect OF being a DOCK
agent invite to TO the house and lake dinner
When hook agent expected to arrive al place. the
Mayor and leading citizens should have the decency TO
meet hm at The depot with garlands ana Diass BAND
and conduct him in triumph through the streets 10 Tue
banouet nall where after presenting hiin WIN the Iree
dom of the CITY, they should subscribe, and pay In ad-
vance for the book providing 1t Was o4r DOCK he was
trying TO sell - -. &, s,,, aud
and unable ~ find his way out Will Intimate
thai we are little liberal In our proposed treatment
of book agents. To all such We say; we DON'T propose
10 saw anything to them. Let them exercise nttle
patieuce and the book agent himself Win copy OF our
Mustang, Will say something 10 them: ne VIII ten
them In low soothing tone OF volceo lts IoO pages Jus
so0 original Illustrations, its Peucd Wit it's chase
stastics its ddy humor, and its wealth OF canned IA
formation about Texas aud Mexico and ~ they subscribe
for cloth bound copy, with godpated picture Ga the
cover they will call down blessings on the nedu VI Tue
man who Invented the book agent