The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-24
FAMOUS Book-AeENTs.
Historical Personages Who at One Time
or Another "Peddled" Literary Works.


Historical Personages Who at One Time
or Another "Psddled" Literary Works.
The book-peddler, like certain
other parsonage, is not so black as he
is painted. He has had the misfortune
along with the barber, the plumber
and the drummer become she
prey Of the newspaper Photographer,
and innumerable jests are cracked at
his expense. He is, as rule, q most
ipoifensive person and is engaged in
an honorable occupation. The bust
ness can boast many honored names
among its followers, fact that should
exempt the book peddler from much of
the odium that is without good cause
cast upon him.
1t may be surprise to the public at
large to know that among the corps
and class of men bearing the business
name of book-agents, Bonaparte-when
lieutenant, unemployed at the cap
ital, and too honorable to duplicate his
pay accounts-took the agency for
Boulanger ct Gle, the noted publishers
of the Pont Neuf, for a work entitled
L'Histoire de Ia Revolution. Bonaparte
tried to secure from the publishing
company the whole department. of La
Vendee, but he was only given a SUBJ
urban Partisan reimbursement. In the
foyer of the great palace of the Louvre,
amid countless bric-a-brac of the reign
OF Louis, the great monarch, can be
seen to-day, under a glass case, the
little canvasser's outfit of the great
Emperor, and within it the long list of
names which his assiduity secured.
George Washington, while surveying
Fairfax County in his youth-prior to
che fateful Braddock eXpedition-was a
book-agent The work he canvassed
fora copy of which is now among the
relics of the Patent Oilice-was By
dell's American Savage; How He May
be Tanned by the Weapons of Civiliza-
ton. Washington sold over two hum
dred copies in and around Alexandria,
Va.
Jay Gould sold books as an agent
Mark Twain sold books as an agent
Longfellow sold books as an agent
Daniel Webster paid his second term
tuition at Dartmouth by acting as local
agent in Merrimac County, N. H., for
De Tocqueville' S America, Bret Harte
was a book-agent in the fall of 1919 or
spring OF 1850
General Grant subsequent to his res
ignation from the army, before his
venture on the Dent farm. took part of
the territory of general agent of
Putnam's to dispose of Irving's Column
bus. Ex-President Hayes footed it all
over Southern Ohio, when mere lad
getting subscriptions for Baxter 5
Lives of the Saints. Blaine began life
as an humble canvasser in Washington
County, Pa, selling a Life of Henry
Clay. the Mil Boy of the Slashes. Bis
msrck, when at Heidelberg during a
winter vacation, having had his allow
ance cut short by his father, the Baron,
canvassed for one of Blumenbach' 5
hand books.
James Laekington, a Methodist
preacher, commenced to canvass the
works of John Bunyan, published by
the Rivingtons of London, in 1870, and
subsequently, became one of the largest
booksellers and publishers in England.
Thomas Kelly, who was a canvasser
in London, afterward became the pro-
prietor of the house for which he was
WORKING, and accumulated fortune.
He became Lord Mayor of London in
1884, and died worth nearly 50, 900, 900.
Thomas Guy, the celebrated philos-
opher, canvassed Bibles. At his death,
besides endowing one of the most
magnificent charities in Europe
Guys Hospital--he left large for
tune to his heirs. James Blacllie,
of the house of Blackie e. Sons,
of Glasgow, was canvasser, and was
very successful. 1t has been related OF
him that after he had made large
fortune and was Lord Provost of Glas-
gov, incog. he would test the merits OF
his new publications by a personal can.
vass of the leading men of his city,
after which he would hand his list over
to his agent.
And so we could 90 on. Many OF
these names are familiar to the public;
some of the number are among us to
day. Every thing in any line OF bust
ness rests with the man-no matter
what line, whether dry goods, groceries
or books. He can make it honorable
or dishonorable as he sees 1it.-PbiIa
delpbta Telegraph.