The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-10
BOOK PLUMBER.

VAA0o Va U1uo AOV0s CONTINUES W run
smoothly on-for the thieves; and the
intensely moral and virtuous arguments
and motives brought to bear in the re-
lection Of the international copyright.
bill are already bearing precious crop
OF fruit. It was bad enough when the
filthy lucre-loving publisher barefacedly
plundered the foreign author for what
there was in it and chuckled over each
successful venture. He, at least, set up
no lofty pretensions to the possession of
superior virtue; it was enough for him
that the pen Of the non American writer
left no unsightly callouses as sign-man-
ual of his work; as for consumption of
brain matter-well, he had no means of
testing the waste and could not be. ex-
pected to pay for pig in sack. But
that doctor of divinity, oh fie! that one
who ought to be pillar of the church,
alas, how are the mighty fallen! that a
man whose every day walk and CONVEX
sation ought to be surrounded by the
odor of sanctity, whose congregation
have hitherto believed they might, with
out improperly, rise up and call him
blessed-that such an one should, for
the sake Of base gain, assist in spelling
the Egyptians, saps the very founda-
tions of society. If we cannot pin our
faith to clerical waistcoats, black coats
and white neckties, what harbor of
refuge shall we find in these later days?
And yet, that one of the "unco guild"
has fallen from his lofty pedestal, we
have every evidence in correspondence
between Funk and Wagnalls and the
Blacks, the famous British publishers.
The latter, at some trifling expense of
labor and money, had published little
handbook which they called the EN-
cyclopedia Britannica" OF course, its
reputation was purely local until Doctor
Of Divinity Funk, after perusal of the
treatise, discovered that there were, per-
haps, few things in it of comparatively
general interest and forthwith resolved
to assist the reputation of struggling
new publishing house, like Blacks, by
Handling" it in this country. So he
published circular stating that he had
purchased the Encyclopedia-which he
to issue-from somebody but
not from the Blacks. Here comes the
strangest part Of the story. The book
that the good doctor had undertaken to
publish from purely disinterested and
philanthropic motives actually turned
out a pecuniary success. Still actuated
by the best of motives, our D. D. remit
ted to the struggling British house
lump sum of $500. That, he stated, was
their "fair share of the profits" And
actually people have been found mean
enough to take advantage of the mad
vertent phraseology and assert that the
doctors conscience must have suffered
some twinges of remorse, whereas it is
as plain as pikestaff that the reverend
gentleman only meant in this way to
avoid hurting the feelings Of struggling
publisher. Why, if the doctor had
"handled" other goods, as his detractors
would have us believe he handled
"Blacks' Britannica" he would probably
be cooling his heels in the lookup and
that is position impossible for a rev.
erend D. d. It is scarcely credible
and yet the truth must be told-that
the British publishers RENTED the
money with some very strong and un-
warranted remarks, and rushed the whole
thing into print. But the Britishers al
ways were stiff-necked and rebellious
people. The doctor will probably wisely
hesitate before committing himself again
to q task so liable to be misunderstood,