The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
b. +. RANSOM.
ANXIOUS TO SELL THE NEW YORKER.

| NEW YORK. Jan. q. 1893
OLD FmENDs: know this is n shabby way
OF putting YOU OF with halt a letter apiece,
when owe each Of you more than a whole
! one: hut am so overwhelmed with cares. per-
| plexities. and Affections that I could hardly
write a decent letter Il was TO try. md have
neither time nor spirit to attempt II. I want
to give you little idea OF whore am and
| what am doing and that will 10 just "a well
| In one letter as in dozen.
| Well. then. Am In trouble enough. that's
| certain. aud on the point OF dipping into more.
! ! cannot live by the Ne,c Yorker. so am about
to embark in another operation. which will
probably iniuro the first. I begin to despair
Of ever making the Ne,c Yorker support
itself simply because 1 cannot get de-
cent business man embarked In it. That
difficulty will be my destruction. There Is
now at least $4,000 fairly due the concern.
OF which $4,000 might have been collected be-
fore this time with proper management plac-
ing US above all troubles Yet with this large
amount due'us. wa have not realized for the
last month so much ns $500. against an ex-
pendture OF $1,000. or course. you know this
will not answer as a general rule; and yet 1t 10
the way am Obliged to do through the win
ter Burke Fisher served me downright ras-
cAlly last fall lie went away the last OF Sep
tember to collect our Western bills. which he
did not begin to do. but first played away a
month. then fooled away an other.and n ext gave
me over ~ u hopeless case and embarked In
the Pittsburgh saturday Visitor. NY disap-
pointment In receiving not hinR from him when
felt certain OF at least 81. 600 by this time has
been severe.
Ihave now nothing left me but TO sell at some
rate. and | would gladly give away the whole
concern tomorrow. with $500 subscribers
and SS. OOO due 1t. to any man who would pay
it's debts, amo uniting to $4,000. l have been
trying. struggling. and advertising to effect
some change which would Rivo me radiance
or give me mon ey for the last two months, but
40 far without full success 1 have bargained
to sell ono quarter OF the establishment to o
young man named Page who went East
month ago to his relatives to get money. and
has not yet returned. His absence has been
prolonged in some measure from sickness. but
/ fear partly from inability to raise the need
full hope he will come. and believe he will.
for he sent me $500 as n begin ming last week.
l have been negotiating with John Ed
monds. late OF the Portland Advertiser. and
with q young Virginian named Bent
ley. but each after fair prospects has
turned out nothing. l have now on my
hands man named Briggs; but my trump Is
= young gentleman OF considerable fortune
named EldridRe. who Is now consulting his
is to give me an answer soon. He is medi-
cal by profession. and has made the tour
OF Europe within the last year two:
and. though somewhat embarrassed in his
immediate means by that operation. Is
worth perhaps $4,000. II can get him
engaged with me and put decent BUSH
ness man In the publication Office. / shall hope
to go ahead. Ihave lost less than 1000 sub.
scribers thus far by my advance OF price. I
have doubtless many more yet to lose; but the
falling OF does not exceed my expectations
We shall probably lose another thousand be-
fore our new price shall have been esta blished.
II we manage to get a decent Secretary Of tho
Treasury mean to gain as many before win
ter sets in upon US for another season.
But have not yet told you OF my new op.
GRAFTON. have engaged to edit small Whig
emissary for the year 1888. to be published at
Albany. and shall probably be engaged there
throughout the year for q portion OF the time.
] hardly know how soon shall go: but l can
not 60 yet. that 10 very evident. II l Am not
forced by my troubles here to disappoint my
friends. shall probably go up In a week or
two. and be there for month at FIRST and after
the river opens be back and forward every
week. SO as to see each paper put to press.
/ am to he assisted In the Mem Yorker by Park
benjamin OF the american Monthly. besides
those Interested with me- We shall make the
literary half Of the Yorker stronger and better
than it has ever been. do not see SO much
room for Improvement In the other half OF the
team. / have no doubt tho paper will take
better than it has done for essay too much
to be useful and practical; and there Is
nothing that bores people like instruction.
1t implies that they do not kaow everything
already, which is very humiDiatinR The paper
will be more talented. Original. and striking
than it has hitherto been: l have not done
enough for effect In fact. II | can carry out
the arrangement have now in my minds eye.
shall have great hopes OF ultimate pros
perity. What think your
see that ! am at any rate q prisoner for the
year 1884, and may not hope to see Vermont.
though expect to 20 somewhat nearer II than
have been OF late. But l shall see both Of
you doubtless, and hear from you often by let
ter and friends Give me any advice or inteli-
gence you may have. aud believe me yours
ever. HORACE GREELEY.
S-Mears. did you get the Ernest Mathers
sent your Leila. by Bulwer. comes out this
week. | shall send II.
To s. MEAEs. ESQ. and b. F. RANSOM.
NOT TOO SLEEPY TO PRAISE HIS FRIEND.