The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-21
A CASE OF AUTHORSHIP.

authors, would be $500 they would bc
very glad TO publish il. The plate. the
editor added. would be the property of
the author, who could thus send impress
sions TO personal friends.
The $500 looked large. but Johnson
saw, or thought he saw, that all this
would help run up the circulat ton, so 1t
was a small matter after all; the money
went out this way. but il came back
through the book with interest. Again,
he had always been an advertiser. IL
was common saying that Johnson be
lieved in printers ink" and his business
was a justification of his course. In
deed. the author was not indulginS in
fanciful Vagaries. He was successful in
politics and business, a reader OF men, d
man who never made a move without
looking at the proposition from all sides.
and 1t is due Johnson TO say that ne
grasped the problem Of the book with
the same vigor that he had other projects
that had borne his name with great
profit and financial successes.
The days slipped b.. and Johnson be-
gan to wonder when The Daily Argus"
would review the volume. This was the
most influential paper in the city. and
had for years been noted for it's literary
flavor 1t was said that the columns
We're so we'll set mp. so correct in style.
diction and punctuation. that the teach
ers used them as examples in the schools
Nearly all the reporters were college
graduates. TO which fact was due the
idiomatic snap and sparkle that per
vaded even the advertisements.
The Argus reviewer was not known.
Perhaps il was better so. as numerous
authors. if the truth was told, thirsted
Tor his blood, while several, II was said,
had given UP literature and devoted
months TO the detective business i'm hope
less attempts to discover his identity
Johnson appreciated the Importance Of
the opinion of the Argus. as it set the
10 Of -
state, but he also believed that il would
be very poor policy for city paper to
attack homo production. His friend
Briggs. also a politician. took a some
what different view. and as a result
GOODNESS Sprang uD between them.
Briggs argued that as Johnson had de-
fcated the editor of the Argus i'm the
race for alderman two years before. and,
having been engaged i'm q most rancor-
Gus fight for weeks. the editor would now
in all probability take his revenge.
You know the old saying" said
Briggs. " Would that my enemy would
write book Shipley has got YOU right
where he wants YOU. and he's merely
standing YOU off. He has you" said
Briggs. dismally. ION the hip"
Il don't believe it." replied Johnson.
and in truth he did not But Briggs
was true prophet: two DAYS later the
blow fell. Johnson came down to break
fast little late that morning He had
attended a syndicate meeting the night
before. and was not in a particularly
good humor. He picked up the Argus
and glanced over the Geographic head
ings, then turned to the editorial page.
and finally came to the literary notices
Ills heart gave a leap. Yes, there It
was, an entire column. Johnson took a
drink of coffee and opened out the paper
1t IS not necessary to quote the article
entire; but the author sat in his chair
Tgid as a statue. the lines i'm his face
growing deeper and deeper. the veins in
his forehead swelling until forgetting
everything in his fury. he brought his
heavy fist down upon the table with
such force the dishes made clatter that
brought his wife rushing i'm from an adj
joining room TO see what was the mat
ter.
Matter? Nothing reared Johnson.
dashing the newspaper to the floor
Nothing repeated his wife in aston
ishment. Surely something must be the
matter, Absalom. or you have gone
You have hit it," retorted Johnson.
as he stopped pacing up and down the
room. Il am mad. Here" picking up
the offending sheet, listen to what this
. viper of an editor says about me and
my book: johnson has written a book
save the mark. The subject is one about
which the author knows absolutely moth
lng-The Financial Future of Repub-
| lies This possibly is the one redeem
| ing feature Of the book. If he had been
competent to write on the subject sim
ply a poor book would have been the
/ result, but as he knows absolutely moth
ing the corrugated mess is one of the
! funniest things of the day. Here is a
sample Of JOhnSOn'S style which like
| his politics, is bad Here follow a dozen
| lines and this note: If there was ever.
| even IN the middle ages, such a farrago
! OF utter imbecility ii has been orr good
( fortune TO miss it, The book looIxina,
/ at it as the work it is intended to be.
] IS a good example of the kind of bosh
/ that would, had it any influence at all.
| lead the world back into the DEPTHS of
| intellectual vacuity. How a sane pub
/ Usher could place his imprint on such
| rubbish is past comprehension Either.
/ Johnson paid for it out of his own
| pocket or 1t is intended as a Joke. in
! which case We welcome Johnson as a
/ big success -
1T is outrageous" exclaimed Mrs.
| Johnson. as her iIate spouse again flung
J the paper from him. But my dear.
/ she added soothingly, pay no attention
TO it; your friends will understand it"
Matilda" said Johnson, slowly, Il am
] going TO have that mans life"
| 'Oh, no, you're not" broke in his Wife.
! coaxingly. Calm yourself. my dear.
| Every author has just such experiences. -
We'll. what is it?'' demanded johnson,
| saVageiy, as maid appeared at the
| door with a card in her hand.
| A gentleman, sir" was the reply
! Tell him to 80 to the devil; I'm not at
( home" retOrted johnson.
] You had better see who it is" said
! Mrs. Johnson, taking the card and read
| ing aloud, Robert Henry Dancer. LAWYER
and counselor at law. Do you know
/ him?''
mo. l don't but I'll go and put him
| out responded Mr. Johnson, as he
STROBE into the hall. We'll sir" he said
to the tail. thin young man who stood
! before him. Il haven't a moment, am
very busy. What is it?''
| well, sir" was the reply, IT finished
laid it down with the feeling that I had
learned more about the subject than |
| ever knew before, and / determined that
| l would hunt you up and congratulate
you personally on the completion of
| your great work"
step this way said Mr.. johnson,
with change of tone. leading the way
10 the library, its rather draughty out
J there"
AS I was saying continued the
I visitor, Il rose this morning and said
| to Mrs. Dancer, L am going to call on the
! author of the Financial Future of Re
publics," and thank him in person for
this great contribution TO the literature
| of so important subject
| IT'S very kind of you" responded Mr..
| Johnson, beginning to feel somewhat
| calmer.
But" added the lawyer, gazing
fixedly at the author and through him
to the wall beyond. when 1 picked up