New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14

f6n co,nfrv ,n tbo advantage # himself and the
| book The editor. who described himself as an
! "old-tner" informed him that hundreds oi siiihH
but influential papers could not pay Tor IeN,, n,
| but would copy them If they receiver '"'''
| already prepared. ,,io,.ir,
| that he could i'm this way materially aid the PN"
| fishers in advertising the work, Green
| 500 was forwarded to the editor VINO pi"''atri
| TO send marked copies to over lVOO papers. ~
author also received a letter from the GATOR w
| an established publication enclosing I"" -
account Of his life. and stating that Jus a. i 1i,
were going to press ii had occurred 10 lh' ''i,,
| that the value Of the sketch e. the reading pun
| lie would he enhanced 10y picture Of the au'hI'
| The editor regretted that the expense III pr
pairing the article prevented them from indH'.I
| any further outlay, but if johnson dcslc' ~
pay for the picture, which, If Of the klrd uSua"H
used by frst-class authors would De ~ ia'
| would be very glad 10 publish IT, Inc Ila,V'
the editor added. would be the property "i w
author who could thus send impressions u
personal friends.
| thought he saw that all this would help run up
the circulation so 1t was small l,at'et 49,
all; the money went out this way. bul il CAM
back through the book with interest AEdln' ~
had always been an advertiser 1t was a com
mon saying that johnson "belieNcd IN prlhtJL
ink" and his business was a Justlhcatloh ul ms
course Indeed the author was not inuulBlis
in fancful vagaries. He was successful III POI
,ics ara husinass q reader of men, man VINO
never made a move without looking at the propo-
sition from all sides and il Is due Johnson TO say
that he grasped the problem OF the DOCK WIN .n5
same vgor that he had other proJectS ma nay
borne his name with great proht ana hhahcidl
successes
The days slipped by and Johnson began to
wonder when 'Tho Daily Argus" would review
the volume. This the most influential paper
In the city and had for years been noted Tor us
literary flavor. 1t was said that the coiunhs
were so well set up 50 correct in style dlc'loh
and punctuation that the teachers used them as
examples i'm the schools Nearly al the report
crs were college graduates. t. which fact was
due the idomauc snap ana sparkle 'h"V per
VadCd even the advertisements. -
The argus rcVicwc' was not known. FER
hans II was better so as numerous authors II
the truth was told thirsted for his blood, while
several il was said. had given up literature ana
devoted months To the detective business III
hopeless attempts 10 discover his identity.
johnson appreciated the Importance Of the |
opinion OF THE Argus" it set the pace, as 1t
were. for the press Of the state. hut ne also ne
lieved that it would be very poor polcy Tor q !
city paper to attack ZONE production His /
friend Briggs. also politician. took a somewhat /
different view. and as result coolntss sl,iahs 1
up between them Briggs argued that as John- |
son had defeated the editor Of "The Argus IN |
the race for aide man two years before ana. |
having been engaged in most rancorous liEht |
for weeks the editor would now IN all probability |
take his revenge.
"You know the old saying" said HriEgs:
"'Would that my enemy would write a 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"
II don't believe it," replied johnson. ana in
truth he did not. But Briggs was a true
prophet: two days later the blow fell Johnson
came down to breakfast a little late that morn
ing. lie had attended a syndicate mn, eilng inc
night before. and was not in particularly good
humor. He picked mp "The Argus" and glanced
over the Geographic headings. then turned to
the editorial page and finally came 10 the liter
cry notices. His heart gave a leap. Yes. there
Il was an entire column johnson took a drink 3,
Of coffee and opened out the paper ..,..
II is not necessary To- quote the article entire;
hut the author sat in his chair, rigid as statue,
the lines in his face growing deeper and deeper.
the veins I'm his forehead swelling until finally. |
nr brought /
his heavy fist down upon the table with such
force that the dishes made a clattcr that brought
his wife rushing in from an adjoining room TO
what the matter
Matter? Nothing' roarcd Johnson. dashing
the newspaper to the floor.
Nothing" repeated his wife in astonishment
surely something must be the matter, Absalom
YOU have gone mad"
"You have hit it." rctcrted Johnson. 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
save the mark. The subject Is one about which
the author knows absolutely nothing-"The FL
nancial Future Of Republics" This possibly IS
the one redeeming feature of the book II he had
been competent to write on the subject simply
a poor book would have been the result. but as
he knows absolutely nothing the corrugated
mess is one of tne funniest things Of the day.
Here is a sample Of Johnsons style, which, like
his politics, is bad Here follows dozen lines
and this note: II there was ever. even in the
Middle Ages such a farrago Of utter imcbccility
it has been our good fortune to miss it, The
book. boxing at it the work it is intended
10 be. is good example Of the kind If bOsh that
would. had it any influence at all lead the world
back into the depths of intellectual yacuity.
How a sane publisher could place his imprint
on such rubbish is past comprehension. Either
Johnson paid for 1t out Of his own pocket
or it is intended a joke. in which case We
welcome Johnson as big success"
1T is Outragcous!' exclaimed Mrs johnson,
as her irate spouse again flung the paper from
him. But. my dear" she added soothingly.
pay no attention to it. your friends Will under
stand it
Matilda" said Johnson. slowly 81 am going
to have that mans life"
ooh. no. you're not" broke in his wife, coax
ingly. calm yourself. my dear. Every author
has just such experiences"
agey. as maid appeared at the door with a
card in her hand.
"a gentleman. sir" was the reply.
Tell him to go 10 the devil; I'm not at home"
retortcd Johnson.
"You had better see who IT IS" said Mrs. John
son. taking the card and reading aloud. Robert
Henry Dancer Lawyer ana COurseliOr-at-Law. /
Do YOU know him.
NO. I don't. but I'll 90 and put him out"
responded Mr.. Johnson. he strobe into the
hall "Well, sir" he said to The tall thin young
man who stood before him. II haven't moment, ,
am very busy. What IS it?
"Wel sir" the reply. 81 finished reading ,
your new book last night, and laid it down with
the feeling that / had learned more about the
subject than ever knew before and de-
termined that / would hunt you up and con-
graduate 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 there"
"As was saying" continued the visitor II
rose this morning. and said to Mrs Dancer I
am going to call on the author Of the "Financal
Future of Republics" and thank him in person
Tor this great contribution to the literature Of SO
Important n subject"
1T is very kind Of you" responded Mr. John
son. beginning to feel somewhat calmer.
But" added the lawyer, gazing nxedIy at
the author and through him t. the wall beyond
| picked
and read that scandalOus and libelOus article nv
changed 7 became possessed Of a de- ;
sire for revenge. and TO make a long story Z
short, Mr.. Johnson, determined To offer nv I
services to right you with that scoundrcl Of an !
editor"
Have you any show" asked Johnson filled Y
with light.
"All the show in the world" Il
"FOr what?' a
Il ihel and Ten Thousand dnllars dnma nnc 1