The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-06

his own disdainful claims that
all other local merchants In kindred
lines are merely newsdealcrs.
Into a booksellers life there enter
many humorous phases OF profession
often tragic enough from financial
point of view, Mr.. Bogger'y was one
OF those rae. philosophic souls. VINO
get out of n business other tnan money
profits, though. of course. tnat is their
first concern. Al Mr.. Boggerly himseh
put It: II would rather laugh than
do anything else, except TO sell "A man
book
One day, man entered Mr.. bog
gerly's store and peered furtively IN
every direction, In the hope OF see
ing the bookseller.
"Mr Boggerly in?" he inquired,
sharply.
mo sir" responded clerk. ne
just stepped across the street. lie IL
be back In Ave minutes.
"Tll wait. sir, III wait. must see
Mr.. Boggerly. | want To see someone
who knows about books.
Shortly. Mr. Boggerly returned and
the clerk indicated, with a hand wave,
that the stranger was waiting to see
him.
Something | can do for you?" asked
Mr.. Boggerly.
YES, sir. that's why I'm here.
didn't want TO pass the tine of day.
Have you a private Officer
Certainly" replied Mr.. Boggerly.
throwing open the door TO his den, as
he called It.
Take a chair he added.
Thanks Now. 10 what have TO
say. I want you 10 look at book
.oIl .las
il IL worth
Carefully undoing the cord the
stranger took off the outer and three
inner wrappings Then he held the
book for Mr.. Boggerly TO see. 1t was
handsome leather-bound copy or
THE Rubaiyat OF Omar Khayyam."
1T is signed copy" he said Look
at it.
Mr.. Boggerly smiled as he took the
book
From what he then learned from
his visitor. and from information la
ter derived from other sources, Mr.
Boggerly learned the whole story OF
how this book, purporting 70 be signed
by Omar, came into this mans posses
sion. II was substantially as follows:
Mr. Jacob Hefferly was what Is
modernly termed parvenu. tie had
suddenly found himself the possessor
Of considerable wealth Sitnout the
grace and manner and cultured taste
commonly looked for in the atiiuent
For neither books nor pictures did
Mr.. Hefferly care fig Nor was he
able 10 appreciate good muSic, though
he enjoyed the populsr airs. indeed,
II was in the qualification Of his van
ity, rather than in any additions to
hi. nla unffariy fnup6
the acquisition OF wealth delightful
Now he could be in the swim. He
could look down upon those who hal
formerly been his friends. He could
invite the best people 10 his table.
and they would come!
In order TO fully establish his posi-
ton In the social world in which he
lived and moved and had his being, the
parvenu found 1t necessary TO have a
library. But, bless you, he was as
ignorant OF literary matters as
child. All books were, to him. nov
els" and not worth the time it took
to read them.
In order, therefore, to properly fit
himself out as a booklove" Mr.. Hef-
ferly was obliged 10 enlist the services
Of one Charles Hurst, literary man
OF considerable distinction. Hurst had
formerly been a reader for large
publishing house, had edited small
magazine and had written many book
criticisms. At least. Hurst said so. for
he brought neither scrap nor bit OF
writing TO recommend him Be that
as 1t may. his appearance alone COM
mended him TO Mr.. Hefferly Tall,
thin, with an intellectual face. Hurst
had a very effective way of looking
gravely through his glasses. II was
this look that decided Mr. Hefferly.
You'll do" he said. you've got the
| air. when ] bring my friends into
the library, want you to tell them all
about the books Make 'em think I've
got the finest library in the state. one
/ of the best in the country. Get the
books Send anywhere for rare books
that no ons else can get hold Of, and
give me the bill"
Mr.. Hurst obeyed very explicitly.
The bills he turned in were quite
heavy. and. doubtless. Mr.. Heferly
was not aware that he received a
goodly commission from more than
I one bookseller. Mr.. Hurst made his
purchases in various parts OF the coun-
try. He didn't dare buy book In
Baldwin. Mr. Hefferly's home city.
since anything obtained 80 near at
Mr. Hurst constructed a wonderful
catalogue. II consisted of 20 hand
some leather-boun blank books. each
of which was used to index one let
ter, placing books under both the
authors name and the title.
Then, he spoke TO Mr.. Hefferly re-
gardng the subject. He approached
his employer one morning. when the
latter was starting on his morning
i drive.
Mr.. Hefferly." he said, respectfully.
What do you want?"
II want TO consult you about the
library"
"All right, what is it,"
"Well, In the first place, you have
asked me to provide for you. one OF
\ the best Libraries In the country. To
begin with, you haven't space"
Haven't space." shouted Mr.. Hef.
ferly, in establishment, why, haven't
you a whole room?'
Yes" assented Hurst, smiling, but
Il is a very small one, ard really
think to properly attend 10 the mat
ter Of books you should build an ad.
dition TO the house. II you will give
me authority TO do so, | viii 90 ahead.
\ II ought not to cost over three thou
sand dollars and ! am confident that
7 can get plans that will give us a
library, unequalled in the state, II in
Al the country anywhere"