Year: 1867

Tshment of the Harpers stands, James
Harper began his work. He held the
lowest position in the office. All mean
and servile work was put upon him.
The sons of Judges, alderman, lawyers
and men of money were in trade and
merchandise around the printing office.
These pert we'll and proud
striplings often crossed the pathway of
the rustic lad. His shoes were heavy,
course and ungainly. His clothes made
from cloth manufactured in the old
homestead, were rough in material and
slovenly in make. The young bucks
delighted to ridicule James. They
would shout TO him across the street
-" Did your boots come from Paris?"
"Jim, give us card to your tailor" )"
"What did your mother give a yard
for your broadclotha" Sometimes the
rude fellows came near and under pre-
tense of the fneness of the cloth, would
grab the flesh. Insulting and taunting
as all this was, he bore it for while
with meekness. This was construed
into cowardice.


JAMES FIRST CARD.


The Young printer saw that he must
end this treatment, and could only do
it by taking firm, manly stand. He
had no idea of wealth or position. 1t
was his purpose to do right-to so con-
duct himself that his mother would not
be ashamed of him. All the success
and position that could attend fidelity
to duty, he meant to secure but he re-
solved not to be imposed upon. One
day while doing some menial work, he
was assaulted by one of his tormentors.
He deliberately set down the pail that
he was carving, turned on his assailant,
booted him severely, and then said:
'sTake that; that's my card take good
and set up for myself, and you need
employment, as you will, come to me,
and bring that card. and will give you
work" Strange to say, forty-one years
after, that same person came to James
Harper's establishment and asked en-
ployment, claiming it on the groud that
the " card" he had given him forty-one
years before, he had kept to that day.


ORIGIN OF THE HOUSE.


When James was free, having served
out his time, his master said to him,
"You have been faithful, and shall al
ways have good place in my office. >
The master was not little surprised to
hear the young man announce his in
tention of setting up for himself. AL
ready he said he could have the print
ing of a book if he could get certifi-
cate that he was worthy of it. If his
master would give him the certificate
he could get the job. This was readily
given, and the work begun. In 1917
James and John Harper opened small |
book and job printing office in Dover
street. Evert Duyckinck, the leading
publisher of that day, was the first to
employ the Harpers. The first hook
published by the firm was SeaaecG's Nor
al, 2OOO copies of which were deliverd
on the 5th day of August 1917. The
second job was of more consequence.
The Book to be printed was the Fps
copal Prayer Book 1t was to be ster-
eotyped. That part of the craft in those
days was in crude state, and the work
rudely done. They had contracted to
do the work for fifty cents a token.
They found that they would have to
pay the full sum to have it stereotyped,
and no profit would be left to them
selves They resolved to stereotype
the work. It was difficult and slow;
but it was done, and gave great salts
faction. 1t was pronounced the best
piece of stereotyping ever seen in New
York. The character Of the work com


ing from this firm, itsindustry, probity,
promptness, and enterprise placed it at
once at the head ofthe business in New
hork' tork' In six years the establishment
oe oeeame the largest in the city. To the


gJflglnal Jng firm, i'll 1928, the name of
I1Sseph lose N lesley Harper was added. mi
These four make the Rouse of Harper


brothers. The house has now a world
Mlae v as fame. 1t is the largest of its kind j
IN IN the world. The great m establisbment h h @
u Aunope do not combine, as do the the