HOW CANDOR PAYS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4428, 14 March 1883, Page 4

HOW CANDOR PAYS.

"We had better understand each othrtfi**''-he said deprecaiingly, as he lhambled ioto.the editorial room, " before we begin. I'm-a book-agent!" Unmiridful 6f the groans that met this statement he went on: " I'm not a white-haired philanthropist from. New Haven, who has come South through sympathy for your stricken people. I'm a fair, square, bald-headed book~agent." -^Encouraged by the reception of this frank avowal he took a seat, and dropping ..bis feet in a waste-basket, said : " I'm not a retired clergyman who seeks to scatter religious instruction while he builds up his worn out frame in your balmy clime. I'm not an apostle of art who has consented to seek your benighted. x region, and educate your people by parting with a few picture, books in parts. I'm not a temperance lecturer from Bangor who pays expenses by: dispensing of literature on commission while he regenerates, the I'm not all of these— nor either. I'm an unmodified book-agent,. iwitti none of the corners rounded, running on cheek in pursuit of tin." " Here's candor at least," remarked the young man who writes the puffs of hardware stores. "Yes; candor at best. I'm not a gilded sham. You don't pick me up for a prince in disguise or art or morality going incogs Ido not fly the skull and crossbones hid behind a holiday flag till I've grappled and boarded you. " I've got the regular old Death's head nailed to the mast, and T'm a pirate from keel to centreboard, and if you don't want that sort of company blow me out of the water.' 1 He had the whole force on deck at this point.,., . "I've got no off-hand preamble to my bloody work. I do not lead you through the flowery paths of ease to where I've got the tap sprung. I do not beguile with anecdote, inspire' with eloquence, sooth with persuasion or pique with local gossip. I was not directed to you as a leader of culture or a person who'd be likely to, buy. . I won't show you a list of high-toned, decoys who have pat their name's down to get rid of me and to draw - you - in. I don't! show the' work I'm selling, and I've never been able to learn the idiot's soliloquy that, explains the pictures."- ' Here he paused while the manager called for the cash-boy. " That'B about the size of me and my business.' The books' right here—fifty parts, 'fifty cents a part, plenty o' pictures and big type for the reading, written by somebody or other and means lOdols clear money to me every time I work one off. Do you take, or do I go ?" ■By this time eleven copies of the first part were ordered, and the " eleven able" resumed their work, while the office boy indites this tribute to a man who ain't ashamed of his little racket.