the americanization of edward bok-第12章

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than　justified　the　confidence　reposed　in　him。　Mr。　Cary　lived　to　see　him　well　on　his　way；　until；　indeed；　Edward　had　had　the　proud　happiness　of　introducing　to　his　benefactor　the　son　who　bore　his　name；　Cary　William　Bok。



VIII。　Starting　a　Newspaper　Syndicate

Edward　felt　that　his　daytime　hours；　spent　in　a　publishing　atmosphere　as　stenographer　with　Henry　Holt　and　Company；　were　more　in　line　with　his　editorial　duties　during　the　evenings。　The　Brooklyn　Magazine　was　now　earning　a　comfortable　income　for　its　two　young　proprietors；　and　their　backers　were　entirely　satisfied　with　the　way　it　was　being　conducted。　In　fact；　one　of　these　backers；　Mr。　Rufus　T。　Bush；　associated　with　the　Standard　Oil　Company；　who　became　especially　interested；　thought　he　saw　in　the　success　of　the　two　boys　a　possible　opening　for　one　of　his　sons；　who　was　shortly　to　be　graduated　from　college。　He　talked　to　the　publisher　and　editor　about　the　idea；　but　the　boys　showed　by　their　books　that　while　there　was　a　reasonable　income　for　them；　not　wholly　dependent　on　the　magazine；　there　was　no　room　for　a　third。

Mr。　Bush　now　suggested　that　he　buy　the　magazine　for　his　son；　alter　its　name；　enlarge　its　scope；　and　make　of　it　a　national　periodical。　Arrangements　were　concluded；　those　who　had　financially　backed　the　venture　were　fully　paid；　and　the　two　boys　received　a　satisfactory　amount　for　their　work　in　building　up　the　magazine。　Mr。　Bush　asked　Edward　to　suggest　a　name　for　the　new　periodical；　and　in　the　following　month　of　May；　1887；　The　Brooklyn　Magazine　became　The　American　Magazine；　with　its　publication　office　in　New　York。　But；　though　a　great　deal　of　money　was　spent　on　the　new　magazine；　it　did　not　succeed。　Mr。　Bush　sold　his　interest　in　the　periodical；　which；　once　more　changing　its　name；　became　The　Cosmopolitan　Magazine。　Since　then　it　has　passed　through　the　hands　of　several　owners；　but　the　name　has　remained　the　same。　Before　Mr。　Bush　sold　The　American　Magazine　he　had　urged　Edward　to　come　back　to　it　as　its　editor；　with　promise　of　financial　support；　but　the　young　man　felt　instinctively　that　his　return　would　not　be　wise。　The　magazine　had　been　The　Cosmopolitan　only　a　short　time　when　the　new　owners；　Mr。　Paul　J。　Slicht　and　Mr。　E。　D。　Walker；　also　solicited　the　previous　editor　to　accept　reappointment。　But　Edward；　feeling　that　his　baby　had　been　rechristened　too　often　for　him　to　father　it　again；　declined　the　proposition。　He　had　not　heard　the　last　of　it；　however；　for；　by　a　curious　coincidence；　its　subsequent　owner；　entirely　ignorant　of　Edward's　previous　association　with　the　magazine；　invited　him　to　connect　himself　with　it。　Thus　three　times　could　Edward　Bok　have　returned　to　the　magazine　for　whose　creation　he　was　responsible。

Edward　was　now　without　editorial　cares；　but　he　had　already；　even　before　disposing　of　the　magazine；　embarked　on　another　line　of　endeavor。　In　sending　to　a　number　of　newspapers　the　advance　sheets　of　a　particularly　striking　〃feature〃　in　one　of　his　numbers　of　The　Brooklyn　Magazine；　it　occurred　to　him　that　he　was　furnishing　a　good　deal　of　valuable　material　to　these　papers　without　cost。　It　is　true　his　magazine　was　receiving　the　advertising　value　of　editorial　comment；　but　the　boy　wondered　whether　the　newspapers　would　not　be　willing　to　pay　for　the　privilege　of　simultaneous　publication。　An　inquiry　or　two　proved　that　they　would。　Thus　Edward　stumbled　upon　the　〃syndicate〃　plan　of　furnishing　the　same　article　to　a　group　of　newspapers；　one　in　each　city；　for　simultaneous　publication。　He　looked　over　the　ground；　and　found　that　while　his　idea　was　not　a　new　one；　since　two　〃syndicate〃　agencies　already　existed；　the　field　was　by　no　means　fully　covered；　and　that　the　success　of　a　third　agency　would　depend　entirely　upon　its　ability　to　furnish　the　newspapers　with　material　equally　good　or　better　than　they　received　from　the　others。　After　following　the　material　furnished　by　these　agencies　for　two　or　three　weeks；　Edward　decided　that　there　was　plenty　of　room　for　his　new　ideas。

He　discussed　the　matter　with　his　former　magazine　partner；　Colver；　and　suggested　that　if　they　could　induce　Mr。　Beecher　to　write　a　weekly　comment　on　current　events　for　the　newspapers　it　would　make　an　auspicious　beginning。　They　decided　to　talk　it　over　with　the　famous　preacher。　For　to　be　a　〃Plymouth　boy〃that　is；　to　go　to　the　Plymouth　Church　Sunday…school　and　to　attend　church　therewas　to　know　personally　and　become　devoted　to　Henry　Ward　Beecher。　And　the　two　were　synonymous。　There　was　no　distance　between　Mr。　Beecher　and　his　〃Plymouth　boys。〃　Each　understood　the　other。　The　tie　was　that　of　absolute　comradeship。

〃I　don't　believe　in　it；　boys；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher　when　Edward　and　his　friend　broached　the　syndicate　letter　to　him。　〃No　one　yet　ever　made　a　cent　out　of　my　supposed　literary　work。〃

All　the　more　reason；　was　the　argument；　why　some　one　should。

Mr。　Beecher　smiled！　How　well　he　knew　the　youthful　enthusiasm　that　rushes　in；　etc。

〃Well；　all　right；　boys！　I　like　your　pluck；〃　he　finally　said。　〃I'll　help　you　if　I　can。〃

The　boys　agreed　to　pay　Mr。　Beecher　a　weekly　sum　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollarswhich　he　knew　was　considerable　for　them。

When　the　first　article　had　been　written　they　took　him　their　first　check。　He　looked　at　it　quizzically；　and　then　at　the　boys。　Then　he　said　simply：　〃Thank　you。〃　He　took　a　pin　and　pinned　the　check　to　his　desk。　There　it　remained；　much　to　the　curiosity　of　the　two　boys。

The　following　week　he　had　written　the　second　article　and　the　boys　gave　him　another　check。　He　pinned　that　up　over　the　other。　〃I　like　to　look　at　them；〃　was　his　only　explanation；　as　he　saw　Edward's　inquiring　glance　one　morning。

The　third　check　was　treated　the　same　way。　When　the　boys　handed　him　the　fourth；　one　morning；　as　he　was　pinning　it　up　over　the　others；　he　asked：　〃When　do　you　get　your　money　from　the　newspapers？〃

He　was　told　that　the　bills　were　going　out　that　morning　for　the　four　letters　constituting　a　month's　service。

〃I　see；〃　he　remarked。

A　fortnight　passed；　then　one　day　Mr。　Beecher　asked：　〃Well；　how　are　the　checks　coming　in？〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　was　assured。

〃Suppose　you　let　me　see　how　much　you've　got　in；〃　he　suggested；　and　the　boys　brought　the　accounts　to　him。

After　looking　at　them　he　said：　〃That's　very　interesting。　How　much　have　you　in　the　bank？〃

He　was　told　the　balance；　less　the　checks　given　to　him。　〃But　I　haven't　turned　them　in　yet；〃　he　explained。　〃Anyhow；　you　have　enough　in　bank　to　meet　the　checks　you　have　given　me；　and　a　profit　besides；　haven't　you？〃

He　was　assured　they　had。

Then；　taking　his　bank…book　from　a　drawer；　he　unpinned　the　six　checks　on　his　desk；　indorsed　each　thus：　wrote　a　deposit…slip；　and；　handing　the　book　to　Edward；　said：

　　For　deposit　（？？）　in　Bank　　　H。　W。　Beecher

〃Just　hand　that　in　at　the　bank　as　you　go　by；　will　you？〃

Edward　was　very　young　then；　and　Mr。　Beecher's　methods　of　financiering　seemed　to　him　quite　in　line　with　current　notions　of　the　Plymouth　pastor's　lack　of　business　knowledge。　But　as　the　years　rolled　on　the　incident　appeared　in　a　new　lighta　striking　example　of　the　great　preacher's　wonderful　considerateness。

Edward　had　offered　to　help　Mr。　Beecher　with　his　correspondence；　at　the　close　of　one　afternoon；　while　he　was　with　the　Plymouth　pastor　at　work；　an　organ…grinder　and　a　little　girl　came　under　the　study　window。　A　cold；　driving　rain　was　pelting　down。　In　a　moment　Mr。　Beecher　noticed　the　girl's　bare　toes　sticking　out　of　her　worn　shoes。

He　got　up；　went　into　the　hall；　and　called　for　one　of　his　granddaughters。

〃Got　any　good；　strong　rain　boots？〃　he　asked　when　she　appeared。

〃Why；　yes；　grandfather。　Why？〃　was　the　answer。

〃More　than　one　pair？〃　Mr。　Beecher　asked。

〃Yes；　two　or　three；　I　think。〃

〃Bring　me　your　strongest　pair；　will　you；　dear？〃　he　asked。　And　as　the　girl　looked　at　him　with　surprise　he　said：　〃Just　one　of　my　notions。〃

〃Now；　just　bring　that　child　into　the　house　and　put　them　on　her　feet　for　me；　will　you？〃　he　said　when　the　shoes　came。　〃I'll　be　able　to　work　so　much　better。〃

One　rainy　day；　as　Edward　was　coming　up　from　Fulton　Ferry　with　Mr。　Beecher；　they　met　an　old　woman　soaked　with　the　rain。　〃Here；　you　take　this；　my　good　woman；〃　said　the　clergyman；　putting　his　umbrella　over　her　head　and　thrusting　the　handle　into　the　astonished　woman's　hand。　〃Let's　get　into　this；〃　he　said　to　Edward　simply；　as　he　hailed　a　passing　car。

〃There　is　a　good　deal　of　fraud　about　beggars；〃　he　remarked　as　he　waved　a　sot　away　from　him　one　day；　〃but　that　doesn't　apply　to　women　and　children；〃　he　added；　and　he　never　passed　such　mendicants　without　stopping。　All　the　stories　about　their　being　tools　in　the　hands　of　accomplices　failed　to　convince　him。　〃They're　women　and　children；〃　he　would　say；　and　that　settled　it　for　him。

〃What's　the　matter；　son？　Stuck？〃　he　said　once　to　a　newsboy　who　was　crying　with　a　heavy　bundle　of　papers　under　his　arm。

〃Come　along　with　me；　then；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　taking　the　boy's　hand　and　leading　him　into　the　newspaper　office　a　few　doors　up　the　street。

〃This　boy　is　stuck；〃　he　simply　said　to　the　man　behind　the　counter。　〃Guess　The　Eagle　can　stand　it　better　than　this　boy；　don't　you　think　so？〃

To　the　grown　man　Mr。　Beecher　rarely　gave　charity。　He　believed　in　a　return　for　his　alms。

〃Why　don't　you　go　to　work？〃　he　asked　of　a　man　who　approached　him　one　day　in　the　street。

〃Can't　find　any；〃　said　the　man。

〃Looked　hard　for　it？〃　was　the　next　question。

〃I　have；〃　and　the　man　looked　Mr。　Beecher　in　the　eye。

〃Want　some？〃　asked　Mr。　Beecher。

〃I　do；〃　said　the　man。

〃Come　with　me；〃　said　the　preacher。　And　then　to　Edward；　as　they　walked　along　with　the　man　following　behind；　he　added：　〃That　man　is　honest。〃

〃Let　this　man　sweep　out　the　church；〃　he　said　to　the　sexton　when　they　had　reached　Plymouth　Church。

〃But；　Mr。　Beecher；〃　replied　the　sexton　with　wounded　pride；　〃it　doesn't　need　it。〃

〃Don't　tell　him　so；　though；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher　with　a　merry　twinkle　of　the　eye；　and　the　sexton　understood。

Mr。　Beecher　was　constantly　thoughtful　of　a　struggling　young　man's　welfare；　even　at　the　expense　of　his　own　material　comfort。　Anxious　to　save　him　from　the　labor　of　writing　out　the　newspaper　articles；　Edward；　himself　employed　during　the　daylight　hours　which　Mr。　Beecher　preferred　for　his　original　work；　suggested　a　stenographer。　The　idea　appealed　to　Mr。　Beecher；　for　he　was　very　busy　just　then。　He　hesitated；　but　as　Edward　persisted；　he　said：　〃All　right；　let　him　come　to…morrow。〃

The　next　day　he　said：　〃I　asked　that　stenographer　friend　of　yours　not　to　come　again。　No　use　of　my　trying　to　dictate。　I　am　too　old　to　learn　new　tricks。　Much　easier　for　me　to　write　myself。〃

Shortly　after　that；　however；　Mr。　Beecher　dictated　to　Edward　some　material　for　a　book　he　was　writing。　Edward　naturally　wondered　at　this；　and　asked　the　stenographer　what　had　happened。

〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　〃Only　Mr。　Beecher　asked　me　how　much　it　would　cost　you　to　have　me　come　to　him　each　week。　I　told　him；　and　then　he　sent　me　away。〃

That　was　Henry　Ward　Beecher！

Edward　Bok　was　in　the　formative　period　between　boyhood　and　young　manhood　when　impressions　meant　lessons；　and　associations　meant　ideals。　Mr。　Beecher　never　disappointed。　The　closer　one　got　to　him；　the　greater　he　becamein　striking　contrast　to　most　public　men；　as　Edward　had　already　learned。

Then；　his　interests　and　sympathies　were　enormously　wide。　He　took　in　so　much！　O