ABSTRACT
The business had not been established very long before it was noted that New York offered a more fruitful field than Boston for the securing of advertising orders. I was obliged to make frequent visits, and sometimes it began to seem that we ought to have an office and a resident representative in the great metropolis. Our youngest competitor, Mr. Evans, had opened an office in the old Herald building at 119 Nassau street, and Mr. Dodd, on a business trip, had it in mind to investigate the Evans branch, and take note of the progress it appeared to be making. He found this easy to do, without exposing a disposition to spy out the land; for the Evans office was confined to a single room, a view of which could be had from a hallway, through the transparent glass in the office door. Mr. Evans’ representative was plainly to be seen, sitting at a white-wood table, with his hat on, and attempting, with a knife having opened blades at each end, to play, so far as one could do it alone, and on a table instead of the ground, the game that had been so popular when we all were boys and known as mumble the peg. Being told that Evans’ New York branch was a success, and having concluded from observation that its operations were not complex, we looked about for a New York representative of our own, and here, as well as in numerous other ways, our salaried solicitor, Mr. E. P. Fox, came forward with information and advice. He had a large acquaintance among printers; and the best printer he ever knew had had some experience in canvassing for something, I do not now recall what. He was then in New York in the employ of a firm named Thitchener & Glastater, a rather successful house notwithstanding the unpronounceable character of the names of the partners. In Fox’s opinion, if John A. Moore, his old friend, could be secured to represent the concern in New York all difficulties would disappear; and he proceeded 87to write to John, and tell him all about the opening for his abilities. Shortly after, I went to New York, called at the office where Moore was employed, and while waiting for him to come to the counting room had my attention directed to a conversation going on between Mr. Thitchener and a rather sallow, cadaverous man, who, it appeared, had a patented method of making a broom, by which every housewife could renew her own, and practice much economy, inasmuch as one handle would outwear many brooms, in fact, only one handle would be required in a lifetime; while the broom itself could be renewed yearly, quarterly, monthly or even hourly, if desired. Mentally I did not agree with the man’s idea as to what would come about as soon as he should have distributed the handsome printed matter of which Mr. Thitchener was then exhibiting a perfected proof. In after years I had other views, differing from those held by this small sallow man—Charles A. Clegg was his name—and in the arguments that ensued between us, divers lawyers, judges and referees took part, until, eventually, I and those interested with me were not much less than $200,000 out of pocket; while our wily opponent, so far as I could learn, had just about enough left over, after settling all expenses incurred, to pay him day wages for the time he had devoted to the conduct of the case. I have rarely read of bankruptcy proceedings with more resignation than when I perused the line or two that recently came under my eye, announcing that such had just been inaugurated in the case of this acquaintance of that morning in the printing office counting room in the year 1866. Fortunately, perhaps, I could not foresee all the future on that early occasion, and soon John Moore came in, and I then met a man who became, I think, the most faithful, the most devoted and attached friend it has ever been permitted me to know.
