The Soleman Book Agent

Ho was tall and solemn, and dignified. One would havo thought hiin a Koman Senator, on hia way to make a speech on finance ; but he wasn't - singularly enough, he wasn't. He was a book agent. líe wore a linen duster, and his brow was furrowed with many care-lines, as if he had been obliged to tumble out of bed every other night of his lifo to dose a sick child. Ho called into a tailor shop on Kandolph street, removed his hat, took his " Lives of Eminent Philosopherb " from its cainbric bag, and approached the tailor with: " I'd like to have you look at this rare work." " I haf no time," replied the tailor. " It is a work which every thinking man should liko to peruse," continued the agent. " Zo ? " said the tailor. " Yes, it is a work on which a great deal of deep thought has been expended, and it is pronounced by such men as Wendell Phillips to be a work without a rival in modem literature." " Makes anybody laugh when he zees it ? " asked the tailor. " No, my friend, this is a deep, profound work, as I have already said. It deals with such characters as Theocritus Sócrates and Plato and Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you desire a work on which the most eminent author of our day has spent years of study and research, you can find nothing to compare with tbis." " Does it shpeak about how to clean clozo ? " anxiously asked the man of the goose. " My friend, this is no receipt book, but an eminent work on philosophy, as I have told you. Years were consumed in preparing this volume for the press, and none but the clearest mind could havegrasped the subjects herein discussed. If you desire lood for deep meditation you have it here." "Does dis pook say sumding about der Prussian war? ' asked the tailor as he threaded his needie. " My friend, this is not an everyday book, but a work ou philosophy - a work which will soon be in the hands of every profound thinker in the country. What is the art of philosophy? This book tells you. Who were and who are our philosophers ? Turn to those pages for a reply. As I said before, I don't see how you can do without it." " Und he don't haf anydingsabout suin fun, eh ? " inquired tho tailor as the book was held out to him. " My friend, must I again inform you that this is not an ephemeral work - not a collection of nauseous tra&h, but a rare, deep work on philoscphy. Here, see the name of the author. That name alone sir, should be proof enough to your mind that the work cannot be surpassed for profundity of thought. Why, sir, Gerrit Smith testifies to tho greatness of this volume ! " "I not knows Mr. Schtnidt - I make no cloze mit him," returned the tailor in a doubting voice. "Then you will let me leave your place without having secured your name to this volume! I cannot believe it ! Behold what research ! Turn these leaves and see these gems of richest thought ! Ah ! if we only had such minds and could wield such a pen ! But, we can read, and in a measure we can be like him. Every family should have this noble work. Let me put your name down ; the book is only twelve dollars." " Zwelve dollars for der pook ! Zwelve dollar and he has noddings about der war, und no fun in him, or say noddings how to glean cloze ! Whnt you take me for, mister F Go right away mit dat pook or I cali der bolice and haf you locked up pooty quick ! "