BUT the traces of battle had hardly begun to be obliterated, when an
unexpected circumstance suddenly rekindled the flames of civil war.
My sorrow's crown of sorrow had been that so bewailed in the
lamentations of the prophet, that there was no sorrow like unto my
sorrow; but by the chance of a word, without any revelation on my part,
I discovered that a friend of mine was, and had been for some months,
going through the same pleasant process which I had been enjoying.
The similarity of operation was, in certain respects, remarkable. No
accounts had been rendered for years, the author trusting entirely
in the friendship of his publishers; so that of course there were no
papers to be produced. But there was the same change from a still
higher percentage to a lower fixed sum; the same assertion on the one
side, of a full explanation made and accepted, which explanation was
totally denied on the other; and the same declaration of regard for
the author himself. The case was more aggravated than mine, not only
because the author in question had been of an immeasurably higher
standing than I, but also because he was dead, and the apparent
exactions were made upon those who were dearest to him in life, and
who were dependent upon the fruits of his genius. So then, mine was
no longer an isolated case, but part of a regular system. How many of
the writers who had received reduced pay had really and intelligently
agreed to it, and how many had found it, like greatness, thrust upon
them, and had accepted it on the representation of its being universal,
rather than make an ado and appear churlish? My friend certainly
denied that any explanation had been made, or even that any notice of
the change had been given her beforehand, and she rebelled against
the change as soon as she did know it. Now, it is hard fighting just
your own battles, since no matter how right you may deem your cause
for quarrel, still it _is_ a quarrel, and a mere personal altercation
has always something in it petty and demeaning; but if you can fight
for somebody else, you mount at once to higher ground and gain the
vantage. It came to me at once, as clear as light, that I was doing
exactly what Messrs. Brummell & Hunt had wisely counted on our all
doing, in case we did anything; that is, fretting a little, perhaps,
but eventually letting it all drop, silenced if not convinced. Was
it not the height of presumption for any one son of Jesse to come out
with a sling and a stone against this Goliath of the publishers? Would
it not be ridiculous to charge with injustice this house, whose praise
for liberality is in all the churches? Of course in discussing the
details of the business, the author would have to go entirely out of
his sphere, while the house would be perfectly at home. Still I thought
if I could not be a stone in the forehead of my giant, I could be a
thorn in his side.[8] If he were honorable and just in his dealings,
no charge could harm him. If he were unjust, no reputation could save
him. If his gains were well-gotten, investigation would only establish
him more firmly in his right way. If they were ill-gotten, it might be
possible to prevent his repose in enjoying them, if he could not be
induced to give them up, and he might thus be deterred from further
ravage upon the unwary. The best way to serve the general weal was to
take up my own relinquished cause. I accordingly once more put my hand
to the plough, resolved not to look back till I had drawn a straight
furrow through my pleasant fields.
While I was reflecting upon total depravity, preparatory to a renewal
of hostilities--there may be a sudden transition from metaphor to
metaphor, but let us all be thankful if nothing more than rhetoric
becomes demoralized,--the following note came from Mr. Dane, to whom I
had communicated the tale of Mrs.----'s fancied or real woes, August 10.
"Whether those five postage-stamps pasted firmly on the first page
of your note were intended as a birth-day present, instead of the
Family Bible which I had some reason to think I might receive about
this time, or as payment of arrears for services _in re_ M. N. _vs._
B. & H., I do not know. I might add,--but will not for fear of being
sarcastical,--that it is far more than I expected either way, and that
such munificence is more illustrative of the generosity of the giver
than of the deserts of the humble recipient.
"And now I have a profound secret to impart to you and your nine
particular friends. I have kept it two days, and had some thoughts of
never telling you, but since you claim the relation of client, I am
not at liberty to humbug you,--pardon the inelegance,--as I cheerfully
would do were you only a dear female friend. Well, Mr. Edwards called
Saturday, and saying to him that I spoke, as St. Paul always speaks
to you when you don't agree with him, by permission and not by my own
inspiration, I renewed our griefs '_Jubes renovare dolorem?_' and
told him all. He, though like the rest of us, true to his client, is
evidently intimate with Mr. Hunt. He said B. & H. are willing, and
propose to Mrs.---- that the contract which Mr. Edwards has made with
them, that she should receive twelve cents a volume on the sales, shall
be given up, and that they will refer to two gentlemen of satisfactory
character the matter of her future percentage....
"Then with that admirable frankness which is so natural to me, I said
to Mr. Edwards that Mr. Hunt had made a great mistake with you; that
you had accepted his commercial civilities as personal regard, and that
he ought at least to keep up the standard of his conduct to common
civility in his correspondence, etc., and that it was only because you
would not follow my advice that matters were allowed to rest; that _my_
opinion was, you had not received a just, much less a liberal share of
the profits, and that I had urged you to propose to refer the matter of
percentage to some disinterested person, which I thought they could not
decline.
"Mr. Edwards at once said, 'Mr. Hunt shall do that. That shall be done
at once.'
"Evidently Edwards thinks he can induce Hunt to propose that to you,
and will endeavor to do so.
"Now, I thought at first I would not let you see my hand in the
matter, but that is, on reflection, not quite fair as between man and
man,--using the word in its largest sense, embracing woman. Wherefore,
pray do not call on B. & H. for any account just now, but wait and
see if they do write you, as Edwards is sure they will, proposing
to satisfy you in this way. If they do then you must accept the
proposition, provided the past be also included, for it is the past
which made you dissatisfied. You have not yet concluded yourself as to
past or future, so far as I know; and if the best man in the world says
you ought to have no more than has been allowed you _I_ say we ought
to be satisfied. The money I gave you ought to last longer than this.
If you want a hundred dollars send me an order on B. & H., and I will
present it and send you the money, and that will not commit us to their
percentage.
"Now I expect partly that you will be vexed at my meddling with your
affairs in this way; but fiat justitia, etc., whoever _rue it_."