45.
1925:
Rapid City, Man. April 9, 1925
Dear Phelps,
Pierce wires, "Have been desperately trying to get publication
committee together. Will publish this summer. Hope to secure
international edition. Letter follows."
Now, if he had done that two or three weeks ago, it would
have saved a lot of trouble, sleeplessness, and despondency.
I am willing to stand by the Ms. he has, provided I don't
read it again and provided that they publish at their expense.
If I have to bear the expense, I should want to read it.
However, this is not yet entirely satisfactory. I should
like to see "shall" in the place of "will". I believe that
Pierce wants to; but will he?
When we talked at Winnipeg , I repeated and repeated that
acceptation by the publication committee of Ryerson Press
would have to precede any attempt at securing an international
edition. I repeated and repeated it because it seemed to
me then that Pierce was not paying any attention to it; I
made it as clear as I could. That was the condition on which
I allowed him to send the Ms. to Toronto . I had firmly made
up my mind to print myself and have the book out by April
unless I go that assurance out of him. Well, it can't be
helped now.
This is merely to keep you "au courant".
I'll wait for his letter and see. It goes without saying
that I shall be glad of an international edition if I can
get it; the trouble is, I don't believe in it at the present
stage. The next book, I believe, will command an international
market; provided there is a next book - which will depend
on the reception and the effect which the present volume
will have here. I have meanwhile reached the point where
I have decided to get what I call "Equal Opportunities" - a
rather cryptic title - ready for the press. I have even done
a little typing on it. I think it is far superior to the
W.R.L.H. The trouble, as usual, is its length. Even after
a great deal of cutting it still persists in retaining 150000
or 160000 words: it is hard to estimate a penciled Ms.
However, thanks for having lashed Pierce into an utterance
of some kind.
Yours,
F.P.G.
