132.
1930:
Ottawa, Ont. January 1,
1930
My dear A.L.P.
I am again in bed with a desperate cold: just slaved pneumonia.
But I use the respite to drop you a line to explain.
Graphic reorganized last summer, capital $520,000. Are building
largest and most up-to-date printing outfit in Canada. Called
Lasker in as general manager (how they stumbled on him, I
don't know). Lasker lost his head (or rather, his head swelled),
ran an expense sheet of 30 to 50 dollars a day, made everybody
mad by his August airs, and did nothing . Mss, f.i. were
lying about without being read; the fall catalogue was not
yet ready by Dec 1 st , etc. etc.
Miller acted Achilles. But also: the new backers wanted
none of him. Yet he suggested me .
They began to urge, urge, urge that I come. At last I did
to look things over. Now Graphic is tied down by the ridiculous
slogan "Make them make them in Canada". And it was news to
the people in charge that there is not a sufficient body
of Canadian literature to keep a $300 000 printing outfit
busy. I told them I would clear the Graphic desks in 6 ms.,
reading mss., and declining. In fact, I would go on doing
so in future, provided there would be no interference of
any kind: which meant they must push Lasker onto a sitting.
My connection with Graphic is to remain a profound secret.
Besides, I asked for $50 000 to start a company of my own
which will handle good literature no matter of what origin,
and no matter where printed, originally. I agreed, on condition
of absolute non-interference on their part, to let the Graphic
presses do my agency contracts. I'll publish a modicum of
Canadian books, preferable non-fiction - if I can get them.
If you know anything in that line, push it my way, will you?
Must be good, of course. How about a little (or a large)
vol. of Shakespeare criticism by Arthur L Phelps Esq.?
I was at Lindsay on Dec 19 to give an address. So Kirk knows
something of this. You tell him the rest, will you? For I
have no time for private correspondence except in bed.
Our principle address changes about once a week. We are
still boarding, but Tie has just (i.e. last night) rented
an apartment for Jan 15 - I don't know how and where. I'll
see when the time comes. No time till then.
Well, the girl is bringing my breakfast,
So bye H.N.Y. for the 3 of you.
F.P.G.
