230 THE LIFE OF THE FIELDS. 



a choice. As it is, he has to take what chance brings 

 him, and often to be content with nothing, because he 

 does not know what to ask for. If any one ever takes 

 up the task of supplying the country with the sound 

 and thoroughly first-class literature for which it is now 

 ready, he will at least have the certain knowledge 

 that he is engaged in a most worthy propaganda — 

 with the likelihood of a large pecuniary reward. Such 

 profits must of necessity be slow in the beginning, as 

 they are in all new businesses, but they would also be 

 slow in working off. It is a peculiarity of the country 

 to be loyal. If country people believe in a bank, for 

 instance — and they always believe in the first bank 

 that comes among them — they continue to believe, and 

 no effort whatever is necessary to keep the connection. 

 It will be generations in dying out. So with a news- 

 paper, so with an auctioneer — with everything. That 

 which comes first is looked on with suspicion and dis- 

 trust for a time, people are chary of having anything 

 to do with it ; but by-and-by they deal, and, having 

 once dealt, always deal. They remain loyal; com- 

 petition is of no use, the old name is the one believed 

 in. Whoever acquires a name for the supply of the 

 literature the country wants will retain that name for 

 three-quarters of a century, and with a minimum of 

 labour. At the same time the extent of country is 

 so large that there is certainly room for several without 

 clashing. 



In working out a scheme for such a supply, it may 

 be taken for granted that books intended for the 

 villages must be cheap. When we consider the low 

 prices at which reprinted books, the copyrights of 



