“‘Opinions on Democracy, and on the Policy of Governments in General’: I should think these would be of no use in Leaplow?”
“Why, sir, they goes pretty much hover the whole world. We sell powers on ’em on hour own continent, near by, and a great many do go even to Leaplow; though what they does with ’em there, I never could say, seeing they are all government monikins in that queer country.”
An inquiring look extorted a clearer answer from the brigadier:—
“To admit the fact, we have a class among us who buy up these articles with some eagerness. I can only account for it, by supposing they think differing in their tastes from the mass, makes them more enlightened and peculiar.”
“I’ll take them all. An article that catches these propensities is sure of sale. ‘Opinions on Events’: what can possibly be done with these?”
“That depends a little on their classification,” returned the brigadier. “If they relate to Leaplow events, while they have a certain value, they cannot be termed of current value; but if they refer to the events of all the rest of the earth, take them for heaven’s sake! for we trust altogether to this market for our supplies.”
On this hint I ordered the whole lot, trusting to dispose of the least fashionable by aid of those that were more in vogue.
“‘Opinions on Domestic Literature.’”
“You may buy all he has; we use no other.”
“‘Opinions on Continental Literature.’”