An After-the-Fire Story by Book Department Manager

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 31, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 42.

An After-the-Fire Story

By Book Department Manager

By the Book Department Manager

WHEN the five o'clock bell rang Friday evening, July 20, our pressroom boys were finishing a twenty thousand edition of "Heralds of the Morning." The plates for the last form were still on the press.

Five thousand copies more in process of binding were on the gathering boards and around the bindery sewing machines.

Fifty full morocco prospectuses were being finished for delivery the following Monday to as many anxious agents whose old cloth prospectuses were badly worn.

Two hundred eleven copies of the complete book, new edition, had been delivered to the shipping room that afternoon, and had been forwarded to our Kansas City house, with the exception of a sample copy which had been sent to the writer's home.

In the field there were more than one hundred agents successfully soliciting orders.

AND THAT NIGHT THE FIRE CAME.

The most of the following night was spent in counsel by the board of directors, foreman, and others.

Before the flames had died down one of our most experienced men was on a fast train bound for the East, with the sample copy of "Heralds of the Morning," and with orders to secure the publication of a large edition at the earliest possible moment.

As the plates and engravings were all gone, this was no light task.

So successful was he in his mission that within ten days after the fire a ten thousand edition of the book had been contracted for with a large Kansas City firm, and typesetting machines and photo-engravers began work.

And here came a strange experience. Our agents, many of them had poor prospectuses, some of them torn, others nearly worn out. They pasted in loose leaves, sewed in sheets of writing paper for additional names, and some ceased putting names in their prospectuses at all, but they all kept at work.

Girls without previous experience took orders for $50, $60, $68.50, and then some one jumped to $100, $150, and some experienced workers up to $240, $255, and finally one man took orders for $280 worth of this book in a single week.

Remember, this was done with old prospectuses, and at a time when the securing of books was somewhat questionable.

It proves beyond a doubt that "Heralds of the Morning" is a book with a mission; that its mission is one in which the people of the world are interested.

When, after various delays, books began to be delivered, orders had piled up so that almost four thousand copies—about four tons—had to be sent by express, at mail rates.

One agent in an almost inaccessible portion of California had to have nearly 100 books sent to him by mail. Imagine the surprise of the mail carrier, who usually carries three or four pounds of mail, to receive a consignment to one party of 200 pounds! But orders had been taken and books must be delivered, even tho Uncle Sam's letter carriers had to be pressed into service.

It was soon found that the three hundred copies being delivered by our Kansas City binders each day were not sufficient, hence the following telegram was sent to our Kansas City representative:

"Try St. Louis binders for 'Heralds' and 'Controversy.' Try make forfeiture contract."

In a few hours back flashed this message: "Binding material all here. Kansas City firm signs penalty contract to-day. Letter."

When letter came it contained copy of a contract calling for a heavy forfeiture for every day in which at least 500 copies of "Heralds of the Morning" were not delivered.

Because of this increased output and the return of many students to college, we can now assure those who may have hesitated to sell "Heralds of the Morning," fearing they could not secure books, that they will be supplied promptly.

A limited number of new prospectuses are ready, and will be sent post-paid for 50 cents each to those who have arranged for territory with their state tract society or state agent. There is yet ample time for a rousing holiday delivery! Who will take advantage of it?