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Correspondence from Dorothy Olsen to Karl Germer
[On the stationary of:] Morrison Hotel and Terrace Garden Clark and Madison Streets Chicago, Ill.
Mar 17, [1927]
Dear Karl—
93—
I meant to answer your letter some days ago, but I have been very busy with my work and troubles of various kinds.
I'm sorry you do not find Boston congenial, but hope on the other hand that the material end of it will make up for other inconveniences.
Chicago is having a terrific slump and selling anything is difficult. If I had been lucky enough to have gotten the opportunity I now have six months ago, I could have cleaned up, but [the] way things are now, I'm lucky by working 10 hours a day to get enough to eat.
The other day I went to the storage house to have Schneider's [Max Schneider] effects sent to New York. I instructed them to ship it by freight, collect.
At the same time, I thought I would take a few books out which I might be able to sell while I'm out and around.
They refused, and said the storage bill must be paid immediately as it is for 9 months storage. The amount due is $92.50. I explained it couldn't be done in less than a week's time or perhaps longer, so he agreed to wait, and to ship Schneider's stuff to N.Y.
I am informed by the Argus Book Shop, the Economy Book Shop and a man named Wiggins in the wholesale book trade (all of whom I have tried to sell) that Schneider sold them sets of Equinoxes for $10 to 16 per set and that copies of "White Stains" and Chicago May at $1 apiece !!! This seems difficult to believe, and I can't understand how or when it happened—unless it was during the period where he was without a job here, before going to N.Y.
In any case they refused to buy unless they could buy cheap—at about the price Schneider sold them. Abrahamson at the Argus said that Jones [Charles Stansfeld Jones] had always maintained prices and since Schneider had cut prices, they could remain cut and he offered to buy Equinoxes at $20 a set, the Book of Lies at 50 cents, the odd copies of Equinoxes at 15 cents each.
There is no market to speak of in this city except the Argus and Economy who are wholesalers as well, so if this is true (I'm almost convinced it must be) our market here is ruined.
After seeing what Mudd [Norman Mudd], Murray [Adam Murray] and Leah [Leah Hirsig] did, I don't know why we should expect anything else from Schneider.
The fact of the matter is—are we justified in paying all that storage on the small margin of sales we make?
I wrote Beast about this suggesting that they try to make a deal with some other firms to take the bulk of the less valuable stock, in short the odd nos. of Equinoxes, at the best price we can get.
This is what makes the quantity of cases. (too heavy to ship and make any profit) so I think it might be nice to pack up all full sets of Equinoxes, and the other books in good condition into the fewest necessary cases—which could be stored in a much smaller space.
The crates are nearly all in bad shape, and we couldn't make enough profit on the odd volumes to ship them to N.Y. as they are heavy and the freight and recrating or re-inforcing the crates would be too high.
What do you think about the matter?
Please take this up with Viator [Max Schneider]—and for heaven's sake, don't let him ruin any possible market we might have in N.Y. by these tactics.
These bookdealer ought to be usurers They are veritable Shylocks or bandits. Most of them ought to be selling cigars instead of literature.
Abrahamson has a copy of "Clouds without Water"—he claims to have bought from S[chneider] for $1. He spent a few dollars to bind it in leather and is offering it at $75 the copy. Same thing with the Collected Works for which he paid $5. It's enough to make me weep.
Seriously—I think we should make every effort to economize every penny. Bankers here think a panic here is inevitable. I'm utterly disheartened, my health is poor and I meet with nothing but discouragement and sneers and jeers because of my association with Beast.
I don't care, but a pleasant word would help once in awhile for a change.
Write me what you think about the books—and if you think its wise to dispose of any of the stock, it had better be done before I leave Chicago—I won't stay here longer than I can help staying. I'm deadly tired—have just written Beast a 28 page letter about the entire book question. I'll write soon. Meantime I hope this finds you well and happy.
Your friend
93 93/93
Dorothy
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