Everybody who has any connection with Birmingham will be acquainted with thevast publishing establishment still known by the short title of“Meeson’s,” which is perhaps the most remarkable institutionof the sort in Europe. There are—or rather there were, at the date of thebeginning of this history—three partners in Meeson’s—Meesonhimself, the managing partner; Mr. Addison, and Mr. Roscoe—and people inBirmingham used to say that there were others interested in the affair, forMeeson’s was a “company” (limited).
However this may be, Meeson and Co. was undoubtedly a commercial marvel. Itemployed more than two thousand hands; and its works, lit throughout with theelectric light, cover two acres and a quarter of land. One hundred commercialtravellers, at three pounds a week and a commission, went forth east and west,and north and south, to sell the books of Meeson (which were largely religiousin their nature) in all lands; and five-and-twenty tame authors (who wereillustrated by thirteen tame artists) sat—at salaries ranging from one tofive hundred a year—in vault-like hutches in the basement, and week byweek poured out that hat-work for which Meeson’s was justly famous. Thenthere were editors and vice-editors, and heads of the various departments, andsub-heads, and financial secretaries, and readers, and many managers; but whattheir names were no man knew, beca