Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 22.djvu/674

656 their own, their right to which, with the increase, is regularly and formally recognized; and with these and what additions to their stock they may acquire in one way or another, they are able gradually to accumulate a considerable property as they grow up.

The wealth of a man who has grown fat in riches may consist in what he has inherited from his father, or from the chief of his family; in what he has received from more distant relatives; in what he has gained in fees from his herdsmen; and in what of the property of other estates he has received by becoming the head of the family. The line of descent of all this property, which consists almost wholly of the pedigrees of the cattle, is carefully preserved, and the accumulations of each kind can be as carefully computed and allotted as is done in the case of the accounts of European bankers. When the lord dies, all this property, with its increase, must go where it came from. The division, or the fact that it is to take place, brings all the connections of the family from far and wide around the bed of the lord when he has died or is expected to die, for each claimant must be present in person to assert his claim, or it will be overlooked or overpowered. The herdsmen must likewise bring up all the cattle from the various stations, that they may be identified according to their pedigrees. The division of all these animals and the adjudication of the claims of all the pretendants who appear, sometimes consumes months of time, with discussions which are often carried on in the midst of great excitement. The dying man may himself give directions respecting the division of his property, which are then implicitly carried out, otherwise the man who disregards them may be troubled by his ghost.



HE republishes of foreign books and periodicals at cheap rates have long and meekly borne the name which heads this article. I propose to show that they do not also deserve it.

Piracy is robbery in its boldest form, having no warrant but the strength of the bloody hand that commits it. It is against all law and all right, human or divine. It has no sanction nor show of sanction from the practice of others recognized, in all the walks of life, as respectable and honored citizens.

Will this description apply to the reprinting of foreign books? Certainly not. What, then, is the crime of which republishers are guilty? Their calumniators will answer, "Oh! they rob the foreign author of the product of his brain." Let us see if this is true. I grant that if all the nations of the earth had one common interest and 