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Riis, Jacob A., 1849-1914

"The Making of an American"

I rather guess it is.

CHAPTER XIII
ROOSEVELT COMES----MULBERRY STREET'S GOLDEN AGE

See now how things fall out. Hardly had I sent the chapter to the
printer in which I posted proofreaders as enemies of mankind when
here comes the proof of the previous one with a cordial note of
thanks from this particular enemy "for the inspiration" he found
in it. So then I was mistaken, as I have been often before, and owe
him the confession. Good land! what are we that we should think
ourselves always right, or, lest we do wrong, sit idle all our lives
waiting for light? The light comes as we work toward it. Roosevelt
was right when he said that the only one who never makes mistakes
is the one who never does anything. Preserve us from him; from the
man who eternally wants to hold the scales even and so never gets
done weighing--never hands anything over the counter. Take him away
and put red blood into his veins. And let the rest of us go ahead
and make our mistakes--as few as we can, as many as we must; only
let us go ahead.
All of which has reference to other things I have in mind, not to
the proof-reader, against whom I have no grudge to-day.


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