Editorial Paragraphs.
Volume 12 S. H. S. Papers is completed in this number, and is now ready for the binders. A glance at its table of contents will show, we think, that it is not one whit behind previous volumes in variety, interest and real historic value. We are now prepared to receive orders for this volume at the following prices: Unbound, $3; bound in cloth, $3.50; half morocco, $3.75; half calf, $4.
Membership fees and past-due subscriptions have been, and are very much in request at this office, and we are seeking very earnestly to collect them.
We are meeting a measure of success, but have found some obstacles and some confusion of ideas on the part of members and subscribers, which would be amusing if it were not rather serious.
E. G.—Here is a specimen letter from a gentleman whose time expired in October, 1883, and who, therefore, owes us $2, from that date to October, 1884, and I3 for the next year, if he continues. But he coolly writes us that he "only subscribed for one year," and having paid for that, he considers himself under no obligation to pay for 1883-84. Now, there are several replies to this:
1. When one is enrolled as a member of the society he is continued until he formally notifies the Secretary of his wish to withdraw, and he is bound for his fees (at the rate of |;3 per annum) until he gives such notification.
2. The postal laws are plain and emphatic that when a subscriber fails to notify a publisher of his desire to discontinue his paper, and the publisher continues to send it the subscriber is bound to pay the subscription, And surely it is neither good ethics or good law that one should receive our Papers for twelve months or two years, and then decline to pay for them.
The terms of membership in our Society are $3 per annum for annual, and $50 for life membership, and the payment of these fees entitles the member to " all the privileges of the Society, including the receipt of its official publications.." For some years — from 1869 to 1876 — the Society was unable to make regular publications, and the members paid their fees simply to meet the expenses incident to the prosecution of the work of gathering and preserving " material for the future historian," and received nothing in return. Since January, 1876, however, we have given our members a full quid pro quo for the fees they have paid. We have sometimes not been as prompt as is desirable in issuing our numbers, but we have never failed to mail to each member and subscriber every number to which he was entitled,
