Page 6 Advertisements Column 1

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9757, 24 March 1914, Page 6

Many curious trades and professions find mention in the London Directory, but therein is no mention of the "Mistake Merchant." A Standard representative, however, has found a j member of this queer trade. He is a Swiss with a speaking knowledge of most European languages, living and dead, and a vast fund of literary and general information accumulated in his world wanderings. Just now is his busiest season, for he is searching all the new 1914 references books for errors, mostly in connection with any foreign data. The mistakes he neatly tabulates on a foolscap sheet, and sends it to the editor of the publication, leaving it entirely to him as to whetner he is compensated for his trouble. Editorial generosity at any rate may be gauged by the fact that it provides the merchant with his general translation work with a fairly satisfactory living' the year. "I first began this job,'' he said, "by pointing out to the publishers of a popular reference book a great many inaccuracies—in this case they took a fortnight to collate? — and then I followed on with corrections, especially in the etymological section of a new dictionary. In eacli case I received remuneration for mv trouble, and now I work for practically all the publishers of reference books."