Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-16
MANS MISFORTUNE;
MISCELLANEOUS.

al of whom related some anecdots connect cd with his individual calling. ng.---Among the rest was Tin Pedlar, who had all the craft and shrewdness of which that class of society are SO much celebrated. How is it, inquired one, when there are so many pedlars travelling in all directions who hardly make living, that you contrive to make peddling profitable; why do not oth- CTS of your craft succeed as well as you O replied he, they do not understand the secrets of trade. What secrets,in the name of wonder, except cheating, said the first, can there be in tin peddling. do not gain my living by knavery, assure you, said the pedlar. intend always to deal honestly; but the secrets of which I spoke, are simply those of making people know and feel their wants. Why, said the first, when you call at a house and ask them if they wish lo buy any of your wares, and they tell you no, cannot see but you must take their own opinion, instead of giving yours on their wants. No such thing, said the pedlar; people never know what they want till they either see it or hear it par- ticularly described. This is a principle in human nature, and is true in more trades than mine. How often do we see people sending for physician who would never have dreamed of being sick ifsoMe careful friend had not told them so livery body knows how thirsty it makes most men to see others drink: so truc is it in this case that temperate people are persuaded that when children do not see their parents and neighbors swallowing intoxicating liquors, and when they are not met at every corner by grog shop, the evils of intemperance will cease in our land. But intemperance has not much to do with tin peddling ac- knowledge, so I will relate an anecdote in point, and leave you to judge of the truth ofmy remarks. A few days since, in my travels, I called at house where I sus- pected the family had money; and I deter- mined before leaving it to obtain some of 1t in an honest way, in exchange for my wares. Upon inquiring of the good lady, if she wanted any thing in my line, was met with an indignant frown and an enl- phatic 10! But knew better. replied, my ware Is very superior, will bring in some of it and you shall judge for yourself. Nothing daunted by her exclamations that she would not buy any, and that Iimight spare myself any further trouble, delib- erately proceeded to my cart and filled my arms with an assortment of articles, which were forthwith deposited on the floor of the house. Then taking them one by one, | explained their uses, their beauty, their cheapness, and the lady's absolute want ofthem. In the course of half an hour she was fully convinced that she could not do without certain articles, and actual- ly paid me thirteen dollars in cash, besides all the paper rags, old pewter, Sc. she had on hand. Depend upon it, if you show people your wares, you will seldom fail of convincing them that they are in pressing need of them. Yes, yes, ! know that's the way, said merchant who sat near him; you pedlars, are going all over the country showing your wares, and telling your stories; and although you pay no tax, trade more, in proportion to your capital, than the honest merchant who keeps an assortment of articles to accomodatc the public wish the law would put stopto
 such unjust traffic. have no means of showing my wares to all the ncighborhood, for l cannot put my store in cart and draw it round from place to place. do
 donna like the plan of giving pedlars such
 an advantage over the regular dealer. st There you are wrong, said tho pcdlar.
 have no advantage over you whatever.
 It is true you do not put your goods in
 cart and tumble them over every time you
 wish to sell an article, wearing them out
 or spelling their beauty: but you can, for
 a trifiing expense, show them to tho whole
 neighborhood without. You can show
 them. not to one or two in family, as 1
 do mile; but to all, men, women, and chil- dren. And after you have shown them, (to the minds eye I mean,) they know exactly where to find you, and will buy of you of course; while we, poor pedlars, would starve. The merchant appeared doubtful. How is it, said he, that I have lived so long, and have not found out this secret in trade? cannot imagine what you mean! Why, said the pedlar, adser- tsse sn the Newspaper: every decent fam ny takes it, and you may be absolutely cer- tain q you specify particular articles, that the children, when they read it, will per- suade their parents to buy so much of what