Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-02

nBiR CAREER IN SUSSEX CoUETY--AN
ExAsPFkATEp CITIZEN.

AnbAh AAhhEh IN olGehA bbANAA
ExAsPEkATED CITIZEN.
The indomitable and ubiquitous sew
ing machine agent has at last heard Of
Sussex county and has wended his way
thther. In his trail have followed nu
merous disciples, who, from the muddy
waters of Mispillion Creek to the Western
shores of the Atlantic, and from the
shimmering surface of the Delaware Bay
to the line of "My Maryland" have in
troduced themselves, machines, and all,
to the astonished, and in some instances;
delighted inhabitants.
We believe that II year ago not single
sewing machine agent could be found In
the whole of Sussex county: to-day there
are twenty-five of them In that part of our
State, all apparently doing IA good husi-
mss, each trying to beat his neighbor,
and proving anew that there is more
truth than poetry in the old saying, "Com-
petition is the life of trade"
Every available spot in the county has
been visited by these enterprlsing men
and every family importuned TO buy one
of the labor-savng machines. Each
agent in turn has explained to each family
in the county the vast superiority of the
machine be is Interested in over all other
sewing machines, and the consequence is
there are but few families in Sussex now
but who, be they rich or poor, high or
low, have a sewing machine, and where
ten would have counted all the machines
Of this description in ths county live years
ago, We doubt if thousands would number
them now
But Notwithstanding this exhibit, every
agent then being familiar with the facts,
they still persist in calling at each aud
every house and endcavorlng TO sell the
family another machine. The head Of
the house explains that the family is small
and that one machine is sufficient 10 do
all the sewing required on the Premises
the agent persists the persons to whom
they try TO sell protest and ilnaly become
angry.
While in Sussex county, recently, we
visited a friend living but few miles dis
tant from Georgetown. We had the facts
above in our Possession at the time, and
while at our friends house we had most
excellent opportunity afforded us Of seeing
how the agents conducted their business,
and how imporlunatc they were. To one
not Interested ii was laughablc, but TO
those concerned il was really annoying.
We had not b.eu long in The house, and
were being entertained by the ''Old man."
as his wife called him, when We were in
ltllupttu ny lut duhbullC'lNNdt buat a
sewing machine agent wished to sec the
patriarch.
Old man-See what he wants.
"He wishes TO sell you sewing ma
chine" replied the ryant.
! Old man Tell him we have one.
The servant darted out of the door, and
remained some time-.ong enough to en-
courage our firnd to believe that the
agent had departed in peice-aud the
/ pleasant conversation was resumed, hu'
only to be interrupted again in thirty
seconds by the servant reporting that the
agent was still waiting, and insisted on
explaining the superiority Of the machine
be represented over all others In the mar
ket. Our friend fatty denied him an
audience in AS polite manner as possible,
and not hearing anything more of that
particular agent We presume he left.
We next inaugurated a chat on politics,
and discussed the chances Of Morris fol
Sheriff, but this was not allowed to con
tnue long before it was interrupted by
George, the servant, who announced
another sewing machine man, who rep
resented another company. lie, too, de
sired 10 be heard In behalf of the machine
he represented, not because be desired tC
sell, but because he thought he could
readily show our host the advantages Of
his machine over the one our friend owned
After some trouble this one was pnciicC
by being told to call again, and he left OF
his mission. We again took up politics
and the old gentleman was growing warn
in the advocacy of his party and his party
nominees. 81 tell you, cir" said he
morris will he elected by Ell lit hundrct
majority, and Wright will carry the Stat,
by" and again the servant appeared anl
announced the agent of another machine
the name Of which we never heard before
This was too much for our friend of NOR
than three-scoTe, whose hoary locks am
corrugated brow told the tale ola life tina
had not glided by so smoothly; and
although not Christian in the sense tn
orthodox Of to-day accept the term, yet
= "hY his converse and walk )" he told th
outward world that many worse ma
than himself had doubtless entered int
eternal bliss.
But, as we said before, this was TO
! much for the old man. lie arose from HI
chair, silently and sOlemnly, and bade th
servant to show the agent in. In fe
minutes he arrived, and our friend,
p measured tones, said to him -
81 am Christian by birth, a peaceab
citizen by training, and a law abiding ma
= from choice, but, sir, I'll be damned if
don't shoot the fret sewing nachne agei
who, after the sun sets tonight, darcs S
n his boots on these premises again. Georg
n show the man TO the door"
}, The agent readily found the openiI
+. alludsd TO without the valuable services
= George as guide being brought into reqr
sition, and we warrant he will never retu
n again as sewing machine agent.
n We were with our fiicnd hut Il
e hours, yet all this occurred In that tin
and We were Informed 1t was but one
X many like instances daily occurring
il Sussex county. We are firm believers
B, sewing machines and sewing mach
lie agents, but We think il wrong to wOl
re the life and Christianity out Of a man
u the sake of either the machine or
a0aua or both