The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-03
Thc Rutlamd Daily Glube.
SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1875.
THE BOOK CANVASsER.
How an Amateur Agent Coerced an Unwil-
ling Customer.

How an Amateur Agent Coercod an Unwil-
ling Customer.
A Hartford correspondent of the Spring
field Republican revives an incident in
the early career of well-known member
of the New York Tribune editorial staff !.
Bromley had just left college, and was
hesitating as to what to do, when the en-
tcrprisng publisher of the "History of the
World" persuaded him to make a trip to
New Brunswick, TO ''introduce the work. ="
After some hesitation Bromley acceded
and started on his journey. The day after
his arrival he sailed forth from his hotel
to commence his canvass, but for long
while hesitated as to where to begin. By
and-by he esfied a clerical-looking person
of very neat appearance and dignihed de-
meanor, sitting on front step. APP
preaching him, Bromley introduced him
self as introducing the "IIistory of the
| World"
PLEASED to meet you. Take seat"
said the stranger "What have you to say
about the book -
Much encouraged at this kindly recep-
ton, Bromley began his story, in which he
had been very carefully Instructed on
leaving home, TO the effect that the book
was "the history of the world, from the
creation down to the present year, 1S-;
embracing full and complete descriptions
of the garden of Eden, the world before
the deluge, the flood itself, the rise, pro-
gress and fall of the Grecian and Roman
! empires with much information concern
ing other nations of antiquity, prior to the
birth of Christ, the rise and progress of
| Christianity, conversion of Constantine,
| Of m bo rrpaoIao bo
thirty years war, the American revolution,
the great exhibition, the voyages and fate
of Sir John Franklin, a full exposition of
the Rochester knockings, the loss of the
Attic, ETC., etc., all in one magnificent
octave, half Turkey morocco, of several
hundred pages, all at the low price of
So" Here the new solicitor paused for
breath.
"Auy illustrations ?" said the stranger
"Pictures? | should say so. There are
steel-plate by the dozen, Autographs by
the hundred, and wood-cuts by the thou
sand"
PORTRAITS or landscapes 2" was the next
query.
Both, sir; and everything else on earth
or the waters under the earth. There are
likenesses of Adam, Eve, Noah, Moses,
Potiphar's wife, Daniel, Hosen, Belize
hub, and all the other old saints, besides
Napoleon, George Washington, Zach,
Taylor. Frank Pierce, Henrietta Robinson,
the yelled murderess, p. I. Barnum and
innumerable others, besides engravings
from drawings by our own artists, en-
gagged at an enormous expense, in every
section of the globe. Among these are
views of the garden of Eden, crossing of
the Red sea, tomb of Semlramis, seven
wonders of the world, ancient Egyptian
methods OF blowing, Italian races, Daniel
in the lions den; battle-flelds of Bunker
Hill, Waterloo and Buena Vista; the open
polar seas, bay and city of New York by
moonlight, with figure of Hicks, the pirate
hanging from scaffold on Bedloe Island
In the foreground interior of Broadway
concert saloon, the route of the proposed
air line railroad, interior of DIS great
| pill factory, ETC., etc.
"Well,' said the stranger, that must
| certainly he a remarkable work"
Yes, said Bromley, IL should say SO.
OF course you will subscribe for a copy ?"
Subscribe Oh, no ! don't want the
book. ! let you go on, because l used to
canvass for il myself, and just wanted to
see whether you knew your lesson. You
will do pretty well, though you forgot
some things, but you made up for that by
putting in good many that are not in
But you forgot to say anything about any
of the pictures being colored. Those bright
| colOrs always take with the women folks.
That's what makes the Fox's Book of
Martyrs 90 so. But after you have had
ninety people say, NO, and been kicked
down stairs half-a-dozen times, you will
learn how. Good day." And with this,
the clerical-looking party went inside and
slammed the door.
Bromley gaZed at the closed door few
moments, then turned and went TO the
hotel meditatng. He stayed in New
| Brunswick two weeks longer, but did not
essay any further canvass until he received
a letter from the publisher, expressing sur
prise and regret at not hearing from his
new agent, save by drafts for expenses.
This caused Bromley to make another
effort, and he gave a day to steady can
wasting. without any success till near sun
down. BY this hour he had got well out
into the country, when, in the center of a
large lot, remote from any neighbors, he
saw carpenter at work on the roof of a
new house. Ascertaining that no one was
near, Bromley approached the house,
assembled the ladder, and accosted the
workman with, ''Do want the History of
the World from" ''No." interrupted
the man, sharply. Bromley was mad at
last, and, looking at the carpenter mo-
ment, he resumed "Look here you've
got to buy the hook" What do you
mean z" l mean just this, that l came
from Connecticut to New Brunswick to
sell this work. | have been here two
weeks, and have not sold copy. l am
going back tomorrow, and you are the
last man / shall speak to about 1t, but
you've got to subscribe. We are alone on
this root am bigger than you, and |
have got control of this ladder! Down
goes your name, or down goes this lad
der." The carpenter surveyed the situa-
ton few moments, and saw that Bromley
held the key to the position, and that there
was no escape, as nobody else was in hear
ing. and the ladder was the only means of
access to the roof. Hence he said quietly,
''Where shall l sign p There said
Bromley, handing him a blank book. The
man signed, and then asked, "How
much ?" Give dollars" There it is"
handing over the amount. "All right;
you shall have the book in few days. "
'All right" "Good day" Good day. "
"Don't trouble yourself to come here
again." "Neyer" With this Bromley
went down the ladder, went TO the hotel,
packed his valise, and started home that
| a., loo Of