The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-26

sleep IN the town. i believe 1t Is better
now. 1t makes a mighty sight of difference
to man who works IL or IA hours day, as
we do, talking and walking all the time,
what kind of fare he gets; he can't have
any too good, and a sensible firm knows IL.
How is man to have any spunk or spirit
In him alter riding, say 500 miles, week,
and talking all the time, except when he's
asleep, If ne is disturbed by bugs or fed on
bull beet and slops generally? He can't do
1t. Can't ride 500 miles q week and do any
business! Young man, we work all day and
| ride all night. That's the way we do it, ex-
cept in big towns, like Buffalo and Chicago;
there, Of course, its different.
SAMPLES AND EXPENSES.
Samples, yes, of course we carry samples;
some of US have half dozen big trunks full
of 'em; regular store in itself to lug around.
Dry goods, hats, boot and shoe men, all have
| em, and at the end of their trips they sell
the lot for what they can get TO some Cheap
Iohn-trunks and all; unless they are
sample trunks made on purpose for their
business. Some have samples they carry in
hand, and those are the worst of all. Cut
lery men catch it heavy on these. They
amt heavy enough to put in the baggage
car, but they have TO be toted round from
store to store; weigh twenty-five
pounds, some of 'em. You take one of
them, carry it all day in a country town or
city, talk all the while, and perhaps make
ahead of you and done it all for you, and
when it comes night, if you don't feel tired
you're horse, that's all.
big bill of expenses! Well, that depends
on where and how you travel. In the East
ern states, where distances are short and
hotel charges small in the towns, the ex-
penses are very slim; 3 20 to 81 day, I'M
less you hire horse too often, covers iL all
but when you get to Boston or Philadelphia
or go West, the scene changes, and you can't
4 H.. 81 e. l.. l.
tor legitimate outlay. That's what it will
cost day in and day out.
For five years my account, furnished in
detail, from New York to Chicago, not stop
ping at every little town, but only at big
places on the New York Central, like Sgra-
cuse, Utica, Rome, Rochester, ETC., was So so
per day, exclusive of salary of course. 'En-
PERTAINING customers covers multitude of
sins, and there's lots of fellers spend 50 and
81 day in this way, but the customers don't
get much OF it. Common sense tells man
or house that traveller must have a hun
dering trade to spend so much every day. 1
told our folks that if they found any items
for whisky or cigars in my bill to charge it
to my account, and as for entertaining Gus
toners, don't have to buy my trade.
make it fair and square; they pay me for the
goods, and that settles it. want my head
clear, not full of whisky and tobacco il 1 am
going to travel.
SALARIES.
"What do we get? On, certainly that's
fair question; no offense whatever. We get
just what we are worth, like every other |
man in the world. Our salaries vary from |
$500 per year and expenses to $1,000 and |
ditto. For me, get $500, which is iair |
consider, though earn every cent of it. |
My house is good one to work for, that's |
one comfort. They never write me scolding |
letters, blowing me up when have done |
my best, hut they say, Mr.. Jinks, you have |
had a hard trip this time; better go home for
few days and see your wife, and then
come back and try it again. L can't keep |
away from the store two days at time |
though. We represent the house, you know,
away from home, and shrewd merchants
take care that their representatives shall be
worthy of them. Why, many big house ia |
this city depends more upon It's travellers
than upon its partners for trade and sagac-
iolis conducting of il, and If they lose them
would be in box. l have known travellers
to stand by concern, voluntarily accept
reduction of salary, cut their expenses all
they could decently, and work hard when
they knew the house was in tight place,
and t3eir efforts were in no small degree |
contributive to final success.
UNrRUsrwoRTHY TRAVELLERS.
"Black sheep in the businessi Certainly
there are; just as many as in any other pro-
fession; and they make so much noise, live
so much in the public eye, that they get the
whole of US a bad name sometimes, but |
that effects us very little. They don't get
far; their career is soon terminated. The
telegraph is too long nowadays aud reaches
too far for man to cut up many didoes.
First thing he knows, in one of his drunken
sprees, somebody telegraphs or writes to mis-
folks that their traveller has been dunk
about town for five or six days, and they
had better get him home, which they do
do mighty quick. Then again
there are men who smouch fifteen
or twenty dollars week by representing
they have been to such aud such places,
when all they ever did was to talk to a mer
chant from town whom they met by chance
on the platform OF another place fifty miles
away; they charge travelling expenses all
the same, but such things are like all other
forms of human swindlng and dishonesty,
found out sooner or later. Then again there
are men who pick up loose women and go
about hotels with them, thinking that no.
body knows them or their company, but
they soon get undeceived upon that point
by hearing of 1t in many ways. You mustn't
judge all travellers by the misdeeds of a few,
for no class of men work harder or more
than they do"