Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-08
NO. 2.
selling Sewing Machines.


objects to the slurs of the newspapers upon
the importunate agent, and says:
have been sewing machine agent for
five years; have travelled about in the in
terest Of the house employing me, and have
met with most fatlering success in the sale
of my wares l have been uniformly treat
ed with courtesy by those upon whom [
have called, and never yet has there been
brought against mo the charge of ungentle-
manly conduct. With quiet dignity, con-
spicuous for the absence Of impudence,
have prosecuted my business, and many
hreside has been frightened by my pres
ence and the implement have left behind
mo. From the western edge of New York
to tho eastern edge of Colorado, l have
Travelled, always welcomed by all upon
whom have called, looked upon as pub
lie benefactor by all with whom I have
come in contact. Yet 1 never entered
town but what saw in one or more of its
papers, gross, malicious, and mean at
tack upon myself and my profession. As
L asked before, is this right? Is ii iusticeP
Let me tell my story. Five years ago I
arrived in the city of Detroit, from the
East, with but little money aud no en-
| ployment. Answering the advertisement
OF sewing machine company, | was en-
| ployed 10 sell machines, and was told that
should receive nine dollars for each ma
chine l sold. The very pnper containing
the advertisement contained also a column
| paragraph OF virulent abuse Of agents, Do
you suppose 1 could go about my work
boldly then, knowing that in every house
at which l called l should find some one
| who had read that article? 1 crept from
house TO house, difideutly Offering for pc
rusal the circular 1 had in my hand. Was
l handed out by the ear? Not /. Every
human being met treated me with stud
led consideration and profound respect
Invariably was invited in, and flatter
myself that 1 understand the amenities Of
life sufficiently well 10 grace any drawing
room. sold one machine during the day
for $40 cash and the balance in monthly in-
stallments, and of that $40 1 received 50.
Would not such profit as that induce me
to carefully guard all my actions, and care
fully refrain from anything calculated TO
display cheek and ignorance?
From that time on 1 have been in the
business, and my sales throughout have
averaged two machines per day of seven
days in the week, which, at nine dollars
apiece, would seem 10 indicate that am
doing remarkably good business and
that am not nuisance in the communi-
ty. l admit that have frequently pressed
people who seemed 10 he in doubt and have
hesitated, aud have wasted much of NV
valuable time in arguing with people who
| IN fhair
but have never noticed the manifestation
of inpatience towards me, or that any one
ever felt annoyed at my presence. make
ii point 10 bo well and carefully dressed,
to display but little jewelry, and that in
perfect good taste. l never show haste,
but always have plenty of time 10 talk to
any one, even though / know be or she Is
not purchaser.
My greatest successes have been among
mourners. Wherever see Grape on the
bell knob, know that there will find a
customer. Entering the house with the
subdued air of one 10 whom the late-la-
mented was guide, philosopher and
friend, tender my services, and many a
night have l watched beside the bier Of
some loved one. At the funeral manifest
moderate, lily concealed grief; and will
bet any man with corpse in his house ten
dollars that within ten days after the fun
eral can sell him a machine, provided,
OF course, he is man of q sensitive ma
ture and truly loved The departed.
AT weddings have done fairly. Enter
Ing the house in party costume, l congrat-
ulate the happy couple, and what more
natural than that the bridegroom should
seize upon my timid suggestion that he
make his new wife a useful aud ornamen-
tai present? Sometimes ii happens that
the bride was possessed of the article be-
for her marriage, but never show any an
noyance at that. If can't convince her
that the machine is out of date, or worn
out, and that the one represent is superi-
or in every respect, display no annoy
ance and never do I, under any crcum-
stances, act rudely.
have found another thing very effica-
cious in dsposing of my wares. A sprain-
ed ancle, and q fall before q residence,
where there were young ladies at the win
dow. lie moaning in my pain, and am
carried into the house. The rest depends
upon my address, and know only two
instances in which have failed.
never resort to the dodge of some agents
that Of leaving a machine in the house,
and e1deavoring 10 force ii upon the fam
lily. do not consider such an action prop
er. l know trick worth TIVE of that. II
eau gain surreptitious entrance in a house
at about dusk, Iwalk straight TO this dining
room, where the family is at supper OF
dinner, and, courteously apologzlng TO the
, head of tie house for my intrusion, ad-
n.onish him thai have been watching two
suspicious looking characters for some
!, time, and that I just saw them enter the
house. 1 insist on visiting every room,
and then discover whether or not there is
, a machine on the premises. Upon our re-
turn to the parlor, We enter into pleasant
conversation, and I relate incidents OF
burglary and robbery until every one ID
y, interested, and when 1 have become pretty
= well acquainted introduce the subject OF
sewing machines. / have In this way sold
;. 1888 machines, and have failed but forty
> times.
All these things have done in the mos
delicate fashion, never impertinently OF
impolitely, and challenge any person
with whom have had dealings to faster
upon me one indelicate action. I hayl
never been arrested. and have never beer
shot at but twice, and then under tine i'm
> preston that represented another ma
" chine, and in both instances / sold ma
y chine 10 the man who shot at me.
= Now respectfully submit that my reve