The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-07-01
BROMLEY AS A BOOK AGENT.
How He Climbed a Tall Height with a
Ladder and Secured a Suhscrfber.

DROALEt 40 n DUUh AOENls
How He Climbed a TAN Height with a
Ladder and Secured a Subscriber.
J [From the Springfield Mass Republican,
A late Tribune editorial on book agents,
it appears to Inc, bears Bromiey's ear
marks. If so. no one could speak more
feelingly on this subject than Bromley,
, for he was once a book agent himself.
Bromley had but just left college, and was
, hesitating as to what to do, when the en-
terprisiDg publisher of 1.-The History OF
the World persuaded him to make trip
20 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 spied clerical-looking person
of very neat appearance and dignified ce-
meanOr, sitting ON a front step. APP
preaching him, Bromley introduced him.
self as introducing 1.-The History OF the
Worid.''
PLEASED to meet you. Take seat"
said the stranger. What have you to say
about the book ?''
Much encouraged by this kindly recep-
ton, Bromley began his story, in which
he had been very carefully instructed on
leaving, to the effect that the book was
" the history of the world, from the crea-
ton down to the present year, lS-; en-
bracing full and complete descriptions OF
the Garden of Eden, the world before the
deluge, the flood itself, the rise, progress,
and fall of the Grecian and Roman en-
pires. with much information concerning
other nations of antiquity prior to the
birth of Christ; the rise and progress of
! Cbric tiouitu conversion of CONSTANTINE
growth of the Papacy, the crusades, the
thirty years. war, the American revolu-
tion, the French revolution, the Mexican
war, the great exhibition, the voyages and
fate of sir john Franklin, full exposition
of the Rochester knockings, the loss u
the Arctic, ETC., ETC., 6ll in one magnificent
octave, half turkey morocco, of several
hundred pages, all at the low price of five
dollars" Here the new solicitor paused
for breath.
Amy illustrations ?'' said the stranger.
PICTURES? should say so. There are
steel-plates by the dozen, Autographs by
the hundred, and wood-cuts by the thou
sand"
"Portraits or landscapes? ?" was the next
query.
"Both, sir; and every thing else on
earth or in the waters under the earth.
l.
Moses, Pontiphar's wife, Daniel, Hosea,
BeelZebub, and all the otner old saints,
besides Napoleon, George Washington,
Zack Taylor, Frank Pierce, Henrietta
Robinson, the veiled murderess, 2. L.
Barnum, and innHmerable others, besides
engravings from drawings by our own
artists engaged 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 Semir-
amis, seven wonders of the world, ancient
Egyptian methods Of plowing, italian
races, Daniel in the lions den. battlefields
of Bunker Hill, Waterloo, and Buena Wis
ia, the open polar sea, bay and city of New
York by moonlight, with figure of Hicks
the pirate hanging from a scaffold on Bed
loe's Island in the foreground, interior of
a BOwery concert saloon, the route of the
proposed Airline Railroad, interior of
DR.. rs great pill factory, etc, ETC." /
well. said the stranger, that must
certainly be remarkable work"
YES" said Bromly, IL should say so.
OF course you will subscribe for copy
Subscribe? Oh, no. don't want the
book. | let you go on because used to
canvass for it myself, and just wanted to
see whether you knew your lesson. You
will do pretty well, though you forget
s1me things, but you made up for that by
putting in good many that are not in.
But you forgot to say any thing about any
of the pictures being colored. Those
bright colors alw Tvs take with the women
folks. That's what makes FOx's Book OF
Martyrs go so. But. after you have lad
ninety people say No and been kicked
down stairs half 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 10 his |
hotel meditating. 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 eff |
fort. and he gave day to steady canvass
ing, withOutany success till near sundOwn.
By this hour he had got well out into the |
country. when in the center of large lot, |
remote from any neighbors, he saw a car
penter at work on the roof of a new house.
Ascertaining that no one was near, Brom-
ley approached the house, ascended the |
ladder and accosted the workman with,
DO you want The History of the |
World from -?'' Non' 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 book" "What do you |
mean?' II mean just this: that 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 it, but
you've got to subscribe. We are alone on
this roof. l am bigger than you, and 1
have got control of this ladder. Down
goes your name, or down goes the lad
der" The carpenter surveyed the situa-
ton few moments, and saw that Brom-
ley held the key of the position, and that
there was no escape, as nobody else was in
hearing and the ladder was the only means
of access TO the roof. Hence he said
quietly, "Wherc shall / sign?' "There,"
said Bromley, handing him blank book.
The man signed and then asked, "How
much ?'' " Five dollars" "There it is"
handing over the amount. "An right;
you shall have the book in few days"
IAN right" "Good day." GOOD day.
Don't trouble yourself TO come here
again." Never" With this Bromley
went down the ladder, went to his hotel,
packed his valise, and started home that |
night.
He Didn't Advertise i'm Newspapers.