The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-03-22
Pretty Book Agents Gossip.

type, Laura Langley. Down IN one
corner were the lines in little letters,
agent for america Illustrated and the
Graves of the Presidents" She was
a book agent. She had deep black
eyes, large and round, heavy, brOws,
long silken lashes, a wealth of raven
hair and natures tints on her cheek
looked like fuses in the snow. When
she spoke her red lips parted and
showed pretty white teeth. She had
little face and q little round neck;
her figure was petite, and her hands
small and very interesting. She had
the gayest kind of a Cashmere shawl
thrown loosely over her shoulders, and
when she spoke her eyes seemed to
draw three lines under her words,
meaning that they should be spelled
in the largest kind of capitals. She
did not waste q moment after entering
the Eagle editorial room, but clamped
her book right down on the desk,
commenced turning over the leaves,
and in a wink her little tongue was
prattling away the merits and beauties
of the book at the rate Of speed of
limited maihtrain.
"Will you answer me few ques-
tons if a book is purchased" asked
the reporter.
"Yes, ifthey are of proper charac-
ter and do not take up too much time.j
ats a bargain. Then to business.
You sell principally to gentlmen, don't
you'"
"To gentlemen almostentirely. Gen.
tlemen sell to ladies. An attractive
young lady can do very much more
with a gentleman than a gentleman
can. The funny part of it is, the gen.
tlemen think We don't know them.
Many of them put On their sweetest
smiles, talk their prettiest, seem Won
derfully interested in our histories, ask
a hundred questions not at all concern
ing the book, and seem to think that We
are to give them sweet reply all the
time. Oh, we understand our custom
ers, you may reIy-O It.
Then people generally take you as
common property, do they?'
"Well, you may say they do. The
moment we enter any place on bust
ness, that moment the gentleman
thinks he has a perfect right to say
almost anything he pleases that is re
spectful, and the wider he can divert
attention from the subject Of book
buying the better he seems to b
pleased. l have no doubt but what
book-selling by subscription is really
one of the most trying occupations for
young ladies to engage in. You
must learn, first, never to seem af
fronted; second, to consider every gen
tlemen wit and a scholar, third, thai
he is handsome and that you feel kind
ly towards him in particular; you
must smile when he smiles and answer
all sorts of nonsensical questions, al
ways, however, remembering to be q
business woman Of the world, respect
able and willing to go to the OutermOsI
limits of decency, to the very border;
of racy, worldly dialOgue-dialOgut
that has the smack of the French salon
the piquancy of the grizette, the spar
kle Of HOussaye, the differences Of
sterne, and all the elements Of tall
that is not vulgar or course, nor YET
chaste. elegant or strictly refined"
"Do you know any ladies who
dropped by the wayside in this bust
ness"
"Oh, yes. 1t is alike in all Other
occupations, black sheep in every
flock. knew four beautiful young
; ladies who were canvasslng q city in
New York State at one time. AL
four were induced to 60 to Cuba with
four adventures. They are now lead
ing very fast lives in Havana There
/ have not spoken this much to gen
tlemen since I'm in this business, anC
/ guess 1 shall have to CO."
The young lady handed the reporter
a pen and told him where to write hi
name on the list with other subscribers
After that had been done, she lOOkeC
around for more reporters to conquer
and finding none in at the time, sh'
arranged flower in her hair, gav'
her jaunty little hat a touch to on
side, folded her books in a paper, anC
with a pleasant "goOd day, she softly
stepped out of the sanctum.
. fla man knows, and knows that h
: knows, he will lead happy life. If