New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-03

which they get OF strange phases anu uhueI-cui-
rents of New-York life, make their occupation Pc
euar one and furnish variety Of novel incidents
and information. An outline of the work and some
experiences of the canvassers are given herewith
DETAILS OF THE CANyASSING SYSTEM.
SITTING OUT THE MEN-PERsIsTESCY AND THOR
oUGUNrss OF THEIR LABoRs- "REMINISCENCES
OF CANyAssFRs.
A publisher about a year ago attempted 10
deceive public by selling old city directories as new
ones. His volume papable imposture, which d'd
not 60 undcece1 for twenty-four hours. Every page
was full ridiculous bunders Soon after another d.
rectory was issued by rival corporation and although
1t was subjected scrutiny yet only few unim
portont errors were found. Early in the Spring,
the Trow Directory Company begins to canvass this city
previous the compilation OF the business directory
which is issued May l. This undertaking gives employ
ment to a large number OF men, whose various duties
and experiences furnish matter OF interest.
To be good directory canyasser must be some
thing of physiognOmist must possess common polite
ness good nature and stout legs and shoes. The posi-
ton Is much sought for Application must be made by
letter. personal interviews with the propretors
are allowed The choice is made from the sample OF
handwriting sent, and much stress Is laid upon the
reference which must accompany the application TrOw
publishes business and city directory The first con-
ans only the business addresses of business men, the
city directory is the thick volume with which the public
Is best acquainted
The book for business purposes compiled and printed
FIRST Work II begins early in March. and the can
yasscrs employed for abOut twenty days Last year
the force at the start. numbered about l2O men but
they dropped OF day by day until the task finished
on rainy night with only TO receive pay. After
being selected the canvassers do not Immediately TO
work They are frat put through two weeks course
of instruction to making proper entries OF Names the
arrangement OF advertisements when only business
card is given, the filing out of receipts While tins
goes on those who show themselves especially slow
dull dropped when work Is actually begun, all the
canyassers are theoretically skliu in IT, and practice
generally makes them perfect. n, however, man is
found TO be inefficient he has leave to resign.
The value Of canyasser Is determined by the amount
of work he accomplshes and the in which it Is
done one may bring In, at night, 800 names. full
Of and badly written another may bring in only
600 Names with and well written. The latter
is the better Whether the work is remunerayc or
not depends upon the man himself lie may 81 2j,
or he may earn so n day The smallest sum paid IS
II o. canvasscr's full worth Is not decided until all
his labor done. He receives certain percentage OF the
lowest salary regularly every Monday When the directory
Is published the number OF each man has brought
In counted the style Of the work is criticised, his per
diem is settled and he receives the remainder OF his
pay. No flvoritIsm Is shown, because from the time
when they start out the are known to those
clerks with whom they come in contact, only by num-
Jers Both names and numbers registered, but the
h III dozen employees who examine the days work at
night have 10 the register They report on the
number, not the man.
On the extra matter brought n commission Is allowed
Some firms individuals desire their names in caps"
IA small capitals are generally calledi and there are
advertisements intervening pages These privileges
have 10 be paid for There are regular headings too
and II a man n special heading, there is a charge
Some physicians like have their Office hours given.
For all such things there expense Payment Is
taken with the order receipt Is given. and every night
the canvass-r receives his commission .,-- a.
prevent swndling by persons representing them
selves to he SIt.o@eI ien TT wnson on Mr. row
aud is also provided with blank receipts. all numbered
namesp- scale OF prices for extras ana card III
German. asking for the desired information This Ger
man card j. for when Germans can understand 10
English The namcSlps are small pieces OF paper on
that there 1nay he no diiicGity in arranrins
alphabetical order. An mpOster could hardly provide
now know "a genuine directory man by instinct.
VARIED EXPERIENCES OF THE CANvAssERs.
The experience Of the canvasser Is not always pleasant
There are difficulties 10 be overcome, and rcbuhs to be
borne II Is considered disagreeable to work
the Business Directory upon the City Directory, be-
cause men only are encountered and fewer questions
have to be answered. with business the great
difficulty Ia TO get their initials. Their sense OF In
dividualy is SO strong that they do not believe
any body else I'm the city can have similar name
to he known only as :" J. T." and he threatened
the agent ard every body connected with the office with
vengeance II his hrst name were printed III Iul' ne
said that " last year the agent got IL IN some way
aud he would like to knock that agents bead on" The
canyasser took the hint and obtained the Christian name
from tine directory OF the previous year
business men often begrudsc the time which the
agents call takes up They frequently become abusive
threaten TO post notice orbidding the entrance or d
rcctory men well hcPgers and pedhcs, and assert
that 800 Of Trow's agents called within the year.
Washington Market Is nelg h6orhood not considered
signed pltiod by his comrades: The butcher boys
have reputation for much rudeness and chatting"
Canvassng for tue City Directory has its peculiarly dts
agreeable features The agent inquiries for the gentle
man Of the house. who is seldom at home during the day
Will give the desired Information nj bis place
OF business. This will not do, for the agent
the street TO which IA assigned The lady may refer
him last years directory. but 1t Is positively forbid
den consult that book except In some case similar to
that Of the livery man referred to above The agents
are often annoyed Also by being mistaken Tor entry
servant stands TO keep watch OF She hat and CLOAK stand
In teneneuthouses there many and peculiar difn
cuties Foreigners are generally suspicious and when
they open me door III response 70 the &c Secs
they set him down for assessor OF taxes or peddor
dersiand the object Of the visit these people raise oec
tons ask WHATS the use OF II y say they have no
friends except those who know where they live" FIN
ally expense Is urged objection. After this Is
explained away, 1t Is often very hard TO obtain
the spelling of the The last resort is
10 call in a neighbOr who knows the English alphabet
or perhaps II savings-bank book, certificate OF
rage Of membership in some society answers the pur
pose Sometimes the has serious trouble one
tells Of having been attacked by SPITE dog, which he
cOolly kicked aside. Directly the owner Of the
after MIN, knife in hand. vowng to cut on the unlucky
agents The neighbOrs interfered however. and
saved the alarmed canvdsscr.
Another experience is thus related by canvasser No
80: the East Side OF tho town In OF
the high tenementhOuses. got through with the base
ment and first floor all night, but upon ascending to the
second story was met by crowd Of men, women and
children, armed with knives brOOms, pokers, and all
| talking at me In some unknown language the like OF
which had never before heard. couldn't Tor the life
OF me, make II out. forced my way, ut last, into
roOm and to table, taking
myself with chair l tried to make
| explanation, but 1 could understand one, and
| - nr. nrIdnnLlN mndnrstnnd mn ahnurnd nv