The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-16
DRUMMING.

Everybody knows that mercantile
drumming is practised in Boston, MS
we'll us in other places. The per-
formers will hang around the hotels
for customers, and drum like par
tridgeS to secure their prey. The
caution of traders is excited by Il
knowledge of their tricks. who eish-
er go in to enjoy the music, or meet
the advances of the drummers with
Il little counter performance of their
own. The former course was pur-
sued by a merchant from the west e,
who came Ia Boston recently for the
first time. lie had heard of the
drummers and of the attention to
visitors. -showing them the lions
about their respective places, and
treating them like princes, and being
endowed with considerable capacity
for u good time, and with not much
power of resistance, he thought he
would, If he fell in with any, let them
have their own way. He according.
ly came, and stopped at the Ameri.
can House, where his jolly face and
laughing eyes were soon conspicuous.
Several well.dressed young men at
once attached themselves to him,
and commenced talking about the
west. "Drummers, thought the
merchant; mot q doubt about it,"
They were soon very we'll &C.
quainted and slipped glass of wine
together, or something stronger, rs
IN oblation to the new bond between
them. The stranger was surprised
to hear from them no mention OF
business, and, after warming up
Il little with sundry more libatiOns,
he determined to touch upon trade.
How are Hamiltons now!' said
he. breaking the ice by direct push.
"Hamiltons" replied one. 40.
IIamiltons are tip.top-ain't they.
Bob ;"
"They were the last time I saw
them" responded Bob.
They all laughed mt this, in which
the questioner rejoined. though he
could not, for the soul of him. see
what they were laughing at.
"They think I'm a little green, =
thought he; ''but lot them go it.
They'll come to business soon enough,
] dare say
How are Amoskeags going ;" he
asked after, awhile.
We'll" was the reply. IL saw
Amos last week, and he looked rs If
he was going to the devil very fat
didn't he, Bob!'
Bob affirmed, with an expression
considerably emphatic, that he never
saw one going faster.
Speaking of going" said the prin.
cipal spokesman, suppose we show
you our town. l should like to have
yon see some of our lions"
II was beyond the business part OF
| the day, and no objection was made
so the party sailed out. the merchant
making the remark that 1t would be
time enough in the morning to look
ut the Hamiltons. 1t was a hard
season of sprouts that the accomodat
ing drummers pnt him through. He
had never seen better fellows in his
life: but they were very mysterious
| for business men. Several times IL
the course Of their ramble he ven
tured TO put in some word about cot
tons, but they. with laugh that hi
Joined in, asked him how whiske!
was going mt the west, and when hi
said the tendency was downward
they laughed the louder. He men
toned shoes; but he found that Thu
also was bootless. At last he let thu
boys have their own way, and shu
his mind against business, going II
for the fun of the thing. The da.
closed in very affectionate manner
the parties separating about midnigh
mutually satisfied.
| AS for the drummers, they carries
their mysterious manner throughout
and to his last remark about Hamil
tons. as they babe him good night,
reply was that to his confused hear
ing sounded somewhat like "Pickles!
"Good fellows" he thought
They'll he round In the morning,
dare say"
Turning to the man in the Office h
asked him what house those gentle
men who had been with him drumme
for.
"Drum forl" replied the clerk, !
u tone Of sursrise.
"Yes, drum for, said the inquirer
a little indignant at having his que
ton repeated.
"They are not drummers," replia
the clerk, bowling politely, bl
students of Harvard College,"
1.-The duece they arei" exclaims
the seeker after Hamiltons and Amo