Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-06-02
THE DRUMMER'S STORY.
From the Lowell, Mass, Citizen.

THE DRUMMER'S STORY.
From the Lowell, Mass, Citizen
Yes, said the commercial traveller to
MIR. Autograph the other day, as they rode
down town together from the Northern de-
pot on the rear end of horse car, eyes, it
is the kind of life like. Hard enough at
times, assure you, especially when you're
in the country and have to walk around an :
kle- e-deep In mud or slush with couple of
heavy sample cases banging your legs and
little yellow dog trying to wear out your
pants around the heels. And then some
times You have hard luck, ana it's bad
job making expenses meet, even when you
do get heavy commute on hotel bills; and
We don't always risk wine at dinner either,
assure you.
'But as I said, there's lot of fun in 1t.
and like it. The best part of the thing
comes in the acquaintances you pick up
the road, and the jolliest of them you'll
find in the same profession. There's moth
ing better than travelling with one of the
boys and finding he works the same foute
and puts up at the same place you do.
Only he must be in different line, you
sayey. Then sometimes a whole crowd of
us strike the same ranch for Sunday
gether and make things howl. That is, you
know, good, respectable orthodox howl,
if you're in New England; if not, why any
kind howl you like.
"Inever will forget one Sunday last fall; !;
the Sunday before last Thanksgiving,
| believe; when thirty six of US drummers
struck together at the American House;
| Burlington, VT, and stayed over. till Mon
day. We had had a good deal of sport the
| night before, by the way, and that morn
| ing after breakfast we were sitting around
the stove in the Office, telling stories and
talking business and things, everybody
having something to say about his expe-
rience on the road at one time or another.
All the time we were enjoying ourselves
in this style there was an unknown sitting
Off by himself, his chair tilted back, his
chin down in his vest, his hat on wrong
side to, saying nothing and only showing
life when he lit another match to keep
agoing the stub of cigar that was slowly
burning his monstache off.
HE was pretty full; part of it left over
from the night before and part the effect
of frequent samplings that morning. He
didn't seem to know or care what was 60
ing on and nobody noticed him till sudden
ly he broke out into our sport with Shay,
gents; llyou allow me to shay few words?'
"We were taken by surprise, but quickly
assented, seeming some sport, and he con-
tinued, as he braced up and struck another
match:
'dI1entlemen-if should tell you there
amt half O. you know your business, you'd
say I was lyin to you, wouldn't yer? But
yer don't You think yer pretty smart;
but yer don't none O. yer half know yer
business.
"'I am traveller myself, but am no
drummer, under tand that. represent
ninety-six separate and distinct manu-
factories. And I sell goods for 'em all, an
don't you forget to keep that in your MEM
ries. Oh, know my business, young fell
lers, and none O. you do.
'''Lemme tell you. I struck Omaha the
other day, and went into big place in the
carriage hardware line. Didn't buy goods
of drummers. But was no drummer.
! was factor; representing ninety-six sepa-
rate and distinct manufactures.
First man met inside was the junior
proprietor. He was going to throw me
right out. Never bought goods of drum
mers. Never saw the drummer that could
sell him goods. He didn't know me, yer
see. I told him was no drummer; was
factol, representing ninety-six separate
and distinct manufactures. But he
| wouldn't have it. Factor or no factor, he
never bought goods of drummers, and he
went on to explain how could get out of
the door the quickest way.
"sYou fellows would have let him put you
right out, wouldn't yer? But that amt me.
knew was no drummer and had him.
| superior partner. I'd seen the old man be-
hind the glass door of the office and knew I
could fetch him, so persisted like till the
Junior consented to call him, but he said it
would be no use.
":The old gent came out and I greeted
him cordially, grasped his hand and
calling him by name says, My dear sir,
allow me to lapse into history. On the 9th
of November, 1872, occurred the great fire
devastating acres of glound and dissipating
millions of property. I was previously do
! ing magnificent business in carriage hard
ware, everything driving and my stock in
sured for 100000 in thirty different COM
panies. On the morning after the fire all
but two of these companies had failed, and
was reduced from wealth to poverty, from
| a merchant prince to beggar. Twenty
years ago, sir, you came into my establish
ment, wanting carload of goods to bring
hither and lay the foundations of your busi-
ness. You selected your goods and asked
three months time. told you you could not
have three months time, but would give
twelve months time, and furthermore,
would deliver the invoice on the cars at the
east bank of the Mississippi river. All,
see you recognize me, sir. o-day you are
rich and powerful. Your junior called me
q drummer, and would have turned me from
your door. But am no drummer, sir, as
/ F,nf
ninety-slx separate and distinct manufac-
tories, And now, after the vicissitudes of
twenty years have brought you to the posi-
ton of wealth and influence once held by
me, come to you, sir, as an humble factor,
to ask that may sell you small bill of
| goods. ask but this small favor, sir, and
will mention right here that being no drum
mer, sir, but factor, can give you better
| terms than you have been buying at.
1.-The Junior kinder put on look of dis
| gust. but the old gent he says: You'd bet
| ter give this gentleman an order
"sWe never buy goods of drummers,
says the young upstart.
Never mind, said the senior. when
I was q young man, almost without capital
he gave me every advantage. advise you
to give him an order
The young feller calmed down after .
while, when he saw was not drummer
and we began to talk business. I finally
told him would give him twenty -five--ter
| --ten-fve--fve- three-two-one-and q
| half off on three months time, and the foo
/ didn't know then was making more thar
the usual profit. The result was, gentle.
men, I got an order for 1000 worth, and
sold the first bill of goods to the firm who
never bought of drummers.
For am no drummer. am factor
representing ninety-six separate and dis.
tinct manufactures; and when I tell you
you don't any of you know your business
/ represent G.. Washington, hatchet and
all his other hardware. Don't you forge,
i it.
''And the factor lighted another match
jammed his hat on with the bow to the left
and braced for another trip to the sample
room"
The story was finished as the car reached
the Citizen Office, and Mr.. Autograph go
off to 90 up and laugh in his easy chair.
The New Register Of the Treasury.