Smyrna times., 1881-07-20
The Man With the Samples.

There is, perhaps, no creature under
heaven who claims SO much of public time |
and attention, and yet enjoys so little of
public notice, and that Immediately which |
springs from it, ~ the ubiquitous Man
with the Samples" ] say ubiquitous"
advisedly, because he is literally every
where. In the hotel passageways you
bark your shins against his pOnderous
trunks, while he lounges in careless non
chalance around the Office or ''swaps
yarns" with the boys about the stove. On
the streets his broad-winged ulster flaps
its Independent skirts and plays sportively
with the breeze. On the railroads the
smoke of his cigar salutes your nOstrils,
and tho sound of his sonOrous snore
the conductors sharp demand for tick
ets." In the bar-rooms he stands cheek
by jowl with the tramp and the legislator,
and sips his fancy drinks with the best
and the meanest of its patrons. In the
theatres he occupies a prominent seat,
and applauds every broad hit and indie
corous action, In every business house
you find him plying his trade with per-
tinaciOus energy, and urging his wares on
the much-persecuted merchant.
Nor are his exploits and his presence
confined to the towns and cities alone.
Every cross-road store knows him and
cherishes his memory. Here his jokes,
long grown stale in the larger places, are
hailed with delight and treasured up till
the advent Of newcomer, who replaces
them with batch of his own. No place
is so obscure that he cannot reach it. No
country merchant, who is good" can es-
cape his vigilance and his visitations
Lured on by the prospect of pushing his
business, he braves every hardship, and
often proves the very pioneer of civiliza
ton. Change of diet and badly-cookeC
food give him dyspepsia, but he takes hi
three square meals day in calm serenity
Bedbugs prey upon him at night; HI
swears little, and hopes for better lOdg
ings next time. Landlords and liver.
men swindle him; he charges it to ex
pense account and goes merrily on hi
way. serely, cross-grained merchant
a snub him; he pockets the affrOnt, an
warns his patrons against "tackling sue
a darned old galoot."
His life is one continuous panorama, q
varied in its phases and experiences q
those of the doughty hero of La Manchi
and yet there are none so poor to do hil
reverence. Though his days are as on
+. vast poem, no bard makes him the subjet
of his song. Though his daily routine
landscape of matchless hues, no arti
paints him. Though his deeds are might,
no orator eulogizes or extols him.
Be it then my humble but grateful tas
p to redeem him from the cold touch of o.
livion, and, with that fellow-feeling whiC
''makes us wondrous kind, tell of
checkered existence, of it's tolls al
temptations, and if perchance a bit
a pathos obtrudes itself, some one may thir
better of him,
Ever tossed about on the billows
change and circumstance, he became,
relation of life, paradox. No creatui
perhaps, more nearly carries out the pri
ciple of being all things to oil men. FL
!" ced into closest study of human nature
constant contact with its various phas
he learns the art of adaptability to perfi
ton. His conversation and actions
comIapaate themselves to place andpe
der With one customer he talks farming; w
another, politics. while yet another "
draw his speech, if not his thoughts,
wards religion-taking care always to G.
form his views, in a more or less degr
uck to those of his companion. So "use d'
g. breed habit in q man." Finding
manner of life, with all its changes, of
monotonous and Wearisome, he often f
RS, into evil courses and seeks amusem
even in vice. But while he may yield
'z-tl temptation like other mortals, and "
- more excuse, he is rarely wholly falleT
degraded. There isan elasticity of spin
In born of his unceasing warfare, which be
|U., him up under circumstances the most
ing. He is ever as ready to perforl
good action as q bad one. He will Oh
IN. when you drink, and take care ofyou W
rreas ''noored.n He win win your last do
try. in social game of poker, and share
asS4s ssi4s last cent with you when strapped"
's4s0 win fiirt with every pretty girl VIII
ma. willing, and treat o poor woman y
Issy Of chivolrous courtesy. He win shock
- by coarse language, and give his sea
an old man while he stands on the |
me NE, form with the brakeman. Possess
d to in most cases, manly, generous nat