The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-10-13
Commercial Travellers.
Buptist Courier.

"'''e'' oihcc the year began he has
been on every railroad in the State
except the North Eastern; he HIS done
considerable riding on stage lines and
private ways, also, and everywhere he has
gone, III town, in country, he has met
that class of our fellow-citizens. whose
familiar name is "Drummers." lie feels
that without presumption he NAV write
an editorial upon them, lst, because they
deserve one, 2nd, because he is some.
what acquainted with them. He will
submit 10 the Courier readers tho follow.
ing refections:
|. Ihis class OF men is large and still
increasing in numbers. Were statistics
at hand, it might be shown that many
thousands, yea, some hundreds, of thou
shhds OF our strong, vigorous, active
young men belong to this profession.
Likely there is not Wholesale estab
lishment of any kind in the United
States thnt has not its corps of"Commer.
cIal Travellers" who 20 over the land,
exhibit samples Of their houses or facto-
ries and solicit and get lrado. AS this
plan has proved successful and is con.
v,eniencc to both buyer andseller, the
demand for it is increasing, and the de-
mand is being met. A merchant in an
interior town in South Carolina some
time ago.. said to me, II can stay Mt home
now and buy my goods, by sample, aud
40 40 about as well as to 60 to Baltimore or
few York. 1t is convenience to me.
These men are distinguished for being
wide awake" energetic and closely de.
voted to business--they must be so. for
not TO possess these qualities we're but 20
put them on the shelf" 1t is never too
hot nor too cold, too dry nor too rainy
ana snowy for these men to be ut work.
visiting their customers and dispatching
business. Last January, while weather.
bound in railroad town in Barnwell
County, for almost week, met over g.
dozen young men Of this class coming
aud going. They were in a good humor
and seemed to accept the snow and rain
and cold as part of their work and made
no complaint. IF all our agents for mia
sions and education were as energetic
and 'wide-awake" as these "drummers."
our treasures would not get so depleted.
g.. Generally these men are polite and
gentlemanly and honorable. Nothing
but favors and kindnesses and courtesis
have l ever received at their hands.
When cars are crowded and some one
must stand" | have often been COM
Peiled by one OF these gentlemen to sit
down, while he himself stood" for miles.
| have met them everywhere from bean.
tort and Augusta TO Asheville and Char
lotte; have shared seats, in carriage.
stage coach, railroad, shared rooms and
tables with them, and, with one excep-
ton, have never seen any intemperance
or heard profanity from them. 7 nerer
saw one fail, where opportunity, offered
to be polite and gallant to ladies'. A
distinguished lady of South Carolina
owed to drummer the privilege of
room and bed at White Sulphur SPRINGS
sometime ago, during a crowded season.
the young man going without himself.
But two weeks ago, associating with
these gentlemen for several days at a
country tavern, was gratified to SEQ SO
much real culture, refinement and gen
tilily exhibited by them toward one
another and The other guests. And from
personal observation think this class of
men Will compare favorably with any
other class Of travellers
4. Many of them are Christians and
truly plous. While attending Sunday
school Convention in Spartanburg Coun.
" IN 1850, on Sunday while the house
was fiiling,, a man of this class made his
way IN and got seat, listened attentive.
ly and after sermon came forward
and said, II make it rule to go to
preaching on Sunday whenever / can,
and hearing you were to preach, l drove
ten miles to church." He was n Metho.
Gist. Another lately stopping over for
sunday, went out to church and hearing
an appeal Tor money to build meeting
house gave $40. This was in South
Carolina. The man lives in Richmond
va. seldom preach in railroad town
put what have some of these men as
listeners, and they listen we'll too.
sometimes see them reading their Bi.
bles on the cars aud occasionally one
comes to me to talk upon the subject of
personal religion. One, Baptist dea-
con, SAID to Inc some time ago, "Some of
my sweetest seasons Of spiritual enjoy.
ment come to me while riding on the
cars. read my Bible, spend hours in
prayer and communion with my Heav-
enly Father, and thus grow in grace, as
trust. In this class are represented
all our churches, and often they arc
ornaments to churches and let their l;rht
SHINE wherever they 60. Much more
could be said, but enough. One or two
suggestions in conclusion:
!. These men should have the svnpa-
thles and prayers Of all Christians. They
are exposed TO many temptations in many
ways and doubtless some backslide and
some Fall away" from virtue and moral
ity. know, by experience, what it is to
nave no settled place Of worship when
Sunday comes, to have no familiar face
beamlng upon me from the pulpit once
week, to have no regular prayer meet
ing, to hava no pastoral visits made,
| regularly tc be away from home and it's
hellowed and elevating influences
almost all the time and to worship among
strangers fifty Sundays in the year It
is much harder under such circumstance
to maintain high spiritual healthful-
ness and faith. Constant change of
place tends to dissipation and is demor-
alizing. The wonder is not that "com-
mercial travellers" don't do better, but
that they do so we'll
2. Let Christians respect The good and
worthy qualities of these men and show
them kindness and thus help to make
them better and purer than they are.
"a word of kindness fitly spoken is as
apples of gold in pictures Of silver" SO
said the wise man and he lad wonder
full experience in men and things. Take
these men by the hand, they are our
brothers, and ask them to the prayer
meeting, 10 the Sunday school, to the
preaching and your Christian courtesy
toward them will not be wasted. II
have written in charitable spirit
toward them, it is because have it for
them-want others to have it, too.
VIM. HENRY STRICKLAND.
anderson G. H., Oct. 1st, 1881.