The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-07-21
DIAMOND DRuMMERs.
Men Who Carry Fortunes in Their
Sample Valisss.

SamP!e VaIlses.
"There's a drummer who carries
the lightest baggage of anyone in
his line," observed a hotel clerk TO
a News reporter That's it in his
hand, and every ounce is worth a
good deal more than its weight IN
gold"
The person alluded to was the
travelling salesman of one of our
downtown diamond brokers, and,
as he himself remarked to the re-
porter, "a diamond drummer ever
since he outgrew drumming for
fun and went into it for a living.
In further conversation he made
some statements in regard to his
business which the public cannot
fail to take au interest in, for whst
is there connected with the royai
gems the diamond drummer deals
in which does not possess a deep
and thrilling interest to fhe<very
poorest, even, who will never ap
proach nearer to diamond wearIn 2
than chip of cut glass in a brass
setting will. bring them9
Diamond drummers are not as ex-
tensive class as dry goods trave
ers, or even shoe statesmen, but they
are the aristocrats of the drummers.
They are generally interested in the
house they travel for and get a
share of the profits of their sales
their business being thus assured.
When this is not the case, they re-
ceive handsome salary and expen-
ses and a liberal commission on
their transactions, They deserve
it all, for their probity must be un'
questionable and their record with
out flaw.
Diamond drummers do not, as
statesmen in other lines are able to,
secure permanent customers, who
refuse to deal with any one else.
In the diamond trade this would be
impossible, for any strange dealer
who never handled a fine stone in
his life till now, may to-day come
into possession of gem it is TO the
retailers interest to buy. Conse
quently, the retailer is ready to
trade with any one who has stock
worth trading for. Still, however,
there are some drummers who have
the reputation for invariably hold
ing fine stock, who obtain more ia
vor than others, and who command
the very best class of trade.
The requirements for the profess
sion of diamond drummer are ex-
acting ones. He must, in the first
place, be mastery judge of gems.
The amount of knowledge of dia-
monds, the mines which produce
them, their ages, histories and the
people who own them, which first
class diamond drummer can develop
half hours talk would make an en-
trancingly interesting volume
Every difference of color, cutting,
setting of lustre or shape, which q
diamond is susceptible of the
drummer can detect, point out and
give the explanation of or reason
for. His eye is as sensitive as a
collodion plate in retaining the
memory of the glorious gems he
handles. He Will recognize dia-
mond in a new and entirely different
setting years after it has passed cut
of his hands. He can tell by the
cutting whether the Hamburg, the
Amsterdam or the New York lapi-
daries did the work; he can even
distinguish the cutting of special
artists in the forms and fashions in
which the jewels are rendered per
feet.
Norris his knowledge confined to
these gems. He is eqally an au-
tnority on all Others the vanity of
man makes popular, and on the set
ting and mounting them. He has
all the fashions in jewelry down as
fine as spiders web, and knows
whether they are new or revivals of
past patterns; whether they origi-
mated here or abroad, and who orig
mated them. He often has stories
to tell of how they were created;
this one by great Frer ch Jew
eler to satisfy the caprice OF a
tainted beauty of the gay city;
that, as wedding gift for the
daughter OF king; and, il necessi-
ty requires it, he will sit down, pen
Gil in hand, and design settings
and ornaments for you with the
deft skill of specialist in that line.
That man who knows and is ca
pable of all these things should
have selling prices and real values
down to the fraction of copper
need not be said. He can weigh
gem to the ghost of a carat
with his finger, establish its pu-
rity with his eye, and tell what it
cost and what it is worth with less
hesitation than that of a shoemaker
setting price on a pair Of brogans.
Where he ever keeps tue list no
man can explain, but he is able to
give you the price of any diamond
of note as it passed from hand to
han'i, sale for sale, and he carries
in his head list of such transac-
tion~ which may be miles long for
all we know, and in which the keen
est scrutiny can detect 70 flaw.
The diamond drummer sells b tn
by direct deal and sample. He car
ries stock of full stones, by which
those of carat and upward are
meant, and disposes of them if the
buyer requires it, replacing them
from headquarters as the sales
drain his stock. Smaller stones he
sells by sample, it being understood
that he guarantees quality. He
also sells set stones, and takes or
deis for special articles oil ornament
Even when he is not on the road, the
diamond drummer is not without a
stock in trade. He Is ready for a
tran ssction in a theater, lobby or
ball room, and whenever you find
him you may be sure he has a couple
OF thousand dollars worth of flash
ing gems in his pocket. done up in
jewelers. paper, and which he will
spread out on q table or a window "
ledge with little more concern than
a street boy would display in dis.
tribut;ng his jackstones. He is
tond of advertising his business in
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