The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-01
me again next year.
kENlNG iIACllISl,N,

Sonic Ways Of the Guttcfcss Men VINO
d. A Sell Then. ...a
Side by side with tho insurance man, the
lightning rod peddlcr, the book hend, mod.
ern opinion ranks the sewing machine
agent rs The personiicalion OF all thu, Is bras.
~ and pushing in humanity. We speak.
Ing generally nov. Taken as 4 class, the
sewing machine men OF Wheeling are gsn,
llement and thsuyh en.erprjsing, are mol
Extensively persistent, except In rare case s.
But taking the country over, it is undoubt.
eddy true tina, modern public opinion re-.
CARDS book agents, lightning rod sellers aud
sewing machine men In the same cate.
cory as embodimen.s Of cheek, per.
sistence and audaciiy. And while there arc
exceptions in Ill Of these cases, as n rule
modern public opinion is correct. Modern
public opinion has suffered, and ont Of ig
suffering hSs cp,neknowleJse. but modern
public opinion does not consider the over.
whelning force OF The competition that has
made the sewing machine man what be is
lie has much 10 excuse him. His means are
limited, compared with his opportunities
The machine man Is as thick Us Aies Ia the
house before rainstorm. Like the fly, his
efforts tend to make humanity.miserable but
while the i'y elories in his work the poor
machine nun is alive to the situation
and In canle cases draws OH and leaves his
yictfn free, but only when / !, is Obliged to,
in justice let it be said " :
But TO the business that causes the rhcto.i.
cal machiuist to 20 out into the world and
wrestlc with it. But two or three different
makes Of sswins machines are in the Wheel.
Ing market, each bundled by Il responsible
agent who employs men to 10 the outside
work. but there nre probably ten or dozen
machines sold III the city and vicinity by
ranvassers, AVID these are the pests, made SO
purely by the keen competition among the
different machines. Sales are scarce and
therefore profits must be ''many.n They are
ranging from $40 10 $50 on each machine. It
was mpalarly supposed when the term Of
the many pa'6nts expired some four years ago
that the prices OF sewing machines would
drop. They did, but briefly. A combna.
ton was formed among the leading houses,
and prices kept up In spite OF the protection
taken away BY the expiration Of the patents.
Thus the sewing machine prices formed and
celJom il ever rise and full. They are sold by
the manuiaotarers to the city or county
agents, at prices ranging from go TO $40, &C.
corling to the grades and varieties Of he ex.
tras upon them. 70 the public the prices
range from 80 TO $75. The difference repre-.
senls the agents profit, SHARED beiHeen chief
and snb.ag' mt. The sub.agonts territory
Is rs comprehensive rs bis cheek.
Gelernlly lie uses horse and
wagon, supplied by the agent, and raids
town and country alike on his tour Ills
methods are most sound (for his own a,lyan.
tactl Newly.married wives arc always his
prey, and nothing but prayer and 4 club can
ase hsF tem hin. en- have been known
to visit house in which young glie re-.
sided within twchty:fonr hours from her
coming. lie is generous to fault, insists on
leaving n machine "just to try" and even
gives The lady lesson. 1t Is an easy matter
to &c, machine into the house, but hard to
get it out. Then is the time when the sew.
ing machine man insists that It was sold when
LELAND that he has only called forthe money.
ao'hing bNt q decisive husband, to nut
the maGhine out On The sidewalk and leave
1t there, will induce the agent ia lake back
what he so generously left. When once the
machine is In, another Of the craft Is almost
sure to follow in q few days, and then the
real agony commences. The machine in
use isverbally abused, the one sought to be
put in 'lauded, and All elegant plea for n
change made. lie won't cause you trouble.
Oh, nc! He'll take the rival machine into
the shed and set bis own up in its place, and
frequently does, only to be similarly served
by still another riyal soon after. Sleep.
less nights, and days spen, IN watching, come
out Of the admiltanca Of the first MACHINE.
The innocent victim who accepted the ma
chine bears the brunt OF the trouble and iin-
ally buys one OF the machines, generally the
poorest, TO get rid OF the rest. There Is no
other way out Of the trouble but 10 buy, be.
cause only in that contingency does the other
agent recognize defeat. The agent is the most
accommodating person in the world. He'll
trade, exchange, anything, providing, Of
course, tina. it is to hid ad:antahe 10 do 50. :