The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-09-06
A YOUNG WOMAN DETECTIVE.

A. YOUNG WOMAN DETECTIVE.
Peddlers, like horse Jockeys. have a
reputation for being tricky and for not
remembering the golden rule. Atleast
they are frequently accused of this, but
as tin-peddler of sfifty-nine years
standing | deny the charge as applying
to peddlers more than to any other class
Of traders.
Not only do / deny it for myself, but
for the majority of the men who are
engaged in the business not including,
ofcourse, the many self-styled agents, 81
those hawkers of patented articles who
are found in every State of the Union.
But in defense of the old fashioned tin
peddler, with horse and cart, pick up
the cudgels. Fa
We were as honest as other men! and
3 Iwish | could say as much for all the
women we have to deal with. Not that
] intend to be disrespectful to the ladies,
for / always enjoy trading with them.
But during the last sixty years I have
obtained some very queer glimpses OF
the workings of the feminine mind when
it is intent upon making bargain.
During the whole of my long career,
| can truly say that was never guilty
of but one trick of which / am really
ashamed; and in that [ was outwitted
Z bya young lady. She came within a
hands turn of sending me to jail. If |
had been handsome young fellow, the
ease might have been different, or it
might not, / cannot say; but she was a
young woman of good character, and
she was acting in defense of a cause
which she believed to be just one.
The story is against me, but am going
to tell it.
To begin with, / was not, in nv
younger days, a temperance man. I
was born in the old Bay State before
the temperance movement began. My
folks, in. common with all other fami-
lies. always had liquor in the house;
and when any of us were not feeling
well, or were out in the cold and came
home chilled, mother would prepare a
little cup of ''toddy" to warm us up
and prevent our taking cold.
So | grew up in the belief that it was
right to drink liquors now and then.
None of our family were drunkards,
though | must say that one of the boys
came very near to being one.s He saw
the awful precipice just as he came to
It, and stopping short, turned and es-
capped it. 1t isn't every one can do that,
SO don't go too near. g. -,ss 500
When [ began peddling / carried a
bottle of ..West India" tucked away in
my cart. did not drink, as I haze
said, TO excess, but used perhaps a
quart in month. That was about the
KIND of person was then, as regards
temperance. c~e7z
From 1850 to 1858 my s.round and
by round mean thesroute. over which
sold mVgoods- lay through a portion
Of Southern New Hampshire and two
y tne western counties, of Maine. / had.
not been trading in this section very
long, when the Neal Dow temperance
crusade began, and the maine law, ,,
wholly prohibiting thesale of all intox-
leatng liquors, was enaeteds4T That was
law, too, as. many persons well re-
member, which was supported by a
strong and enthusiastic temperance,
party, alaw that had 7gehAine vigor to
enforce it. 7st'
Then came dry times in Maine. Not
= arop OF liquor could be had legally
lor love or money, and diligent search
ana chase was made for all illicit sellers,
ana Tor drinkers, too. You may be
sure there was moaning among the
seeady Old topers, and not a little dis
content among the moderates drinkers.
nag 4 great many of both topers and
nouerate drinkers among the people on
my route. Often, with a wistful look, a
man would beckon me aside. I knew
wnat TO expect. Haven't got drop
y 2 a'fgssa.sag s., in yer cart, have ye, Mr..
When | replied no he would turn
sSay IN great sadness, or perhaps Wig.
1rously berate Neal Dow, or urge me to
aseg hilp quart the next time
oaIne irom "over Hampshire way
y fsympathissd With these thirsty ones,
Nld not favor the law or any sort
u pronbitory law then. II looked upont
Ptonloltion as fanatical raid on every
nan rights, and hence I had no COM
functions In seeing the law evaded or
Aeh. 1s zaod sE aosf
but the man who broke that law did
Z at no small peril! The temperance
pgopie We're alertan merciless. Every
mnefe the State swarmed with ..W Watch-
s;o;, s;on oiahs, " Temperance Bands and
ananee committees. Not only gen
Ssuen, but often ladies, were on these
s J,liteees. ALL Some of the women. in
= oss,, Y, We're among the most successful
: = me temperance police.
s - s, g ~ l nave. said, | did not sympathize
y ss,a. al with this anti-rum crusade, and
et a year or twosI hit ON the follow
.ng Fase for outwitting the ..Ramro]s,,
tonsrs sne reiormers were called by the
'pe's-and Of supplying some Of NV