The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-10-20
SUCCESSFUL BOOK AGENTS

~ have been told that there ia a hoax
canvasser who has earned $500 IL
year. Is that So :" IL Sun reporter
said to Mr.. George Washington Davis,
who has charge Of the cauyassing de
partment Of D. Appleton & Co.
You may judge for Yourself" said
Mr.. Davis. pulling ont a memorandum
book. This irm has paid $50 600 to
Mr.. Samuel Collins since September
last for bis persousl services in Cali
wasting for one book, Artistic Houses
lis not that al exceptional amount"
.'That is n large SUN, but Mr.. Collins
has been \ book canvas.er for fifteen
years, and has made II handsome in
come. He began at $40 Il week. The
book sells for $500 the set. One Of
our agents made $1,000 in one month
selling Appieton's Cyclopadia. Such
mon think it u poor week when they
do not earn $40. One Of our %anvasse.s
named Rush, earned Sl245 in ten
weeks selling the Art Journal ADoth
er earned $3.50 in a month selling The
Gallery Of British Art l could give
you the name Of a woman who has earn
ed 4357 in ~ week selling our books.
There is Mr.. Fowke, who has been fo:-
~ years q canvasser. l should say he
averages $4,000 \ year by his person
al sales. He has sold many sets "f the
Cycl0p8lias. There is a lady who has
just come in VIII" earns $500 IL year.
/ suppose there are fifty men in this
country VIII" are earning 500 a week
az book agents.
''Of course, these are not the sort of
men that funny paragraphs are written
about. They are gentlemen VINO are
to hear them talk, aud they know how
to talk to the right people. They ride
in carriages, dress we'll and,lose,, nOtime.
They know thoroughly what they have
to sell and how to sell it. We can de
pend upon them to sell u given Quanti-
ty.
''Could they take any kind Of books
and earn such wages 7"
'sProbably not. The most money is
made in selling expensive books. Pub
lish,ng runs in that direction now.
This firm put 100000 into the Cyclic
p@dia before they got u cent back.
They put $4,000 into Picturesque
America before they began to get
their money back. That sells for S24
. copy. III We depended on the trade
to cell il ne should have to get $500 Il
copyAD make it pay. Agents sell
bool.th.t could not be sold any other
way1Poppla will not go to stores to
lookzax books, but when they see real
" good books offered iu the right way
they will buy. The best books are
published by subscription"
"Do you find wonen or men the
best agents !"
"Men. There have been some sue
cessful women agents but they do not
show the same perseverance as men,
"Do me often fail ut it -
''Oh, yes. / try 3O0n people a year
who think they "a be good canvassers.
and l think l am lucky if l get ten good
canvassers. out OF the 5000. 1t is like
any other business, and requires brains,
aptitude and perseverance. Mere brass
and assurance will not do. A good
book agent must be a pleasant person."
Chow do you find them"
s'They coMe to US. The most proli
fc season for good canvassers is imme
diately after a business pauic. Men
who get ont of business, and have In
capital but brains, often begin as .book
agents and get a fresh start in life.
Sometimes they keep at the canvassing
only until they get capital to begin bust
ess again. Sometimes they keep on
for life. The demand for good book
agents is brisk, aud likely to increase"
New York Sun.
InCICAL.-"Ge Gorge Alfred Renfr0.