Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-11-05
FACTS ABOUT DRUMMERs.

New ork drummer.
''Haven't seen it." carelessly re-
piled the man behind the counter.
'That's strange. 1t must be here"
''Oh, it'll turn up all right
81 know, but | must have it imme-
distely," answered the drummer,
with tinge of anxiety on his coun-
tenance.
''Is it necessary that you should
have the baggage right away?" inter-
posed another clerk.
'sThat trunk has SIS, 900 worth of
samples in it" replied the travelling
man.
The eyes of the two hotel men
sparkled more than did the diamonds
on their shirt fronts. Hurriedly
porter was called and instructed to
find the missing baggage Immediate
ly. Leisurely he went to a pile of
heavy trunks, accompanied by the
travelling man. The baggage was
found and sent to the salesman's
rooms,
''Many men bothered with such
loads as that?" asked reporter of
the stranger, as he returned to the
hotel lobby.
''Oh, a few of them," he replied,
especially those who represent jew
elry establishments. Sometimes
drummers carry pretty valuable loads.
Not long ago l went to Beliot, Wis,
and, registering at one of the hotels,
asked for room. A tall, smooth
faced fellow, with black eyes and
HAIR, followed and registered just be-
low me. He said he wanted room.
It's always best to ask for a room
without arguing, and let the clerk as
sign you. If you go to talking he's
sure to send you eff to the top. The
man in charge of the office on this oc-
casion asked if we objected to taking
room together. The latest arrival
opposed such move, and [ wasn't
at all anxious to be put with a strang-
er with such goods as | had in my
possession. There was no alterna-
tive, however, and we took the room.
On going up the stranger said his
actions might have seemed queer, but
he would explain everything in the
morning. After we had been in bed
about fifteen minutes, he whispered
to me: ASLEEP yet?' told him No,
and began to grow little suspicious.
Presently he asked the same ques-
ton again. [ heard him. but pre-
tended to be asleep. He turned over
and was soon snoring, and before
long | followed suit. When | awoke
in the morning the stranger was up
and dressed, and apparently waiting
for me.
Did you hear me ask if you were
asleep last night?' he inquired.
1 told him yes, and he replied
that be never would have gone to
sleep if he had known that.
sWhy?' | asked.
Immediately he pulled off his coat
and vest, and opening his shirt
showed me buckskin belt, with
pockets, around his body. I've got
100000 worth of diamonds in there
he said.
As l had trunk full of jewelrY
worth more than that, | told him /
was in the same box with him.
"We've got to be mighty careful,
and watch our samples. [ stay right
with mine, and have them in myroom
at night No matter where l am |
always 90 heavily armed"
Statesman for jewelry houses car
ry more valuable samples than other
class of drummers. do they not?'
"Men handling fine silks, laces and
dress goods sometimes have costly
samples. They are generally loaded
down with trunks. I met man in
Milwaukee last week, travelling for a
fancy goods house, that had seven
teen 'Saratogas.' He had to have
four rooms for displaying his sam
pies"
"How many drummers are there
in the country?''
ssLast year there were more than
10000. This took in the men who
are running around selling on CON-
mission. Some travelling men get as
high as $4,000 year and expens-
es. They are few in number, how
ever, and generally represent a dry
goods or fancy goods establishment.
Lor1llard has man that he gives
$40, 900 to, and allows 50 day for
expenses. Quite number of men
receive $1,000 or SO, 900 year. The
average salary, however, is about
800 and expenses. The latter
will average about Sc day for men
| who make all kinds of towns. Those
who stop at cities of 10000 people
only have to have more, as their rail-
road fair amounts to considerable.
Many of the drummers are rather
reckless in their expenditures, as they
cost them nothing. They will stop
at the best hotels, pay for the best
rooms and buy wines and cigars,
charging it up to the firm. They're
great men to try to cheat conduct
ors out of railroad fares and pocket
the money. One great scheme is to
be asleep when the conductor goes