Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1884-11-20
ThiS Ia Nh Lie

"ns pslS oH tiie WlckeQneSS OF 'sdfnnI-
mers will read and reflect ON. We
have met hundreds of people, who,
II you tell them certain man-say a
stranger-is drummer, will hold up
their hands in their horror and de-
clare that there can be nothing good
about him. In other words, no mat.
ter how much Of gentleman he NAV
ee,the mere fact of his being drum
mer d-ns him forever. Z
A little fact has come under our
observation that shows what internal
foolishness it is to judge a man by
his looks.
The other day we were on the Chi.
cago and Eastern Illinois road, start.
ing on shooting trip. Just in front
of us were two women-we won't cal
them ladies, for they were of the
stripe OF women who are regular fa-
naties and always know more than
anybody else, especially about other
peoples business. With them was q
poor, hcn-pecked looking man, who
was probably the husband Of one Of
them. At a station there got on the
car nice looking man with large
fiat valise in each hand. He was
well dressed, wore a duster, and had
a good, honest face. He had q sand !
beard and light hair, and his face was
fiorid, as is always the case with meu
OF his style. He nodded his head in
our direction, and sat quietly down in
one OF the front seats, and commenced
reading the paper.
Then the women commenced.
"Did you see that nasty drummer
GIT on?" said number one.
"1es," said number two. 81 list
despise them. They go around like
a pack of wolves and they do any.
thing that's mean and low; I would
not trust one Of 'em a minute"
"How do you know be is a drum.
mer?' meekly interposed the hen.
pecked husband.
"Know? How do 1 know said
number one. "Why, l can tell 'e,n
as fur as l can see 'em lem ttthlnsss
they eaaai ggif'iipsacks give 'em away.
This fellow has got two. l guess
he's got a lot of samples in one and
a big whiskey bottle and a pack OF
cards, and whole lot of nasty piet.
ures OF women, and whole lot Of
letters from girls all over the country
in the other one. Oh, 1 pity his poor
wife,
"How do you know he's married p
ventured the husband.
"Know! Why them fellers have
got wives all over the country. They
Jist bewitch these innocent girls and
marry 'em, and then go off on trips
and leaves 'em, but they generally
have one poor wife and lot Of child
ren Off East somewhere, and the poor
thing has to support 'em all, while the
drummer is gaddin' round the count
ry playin' cards" x s1s
eyes," said number two. "You're
jist right; they oughter all be in the
penitentiary. They're a depraved
set. Now, just look at that fellows
face. See how red it is? IN bethe
drinks quart of whiskey every day.
1 never seen anything SO red in my
life. Now, I just knows he's got a
big flask in each of them sample
cases. And did you see the cheek he
he had to bow to US when he came in,
and here we never saw him before;
the cheeky wretch"
Now, we happened to know the
gentleman and knew bis business, and
we thought it q good chance to put
in our oar, especially as NE knew it
was to us be nodded and probably
never noticed the virtuous females at
all. so putting On o sweet smile, we
leaned forward and said:
Ladies, / see you know something
of the world. Drummers are a hard
set, aren't they?'
They looked at US a moment, and
then said: ''Yes, sir, I hope you
don't associate with them"
s'Oh, no, madam, not for the
world. l live down in EvansvilIe,a and
down there the people won't walk on
the same side Of the street with them
at ALL" (How was this for gall
from q fellow that went on the road
when only seventeen, and drummed
ten years? y
''Well, I'm glad they treat 'em as
they deserve down in Evansville. Do
you know that whiskey faced feHer
up in front?' d &
''Never saw him BEFORE" said we
with truthful air shut I'D just like
to play trick on, him and make him
show those whiskey bottles he's got
IN his valises.''
"Oh, wouldn't that be nice, ',said
one; show could you do itf' I.
"You just leave it to me-" We went
on. '1'n rope him back here, and
tell him that two ladies are very
much interested in him, and it will be
just like his cheek to come back and
open his valises and show you lot
of letters from girls just to show you
what a masher he is.''
"Oh, how NICE" they cried, clap
ping their hands with glee. "You
get him back