The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-16
BOOK AGENTS.
A Few Illustrations of Their Method
Of Doing Business

Two lawyers were discussing the ways
of book agents the other day. For ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain the
book agent is peculiar, and he grows and
developes with experience. His gall and
his adroitness are in a steady process of
evolution. 10 the respects that he fails
to round up the measure of perfection.
she steps in and fills the vacuum. The
female book agent is wonderful creature
tender and voluble, sometimes pretty,
altogether irrepressible and generally If
resistable
One of the lawyers mentioned, says he
used to get rid of the agent by asking
him what his profit was, and paying him
half of it to leave. Lately man called
on him to sell law book. He introduced
himself by tiattering allusion to the
lawyers exalted standing in the profess
sion, and added that gentleman of his
brilliant talents and high position would
surely want his book. Although the
lawyer being human being was
not altogether indifferent to fiatterY, and
consequently could not repress few
bushes of qualification at the profuse
compliments bestowed upon him, he was
not deceived as to the motives which
prompted them and was well aware of
their mercenary and hollow character.
Consequently they failed to unlock his
purse, and other arguments plausibly
advanced by the agent were also of no
avail. The lawyer did not want the book,
and he did not take it. The agent in vain
urged that several other lawyers in the
city had bought it Very well, replied
the attorney, that is enough. If want
to consult the book | can borrow it of
them 1t is sufficient for the entire bar if
half a dozen lawyers own any book. >
Finally the agent produced list of Rock
Island lawyers and requested him to mark
the most prominent The attorney at first
declined on the ground that it would be a
DELEGATE undertaking for him, but he
| finally consented and marked every name
on the list Now" said the agent, lin
consideration of your kindness, will let
you have the book at twenty five per cent
discount. But the attorney did not buy.
| He was hard case.
Then the other lawyer told of an agent
who called upon him with book descrip
tive and illustrative of European cities.
twas apparently a fine work, but the
lawyer did not want it, and although the
agent saw he was busy, he insisted upon
sitting down aud talking to him, The
agent had not done well in Rock ISLAND
and he was Disguised with the city
Why, sir, said he. Il am astonished
You seem TO have no people here of any
literary taste or culture. Do you know
sir, that in other cities. sir, it is not nece
ssary to urge people to look at my book
| They are glad, sir to welcome me- and
take pains and time to examine and dis
cuss the work. Instead of their doing
me favor, they seem to think that the
favor is shown them by me giving them
an opportunity to see and purchase So
grand a work But here sir, the invaria
BILE reply is, have no time and they
refuse even to look at the book. Indeed
sir, | am assured that you have no taste
or culture in this town"
| Then the agent launched into gen
eral TRADE against the town. 1t was
very ordinary sort of place with ne
beauty or style. He believed it had 60
as big as it ever would be
The lawyer ventured to suggest that it
had grown immensely in few years, and
the people, perhaps deluded, cherished a
; hope that it would continue to grow.
They thought they had nice, thriving
commercial and manufacturing city.
You are all wrong, sir" said the agen
emphaticallg Not bit of it sir. Yol
have nothing here to build up on"
The lawyer ventured to suggest tina
the court house was rather nice build
ing,
Very shabby sir. No architecture
tone, sir. know towns much smalle
with much handsomer court houses
The lawyer spoke of the opera house.
Il have not been inside of it. But
outside, it is plain, homely and uninterest
ing. You have nothing here sir, moth
ing. Your city is dead"
This lawyer was favored with a call fror
a female book agent. She did not attemr
to speak of the merits of the book. bu
urged him to buy ii simply because sh
was poor girl working hard to earn
living.
; why, sir, do you know" she exclsi
med, Il have only sold three books i
this building"
Isn't that doing pretty well?'
, No, indeed, sir. The manager win no
be satisfied unless | sell eleven or lively
books III this city"
She could not induce the lawyer
:, buy.
J. HERE AND THERE.