Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-04-09
THE DIAMOND DRUMMER.
Men with Big Fortunes in their
Vest Pockets.
One Of them Speaks Interestingly
Of His Life and Experiences.

My life Is anything but a life Of
case and pleasure said veteran
travelling salesman for one OF the larg-
est diamond houses in America, seat
ed in an easy chair at an uptown club.
Il have been on the road for over
twelve years, and have travelled ell
over America and Europe continued
he, taking an easier position on his
chair and lighting cigar. 1T is
sometimes wonder to myselfto think
of what have been through and liv-
ed. | spent ten months out of the
twelve on the road, and l live nearly
always on the train or boat. / seldom
stop at city longer than two or three
days | must stop at the best hotels,
on account of the valuable property |
carry. | start out on my trips twice
a year, from New York, in May and
November, taking $l50,0O0 TO $780,
900 worth of stones with me each
trip. have regular route that / 60
over once year. | take the west in
on my May trip and go south as far
as Mexico in November. l am treat
ed much more courteously than the
ordinary jewelry salesman by the peo-
pie to whom | sell. In the first place,
my having such an enormous amount
of property in my pockets commands
a certain kind of respect. There is
curious fascination about diamonds
that few men can resist. Nearly ev-
erybody loves to look at them and
watch the different effects of light on
them in various positions. When a
diamond drummer enters store and
makes known his business, he is gen.
orally invited back into a private room
and asked to show his stock. If a
stone suits customer, instead of or
dering SO many by sample, he buys at
once, gives his note and the transac-
ton is complete
How do you carry your diamonds?'
In cases like this, replied the sales
man, taking out Russian leather
case shaped like a common envelope.
1t was about six inches long by tour
broad and sewed together with strong
silk thread 1t was lined with oiled
silk, and fitted on the inner back with
two compartments also envelope
shape. When folded up two heavy
bands of elastic held the laps. 1t
looked like an ordinary pocketbook.
That little book continued he, will
carry about $4,000 worth OF dia-
monds. Nice pile, eh ? / have my
vests especially made to accommodate
these cases. I have seven of them
and pockets for each one. All the
pockets are on the front of the vest
and strongly protected from pickpock-
cts. An affective protection against
the knife of the pickpocket is fine
gauze of steel sewed next to the cloth
of the vest. Very few can 60 through
that in the short time they have to
work. / never take my vest of, even
while / am sleeping. have never
lost dollars worth by robbery or
otherwise
of course you go armed "
We'll, slightly replied he with
quiet smile, reaching back of him and
bringing out an improved Colt revol-
yer, 3S-caliber Il carry two of these
with me or two Colts deringer pistols
when on the road. practice shoot
ing regularly, and 1 think / can hit
fve-cent piece at fifty paces.'
Il can tell you the life of diamond
broker is one that requires nerve, and
a great deal of sharpness. In the west
last summer ,on my way from Denver
to Chicago, discovered was follow
ed by q man who had got wind of my
vocation and the diamonds / carried
with me. 1 had On alligator skin trav-
cling bag, which Ihad put up in the
rack over my head in the railroad car
He evidently thought I was fool e.
nough to put my diamonds in that
bag, by the way he eyed it. At a
way station, about one hundred miles
this side of Denver, we had twenty
minutes for dinner. went out with
the rest, leaving the bag in the rack.
Instead of going to the dinner table I
took up my stand at the window look
ing toward the cars. I saw this fel-
low walk up to the rack, take down
the bag and throw the strap of it over
his shoulders. With a satisfied smile
he walked down the steps of the car,
and started out through the station.
A shot from my revolver caused him
to stop and nearly frightened him to
death. He gaye.up the bag, which
only held some soiled linen and such
things, and I let him go. / have
ovroorr +;,,o n cro ont