The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-21
THE BOOK cANvAssERs.
lNew York Graphie.,


 In no other part of the world is canvas sing carried on on 90 large scale as in tn, United States, particularly in the city 0 New York. Advertisements can be reas in almost every daily issue of our metro politan journals offering employment ts to those who will undertake this mode o gaining living. Yet it is an occupation that not one man in hundred will sue ceed in. It attracts that very large clas: who have by some means or other failed in what it generally termed |" the genteel profession" and so clerks, lawyers, au. thors, actors, artists and many clergymer take to it. Canvassing appears at first a very easy way of realizing an income Yet 1t is one of the most difficult; for a man to be good "canvasser" must in reality have thorough knowledge of the world and be keen judge of everyday lite No matter what position in life a man may be in-brown.stone mansion man or tenement"house man n-he will no, generally deny, for mere vanity's sake but what "he's reader" although prob ably some have no little difficulty in rec. ognizing one author from another. In canvassing book the canvasser must be able to freely speak of the author and his works, the illustrations, the binding and the publishers.
 "You see," said an old canvasser a few days since to reporter, when you canvass a book yeu have to carry it with you. Consequently when you approach the man or house, the book canvasser' is at once recognized, and you get refusal m some shape or other before you can hardly utter a word. Now sir, you would be surprised at the success of women as canvassers'-they far outshine the men. The fact of being one of the gentler sex is largely in their favor. The sight of a neatly dressed and perhaps good looking woman tramping around in search of a livelihood touches the tender impulses of the heart.' The lady canvasser gains the eHtree where the gentleman canvas ser would fear to tread. AS 6 rule the former merely carries prospectus or a sample sheet of the book with her. This, of course can be concealed or rolled up like document. She calls on bankers, merchants and people of leisure. The notice of mo peddlers allowed in this building she disregards. The janitor, the elevator boys, the office clerk or the domestic servants cannot, of course, tell her errand, and she is politely ushered into the presence of the party she seeks without any difficulty whatever, while the majority of men would have been uncere. moniously denied admittance across the outer hreshold. Once in the presence of the boss the lady Cowper dilates up- on the merits of her book with little fear of rebuff, for most men have a spirit of galiantry in them; so they listen pa. they may think-and possibly order the book. Femsle can- vassers are pretty well-educated class They have been school or music teach. CTS, or they are poor gentlemen's daugh- ters. In dress they are neat, not gaudy, and have a reserved, modest style of manner which always commands atten- tien. If she is middle aged she is per- haps a widow lady who lived in southern affiuence before the war, or a forsaken wife, or an ex-epera singer; and should she find the listener in the melting mood she may drop few remarks about fnan- cial or domestic troubles. Hundreos of Wall street men have ordered books from them they never cared for, or ex- pected to see, purely from feelings of re- spect, admiration or sympathy.
 Sewing machines were another diff cult article to handle. refer," went on the old canvasser, "to the time they were not so common as they are now, when a man had to be well posted about their working gear and the different improve ments being constantly made. lremetn- Der one who was known among the can. vassing fraternity as the Bump Man. He was very successful with the machines, which he attributed to his knowledge of phrenology, and this will show you the many devices men resort to in canvassing. For instance, if this Bump Man should call upon woman to .olicit her order for a sewing machine he would, while making safe, at intervals break of in the conversation and look admiringly at her children. Then he would say, 'Ex- cuse me, madame, but have made phre- nology study in my days of prosperity and that child has very fine head. it will gain some lofty position in the world.' Then would he, while the mothers eyes lit up with pride, examine the juveniles cranium and foretell for it a great suc- cess in some high-sounding profession. Praise the child and capture the mother En~ a ] g..