Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-22
BEGaAas. PEDpLERs AND
BOOK AGENTS
ARE WARNED OFF THE PGEAIsEs,


l never had been so insulted in my life
The circumstance was fortunate, however,
for instead of utterly disaeartening me it
made me furious. l must have looked so, for
the young man muttered half apology and
pointed TO a desk within railing at the
other side of the room. As walked past
dozens Of salesmen and bookkeepers l OBJ
served that they winked at each other, as
| much as TO say: Another OF 'en, and
| dsisy, amt shef7 But my blood was up. and
bore down on the proprietor. He srnilingly
| invited me to enter, opening the gate him
self, and inquired what he could do for me
| You can subscribe for my book, if you
please" l answered, disregarding Mrs. Jud-
sons injunction TO lead up to the subject by
easy and diplomatic stages. The proprietor's
manner changed completely. He wheeled
around to his desk and said, without looking
at me:
F5s-.--. --s.l--sssr read sign
the door relating to beggars, peddlers and
book agents
Pardon me, sir answered: II did read
1t, and my principal reason for disregardinS
it was that wished to tell you that it is q
shame to you and disgrace to the establish
mentn
The shaft went home Ny victim blew a
long whistle and beamed upon me.
We'll, like that. But l won't have it
taken down What's your book aboutm
ut is about something you never heard Of
1t will teach you good manners took the
| book from the case and opened it at the title
page.
"Humphl American Etiquetter Guess l
know how to handle my knife and fork
saw that had used the goad sufficiently,
and so said, blandly:
SUCCESSFUL sTRATAGEM
"Will you submit to an examination, and
if you fail to answer the first question buy a
bookr
IAN right This is getting interesting Go
ahead
when you have finished dinnes what
should you do with you knife and fork-lay
them on your plate crossed or side by sidei"
"Why, side by-or crossed, | mean, of
course"
"Lostm l said, triumphantly. Put your
name right down here, please"
He didn't stop to argue the point, but put
his name down with the best grace possible.
Then he went with me to the floor walker, to
whom he said that was an exception to the
rule and was to have the freedom of the
house The floor walker was unable to con
ceGl his curiosity, and l lost no time in cap
turing him. The proprietors name at the
head of the list was irresistible. 1t was the
entering wedge, and l forced the campaign
with vigor. The bookkeepers and salesmer
ceased wiuking at each other and put dowr
their names like little men. When left the
store at lunch time had twenty-five name.
| q O c - D.
withstanding the phenomenal success Of my
first plunge, went home in q state of abjec
misery, vowing never to solicit another
order ii it was to save me from starvation
One little incident the like of which is tn.
perpetual horror of the female book agent
existence spoiled all the triumph of tn,
morning
A THOROUGHLY MEAN MAN.
was about to leave the store when N,
last customer said:
You haven't got the shipping clerk
order yet. You will find him in that httl
= office at the rear of the store"
knocked at the shipping clerks door an
was admitted. He was big, coarse ma
with stubby beard. He shut the door bs
hind me and said familiarly:
You've moved them down right and let,
haven't your
They have been quick to sec the merits G
the book" said ''Will you put your nam
down for one1n
why, certainly" and, leaning toward m
as though to write his name, the first kns'
be had kissed me twice on the cheek.
l don't know how got out of that NOR
ster's den, but l do know that it was MOI
than q week before all the persuasive power
of Mrs Judson could induce mo to repeat tt
experiment.
This is the unbearable feature Of the bus
ness. II insults are offered you have no q
- formative bu. to bear them in silence.-"Ms
4 Blossonn in Chicago Tribune