Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-16
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER,
Items of Interest to the Men on the
Road.
AN UNFORTUNATE TOURIST
They Caught a Tartar-An Important
Subject-Omaha's Sunday Guests
Tho Pharmacists
Samples.
A Gifted But Unfortunate Tourist.

n ADuN OANNNt
"Ihave read some very entertaining stories
on travelling statesmen in the BEE,'' said Gus
Moser the well known traveller for Il. A.
Wright s. Co, cigars, ST. Louis. 81 should
not be surprised" continued the traveller, elf
some of these were exaggerated to a slight
degree. However, the one l I'm going TO tell
you is an absolute fact and as a consequence
may not be very interesting. l began my
career as a commercial traveller in 1878 and
was assigned to a territory previously trav-
eled by an old and experienced tourist whom
we will call Whitman, and who, by all his
acquaintances was dubbed Pap. My as
signment TO this territory was for the reason
that Whitman had been discharged. For
many years he had been a hard drinker and
as time passed on the indulgence of his APP
petite increased until after repeated new
trials and renewed promises Of moderation
in his libations the house for which Whit
man travelled was compelled to discharge
him. He has never again appeared
on the road, and now a man of nearly fifty
five years, he is dependant for support
upon two sons, and is living in a Missouri
village, where he will undoubtedly end his
days. In many ways Whitman was n re-
markable man. He had received an excel
lent education, and was u graduate of an
eastern college. His parents had hoped that
he might be put in shape for the ministry,
medicine, or law, but from the events of his
early career at college the former calling was
deemed to be entirely out of the question,
while for the other professions the young
man had absolutely no taste. For some un-
accountable reason he took up the carpen-
ter's trade, and was really an expert in his
line. For several years he followed his
trade, and at the age of twenty-seven in the
year 1859 Whitman began his career as a
commercial traveller. During the war he
was q private in the Seventh Illinois regi-
ment, and was enlisted at Springfield in that
state. He never rose from the ranks, and
yet he was regarded as a good soldier, and
was very popular with all his comrades.
When peace was declared he again
went OH the road and continued that pul-
suit until 1873. For the period of the last
ten years on the road Whitman was a hard
tinker and lost his position at least five
times, each time being returned on promise
of doing better. During oil this time Whit
man, whose wife had died in 1867, had
claimed as his home the village of p in
Missouri, where he passed all his vacations
and debauches. AS n consequence he was
known to all the villagers. Every man, wo-
man and child knew Pap Whitman and ap-
preciated his faults, which were few, and his
merits, which were many. Whitman had a
splendid command of language and was a
welcome guest to any circle. In his W
home he achieved the reputation of a natural
born wit. / recall several incidents which
actually happened, of which he was the CEN
trail figure. When on a spree Pap made the
saloons OF the village his constant place oil
abode. 1t mattered not whether he had the
ducats, he never went dry. Upon one of his
sprees he had a heated debate with an Irish
man, who was enjoying his pay day, as to the
relative physical strength of the two.
The controversy waxed warm when "Pap ,
volunteered the Information that he could
with ease pitch the son of Erin across the
B. river, a small creek flowing by the
town. Astouuded at the audacity of such a
proposition the Irishman offered to wager a
- l.--.. .l,4 H. 1-r 4 a,, ~, an, aA,1l ,1t
carry out his proposition. An arbitrator was
selected and it was decided that If Pap
should accomplish his task in three trials
the beer should be his; should he fail at the
end of these three throws the beer would be
"Pap's.' A large crowd followed the prin-
cipals to the river. Both dotted their coats,
and the interesting contest began. "Pap'
picked up the unfortunate Irishman, and
with quite an effort pitched him out into the
middle of the stream, where the poor fellow
landed on his feet up to his chin in water.
Furious with rage the son of Erin waded out
of the stream and started for Whitman,
heaping many imprecations on his head. AS
cool and calm as could be Pap put up his
hand to ward off a blow, and with his pecu,
liar twang exclaimed, Two mo- times, sab
Two mo- times OF course the Irishman
would not risk 'Pap's' strength again, and
the arbitrator decided the all-round drinks
were on him. Pap apologized for the ill
success Of his effort, yet ever after that he
t'iu iho i''SiA ''~' wv 'DSAS 80 sAiNy
passed by.
Another incident will illustrate the humor
of this really gifted yet unfortunate man.
On one occasion in the same town a very in
teresting revival was being conducted by a
prominent evangelist. The house was
provided night after night and each occasion
found Pap Whitman an Interested though
more or less intoxicated auditor. One of the
leading spirits of the occasion was Uncle
Tommy Haislip, a man of means who wor
shipped his creator on the Sabbath and gold
the balance of the week, He was the Shy
lock of the place and had ground many an
unfortunate into abicct poverty. AT one of
these meetings the evangelist in the course of
his remarks, exclaimed, Where, oh, where,
my friends, is the drunkard tonight; where
is he nowl' Like a spectre the familiar form
of Pap Whitman rose in the rear OF the room
and in a voice not as steady as it might be,
the old tourist replied: "Here |
am, sab; here ! am or course
minister and auditor were alike shocked, but
the former found voice to say: MY friend, |
meant nothing personal; my question was
general. With which Pap silently resumed
his seat. Further on in his discourse the
clergyman again exclaimed: My friends,
where is the hypocrit to-day! Where is he
nowl' Once more Pap Whitman totteredt TO
his feet. Pointing a long bony finger in the
direction OF Haislip, he exclaimed: Uncle
Tommy Haislip, answer your call, sab, by
lingo, | answered mine 1t was but natural
that amid all the solemnity of the occasion a
poorly suppressed litter should pass through
the congregation. Pap instantly retired,
however, in the hands of friends, And yet
this same man who was endowed with con
siderable ability is now a human wreck. He
acquired his love of strong drink during his
army life, and was not strong enough to re
sist the many temptations which surrounded
him In his career as IA travelling saleman.
With all these temptations around them 1t is
TO tho credit of the commercial travellers OF
to-day That the great majority are sober and
prosperous men"
The Pharmacists.
The Nebraska State Pharmaceutical asso.
citation will meet at Lincoln, May s, 9 and
10. This association IS composed of regis.
tered pharmacists of the state, and has for
its objects the advancement of their inter
ests and the discussion of questions affect
ing the druggist. The meeting will be held
at Bohanon's hall. The hall will be filled
with beautiful and interesting displays by
the leading drug houses of the state, and
there is every indication that the session will
be one of the greatest interest and profit TO
all who attend. Reduced hotel rates have
been secured, and all the railroads agree to
give one and one-third fare for the round
trip, The state laboratory will be thrown
open for the inspection of the visitors, and
several lectures will be delivered. The