Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-07-18
A Successful Salesman.

Mr.. w. w. Harper, formerly of this city,
but who has been with Messrs E. 3. Jatfray
& Co, dry goods dealers, New York, for the
past twenty-five years. is here on visit to
bis old home. Mr.. Harper is considered
one OF the most successful statesmen In the
country, having averaged during the last
quarter of a century, over one thousand do
lars day in Gales. which makes total
of nine million ono hundred and twenty. i've
thousand dollars for mis- terta Of service.
Fabrics, Fancy Goods and Notions speaks as
follows of Mr.. Harper:
"Mr Harper has Il vast territory-seVeral
States In fact. He began to sell goods for
the firm when they had small line as
compared with what dry goods house now
carries-only three departments. If he
wished 10 see his customers, he could not
engage luxurious sleeper in an express
train, and, travelling over night. be with bis
customers after breakfast next day. He
was obliged to use fatboat. horse, and
where horse could not go, mule, and
many, many miles had to be done With
'ahank's mare". Hotels ! not much tav-
ern, poor 10 Accommodations, but usually
having a hospitable landlord, aud when he
did rot make his connection with the tav-
ern, customers home was his habitation.
Inc. DOus6 LOT WulCu ITO bciiS ROOuS LOS
made for itself reputation, second to none
In the country-and, consequently, in the
world-for fair dealing. and fu.filment of it's
promises But this was not enough. 1t
was essential to keep apace with the times,
their requirements, to add from time to
time new departments ln the business, new
branches which necesstated active and in
telligent buyers, men who could, 10 their
special fortes, buy and sell as perfect.goods
at as low a figure as any of their compell
tors. Bling thus supported by live pro-
gressive house, the saleman's personal pol
ularity with his acquaintances came
into play. Mr. Fl. fods it necessary to
see all his trade at least twice a
year. II they 10 not go to New York to
buy at the epring and fall seasons it ia e.
genital that he visit them. If customer
comes on and buys bill his care and atten.
ton 10 the customer does not cease with his
departure; it rather increases With the
more active competition there comes the me-
cessty for closer watching of the trade, to
ace that none is weaned away from their
frat love A merchant after looking at a
drummer's line of samples from rival
house, and being impressed by them, makes
up bis mihd TO Call at the uew house to see
what they have before going to the old. If
this was permitted, without an effort by
Mr. a. to direct his customers steps
from the broad road which leads to many
rivals, to the narrow road which leads to his
own house, in a few years he would have
no trade, and his me, can.ile life would be
ended But when the merchant arrives the
fret man 10 see him st his hotel is MIR. Fl. and
as fer az possible he keeps him under his ey g
aud away from dangerous rivals. II be
goes to the old house, be sees so many new
things, and SO many old and friendly faces,
that his allegiance is as strong or stronger
than ever. There are men who have been
even more successful than Mr.. H., because
having larger sphere but let your sphere
be large or snail, improve what you have
got and greater things will be yours. Re-
memberjhe parable of the faithful servants
and the talents"