Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-04
BE0GARs. PEDDLERs AND
BOOK AGENTS
ARE WARNED oEF THE PREMISES.

I 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 desk within a railing at the
other side Of the room. As walked past
dozens of statesmen and bookkeepers l OBJ
served that they winked at each other, as
much as to say: another of 'em, and a
daisy, amt she?' But my blood was up and
bore down on the proprietor. He smilingly
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" 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:
"You evidently didn't read the sign near
the door relating to beggars, peddlers and
book agents"
Pardon me, SIR" answered; 81 did read
it, and my principal reason for disregarding
it was that wished to tell you that it is q
shame TO you and a disgrace to the establish
ment."
long whistle and beamed upon me-
swell, like that. But l won't have it
taken down. What's your book about?'
sit is about something you never heard Of
1t will teach you good manners" took tho
book from the case and opened it at the titIs
page.
''Humphl American Etiquetter Guess l
know how to handle my knife and fork"
l saw that had used the goad sufficiently,
and SO said, blandly:
A SUCCESSFUL sTRATAGEM
"Will you submit to an examination, and
il you fail to answer the first question buy a
bookr
GAN right. This is getting interesting. Go
ahead"
''When you have finished dinner what
should you do with you knife and fork-lay
them on your plate crossed or side by sidea'
"Why, side by-or crossed, mean, of
course"
"LostlnI 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 be said that was an exception to the
rule and was to have the freedom of the
house. The floor walker was unable to con-
ceal his curiosity, and lost no time in cap
turing him. The proprietor's name at the
head of the list was irresistible. 1t was the
entering wedge. and l forced the campaign
with vigor. The bookkeepers and statesmen
ceased winking at each other and put down
their names like little men. When l left the
store at lunch time had twenty-five nanes
on my list and was $3.50 aheadf But, not
withstanding the phenomenal success Of my
first plunge, went home in state Of abject
misery, vowing never to solicit another
prder if it was to save me from starvation
One little incident the like Of which is the
perpetual horror of the female book agents
existence spoiled all the triumph of the
morning.
THOROUGHLY MEAN NAN.
was about to leave the store when my
last customer said:
You haven't got the shipping clerks
order yet You viii find him IN that little
Office at the rear of the store"
knocked at the shipping clerks door and
was admitted He was big, coarse man
with stubby beard He shut the door be-
hind me and said Familiarity:
you've moved them down right and left,
haven't youE"
They have been quick to see the merits of
the book" said 'Wll you put your name
down for cnez'
why, certainly" and, leaning toward ne
as though to write his name, the first l knew
he had kissed me twice on the cheek
don't know how got out Of that mon
sters den, but do know that it was moro
than a week before ali the persuasive powers
of Mrs Judson could induce me to repeat the
experiment.
This is the unbesrabie feature Of the bust
ness II insults are offered you have no a.
tentative but to bear them in silence.-"Aay
Blossom in Chicago Tribune.