Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-30

VICIOUS PEoPLE-HE IS FAMILIAR FIGURE IN
HAUSTs OF wIcKEDSEss, AND DANGER Is
ALWAYS AT HIS ELBOW.
81 get the highest salary paid to any wine
drummer in this country, said the cadaverous-
looking man with the fur-trimmed overcoat
and silver-Inounted travelling case in the smok-
ing compartment on the road from Baltimore
to Washington. II receive S20,0 200 year for
selling champagne and earn every cent of the
money"
lis it such very hard work. then?' asked THE
STAR reporter. wonderngly, as he bit off the
end OF the peri cto just given him, lighted 1t
and reclned in an attitude of expectant atten-
ton on the opposite seat.
Selling champagne is a very easy and very
difficult employment" responded the CONNER
clal traveller, paradoxicslly. whether it is
difficult or easy depends upon circumstances.
man Is not paid 100000 per annum for loaf
ing around III the clubs and recommending
this or that brand to ones feilow-dudes. Nor
Is such an income earned by exercising powers
professionally persuasive upon wholesale deal
ers and the like. 1t is quite another branch OF
the business that offers the big wages to the
few men who are capable Of executing its du-
ties. The pay is large because the occupation
is proportlonately hazardous"
THE PERIL OF IT.
You don't mean dangerous?'
gerous. 1t is very disagreeabie ALSO besides
requiring great experience wide acquaintance
and no little skill To be successful in 1t one
must be comparatively reckless of danger, in
different to the maintenance of personal repu-
tation and capable of making himself popular
III all sorts of society, down to the very dregs Of
dissipated humanity. OF all trades mine, 1
and that is precisely the reason why it is that
an expert in it is paid SO highly"
But had always supposed that champagne
selling was the easiest and most agreeable work
possible"
THE ordinary wine-agent's labor is common
place enough and not at ali unpleasant, but my
line in the business is altogether apart. and,
though the most important in the trade, sur
prlslngly little is known regarding it, Per-
haps some folks might think the less said the
better, but If you like I'll tell you a few facts
about it,
Pray do SO. am much interested"
He KNOWS ALL THE WICKED PEOPLE
"Well, of course, sell wine wherever and
whenever 1 can-to wholesalers, hotels, or in
dividuals. but my specific line of work is to get
orders from patrons of class not recognized
as reputable by the gospe!-temperance
element of the community. Saloon
keepers of the better class are
among the least Objectionable of my custom
ers. Gather before your minds eve all the
establishments in the United States organized
for disreputable purposes; consider collec-
lively all the dives and places of dissipated
resort IN the country; assemble within the
range of your mental vision the entire num-
Der OF haunts for vice and wickedness from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the gulf coast
to the Canada border, and you are overlooking
the field of my professional exertions. Cham
payne Is the essence of dissipation, as you
might say. inasmuch as its consumption usually
accompanies every sort of mal-amusement
Enn 70 t1n-ntt larA IL.
poor to buy the real stuff they must have an
Imitation if they have money to squander. My
range of work extends from 9th street and
9Th avenue, New York city, to the bloodhound
guarded dens of Wisconsin, the gambling bells
of Chicago and the opium Joints of San Fran
cisco, through the big towns east of the Missis-
sippi and along the line of VIGOROUSLY bad
towns from the Father of River westward, with
an occasional excursion to the south, it is my
task to make my never-ending way, travelling
expenses paid. To sum the matter mp there
is scarce a dissipated quarter in any town on
the American continent that is not my stamp
ing ground. l am acquainted in every den; 1
know every dive keeper; L am on familiar
terms with every gambler of prominence-in
short. the entire vicious population of the coun-
try forms my social and business circle. This
knowledge, with the experience 1t implies. is
what chiefly makes me worth 100000 a year to
the company that employees me- and am cheap
at the price, considering the number of bottles
per annum that sell. The incidental danger,
too, must be taken into view."
and where does that come imp
"Where does it come in? Why, Young man.
do you suppose that person can spend his
time from years end to years end in and about
the worst haunts of vice from Washington city
to the Golden Gate without being frequently
exposed to peril. Five times have l been at
tackled in dens, where l was cornered and only
escaped with my life by using or threatening
with my revovers; twice 1 have eluded muir
derously disposed entertainers by lowering
myself from my bed room window; on four oc-
casions 1 have been robbed of all my personal
effects, even to my sample case, and once l was
all but lynched on suspicion Of stealing six
mules. Danger! Look here"
GOES LOADED.
The travelling man opened his frock coat and
revealed to view belt snugly fitted around his
waist with two small pistols of heavy caliber
and Bowie knife stuck in it.
al never go anywhere without that eouip-
ment," said he, land in the far western towns
1 wear it on the outside. People shoot and cut
quicker out there"
Il don't think 1 should care to be a wine
agent" remarked The STAR reporter with
some emphasis-"not even for $4,000 a year."
at all depends upon the line of trade" re-
sponded the champagne seller. my run of
business is little rough on the nerves. Vice,
dare say, is all very well when pursued for
fun: but when it is made a business of it ceases
to be amusing"
Written for THE EVENING STAR
THE STnRV IN THE nam