St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-11-26
WOMEN AS DRUMMERS.


That's just my luck" said a COM
mercial traveller In little country
hotel the other day, as he turned IN
disgust from the clerks desk.
What's the matter?" queried
friend.
Matter? Why that fellow Clark
got in here ahead of me and has en-
gagged both of the sample rooms, and
I'll have to show my goods in bed
room"
What does Clark want of two
rooms?"
"Oh, one for his goods and the
other for his wife
His wifel What does his wife
want of sample room ~
she carries a separate line OF
goods and they work the business
together Great scheme, that and
he unused refectively. There they
come now" he added, and the friend
turned in time to see an energetic
looking man of middle age. with a
bright, attractive little woman, APP
preaching. Later an introduction
was sought.
Yes, it is pleasant for each of US
to be able to travel with the other"
said Mrs. Clark. My husband car
ries mems furnishing goods and |
have notions for women, silk hand
kerchiefs and enbroideries. We are
going through this section of coun-
try for the first time and are working
time with both of us, in business, so
we decided to spend the time work
ing up an extra route.
Don't you find it hard work to
keep up with your husband, day
after day, travelling and working ?"
II did at first, but l have learned
how to take things now. | don't
worry and do useless things.
Then John is very good about help
ing me out and waiting for me. Of
course, sometimes l get heavy orders
in a town and he gets light ones.
Then again it will be the other way,
so we help each other"
How did you happen to get into
this work ?''
We'll, various things happened
which pointed out the way. When
my three little ones died, one after
the other, and l was left alone, l be-
gan to miss John as l never had done
before. (And the voice trembled
httle.) He could not leave his bust
ness, for he had a good trade, and
SO. fl he couldn't get out of the work,
l could get in, in order to be near
him. / have worked with my house
for almost two years now-they
seem to be.s atis6ed, and surely am.
But must go now" and she nodded,
smiling.
"Can you do as much work with
your wife along as if you were alone?"
asked the inquirer of Mr.. Clark. He
stopped, thought a minute and said:
''Tll tell you. Soon after the babies
died took to drinking rather heav-
lily. You know what a temptation
drink is to a travelling man. Well,
my wife saw it and, noble little wom-
me- So she worked around until she
Joined me, and we've been together
real reason why she left home for life
on the road till about year and a
half ago-after l had given up drink
dlCOReCneT- yes, L once saved HeT
from drowning-thatw was before we
were married-and now she's evened
things up, you see. This last year
we've made more than double the
money that l ever made in one year
alone, and I've been eight years on
the road"
There are a number Of commercial
women travelling with their hus-
bands. most of them for Chicago
business firms, although few repre-
sent houses in this city and Boston.
The lines of goods they carry vary
from stationery and maps to hard
ware and jewelry. One couple are
travelling through the country with
horse and wagon, dealing in sewing
machines, while another couple are
employing the same method to carry
lines of gloves, mittens. etc. One
woman said that the number OF
women who had taken to CONNER
cial travelling within the last year
was four times as great as in the
previous year.
And why shouldn't women go in
to this business as well as any
other?' she demanded. And why
shouldn't they P New York Tribune
HE NEVER HURT ANYONE.
He was going uptown In Mad1-
son aveu11e car He had bundle IN