Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-05-30
cANVAsslNG AS A euslNro,
One Hundred Thousand at n =.
Country, Though 1t Pavs p.-.

One Hundred Thousand AT r,
Country. Though 1t Pays Poor,-
"You often see adyertiserno..
agents to sell one article or
promising 800 week to a livs,r
but there Is nc sr.~a money in -.
less. said an old hand TO a report.
othar day. "a clever man c-r
twenty-five dollars week as a tra-
salesman or canvas~er if he has
Ezs. rate thing to dispose Of bpt q
about the limit.
"Of course l am not speakine =.
regularly employed commission -
who drum for large houses and of,es
big salaries, but of the army Of No.
probably 100000 strong, who
themselves from the big cities an y
the United States in pursuit az -.
for everything under the sun -
marketable, from a subscription -
patent instantaneous mustard rl.-
Of that number $4,000 are book -
1t is that line which is chiefly az L
by women, who do not hesitate toam,i
all the persuasions of their sex in
pursuit of their industry. ODnosa5
them the male book agent is at a ~
vantage, having neither smiles nor IN
that would be effective wherewitb +,
tort subscription from the unwind
customer. Besides, a woman is ma, Il
ly to be kicked ont or have a doc
upon her
Undoubtedly the modest sex is 4,
in petucoats, but when it comes m y
ing books woman can usually discn1
a man every time. Why. I know :,
In this very town who do not hesitate
go to receptions at private houses
asked and tackle any one with wb1
they may get into conversation. dra
ing from beneath their cloaks wbata1
volume they may be engaged in trv-
to circulate One advantage only h
/ know of is possessed by the male bo
agent which his female rival does !
possess, and that is his opportunity
exercising his fascination upon the !
want women wherever he goes, who !
very much addicted to buying books
that way.
"In the trade there is a distinct,
made between the salesman and the "a
vasser, the former selling at wholesi
usually and the latter at retail. a tray,
ing agent sci S either on the installns
plan or for cash or both ways On ca
sales he gets 10 per cent. Of the procee
as his commission; if he sells on the i
stallment plan, by which the purchas
pays so much on what he buys, he
ceives 20 per cent. when the order I
the article is delivered by him to {
firm which employs him. Goods 4
sent him G. o. d. for cash purchasers;
agent returns the full amount be
ceives, and out of that is given his 90
mission. Agents are not allowed to 5
goods for less than the prices indieat
on the lists of the firm, though they
permitted by some concerns to sell
more if they can.
Next to the book agents car gass
for patented articles are most numero
and this sort of canvassing has increa
very largely within recent years. 7
coffee, silverware and pictures are
tensively sold in the same manner.
male canyassers confine themselves
most wholly to light literature, such
novels or books of poems, photogra
albums, corsets, silyerware and Dire
making cha ts
"Yes, we lose a great deal of mon
by the dishonesty of people who buy
the installmant plan and do not pay.
suppose that we have to put down o.
per cent. of our sales on that basis
dead loss, but we are reconciled to it
the fact that we charge more for t
goods when cash is not paid-enoU
additional, in fact, to recoup US
can afford, therefore, to take chano
Installmeut buyers are VIGOROUSLY 81,
and delinquent in their payments, B
mild threats, judiciously formulat,
usually fetcu the money where nothi
else will serve. Washington Star.