Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-12-12
HOW TO SELL BOOKS.
EMBRYONIC AGENTS INITIATED INTO
THE MYSTERIES.

1t Is doubtful II many of the peop,e so
constantly bothered by the perennial hook
agent know that the patient, glib jndiyid-
uai who rattles off the stereotyped address
me instant the dooris opened to him or her
las studied and practiced his Grafton as
carefully as the prima donna does her aria
or the eiocutionist his recitation. Such Is
.ne TACT nevertheless and, stranger still.
mere are several places in town where reg
uiar classes for the training Of canvassers
are held, and where they learn to declaim
their patter with what the instruction cir
GUITARS given them call dramatic effect"
Inc writer went yesterday to visit a
friend whose office is In certain great
building down town and found his door
closed and decorated with 'gone to
iunch sign. While she impatiently pa
croiied the corridor waiting for him to re-
turn she heard queer sounds proceeding
from door at the other end and staid her
steps to listen.
nave here, ladies and gentlemen" said
q pleasant voice with very perfect intona-
ZION, "a most wonderful book-one which
you VIII never get chance to buy again.
Splendid illustrations, good type, perfect
pihdlng; It Is indeed a gem there dramatic
pause), and the price Is only $50"
for about 10 minutes longer the voice
continued to talk rapidly in the same strain.
and then after a moments silence some
one else took up the parable.
Stopl" cried the first voice, "you can do
better than that"
Inc second voice began again, and after
several more failures carried it to a suc-
cessful termination.
"NextP' was called, and the performance
commenced again with trembling. uuayer-
ing apology for voice trying to carry the
burden.
The door of the room from which the
voices came was Of frosted glass, of course.
but the letters forming the name of the
company were clear, SO applying her eve
TO the largest capital the writer obtained
coveted look into the mysterious cham
Der. Seated along the side opposite the
door were about 20 people of both sexes
ana nearly every grade of Eocal life.
from the pert young maiden fresh from the
school to the tired teacher anxious to make
living during the summer months, and
the careworn man who had failed in all
the other ways of working possible to him
In front of them stood the owner of the
pleasant voice, a tall, good looking fellow
OF ~ or whereabouts, and as each member
OF the class in turn rected the foregoing he
reproved, commended and encouraged
them. Occasionally one would be told to
study the circular more thoroughly. and
after listening to the others try again. and
sometimes the instructor would remark:
"That'll do. You're all right"
Every pupil seemed to be in dead earnest.
and one or two chung to their prospectus
with frantic grip born of despair. Some
recited with great boldness and confidence.
others blushed and stammered, and for
each and all the leader had an encouraging
word.
Later, her business outside completed
the writer boldly entered the book compa
ny's room and stated her desire to see some
OF the people who advertised for agents. A
courteous gentleman showed her several
books, gave terms and advised her as to her
selection.
Most young ladies do better in the bust.
ness offices, he said, "but you, think, had
better keep to the houses and deal with
ladies. Crhe writer is not gifted with per-
sonal beauty AS to experience, yol
study this little booklet and practice on
some friend or relative" and reckoning to
the class leader he turned the seeker after
information over to him.
II think you would make good can
vasser," this gentleman remarked cheer
fully as a beginning. "Your manner is
pleasant, and your hands are small and
pretty; besides l am good judge of char
acter, and | know you possess determine
tion."
But have no experience" she suggested,
"and don't know how to get it. Shall
go into the business on the hit or miss plan
and try to gain it?"
"Oh, by no MEANS" smiled her listener
You could not do worse. You study the
circular we give you and then come down
here, and we'll help you. You shall try TIC
sell us a book, and we will try to sell you
one."
"Oh, do you have regular CLASP" ex-
claimed the writer impulsively and as it
proved very unwisely, for her adviser gave
her keen look and ceased talking. Evil
IDENTIFY that class was a trade secret, not to
be parted with until sure of the agent.
Hastily collecting lot of circular pam
phlets and letters of ''advice to agents" the
suddenly silent man crammed them into
the outside pocket of the supposed employ
ment seekers satchel, and advising her to
read them all carefully before selecting a
book to solicit for babe her brief good
morning" and returned to his desk.
And truly those little booklets made
funny reading. Some of them had strong
family resemblance to that famous old
recipe for cooking hare which began,
First catch your hare" Between the
covers of those instructions" We're found
directions for everything in the way of can
wasting, from the best manner in which to
attract the attention of a probable buyer,
excite his curiosity and leave it still unsat-
isfied, down to such minor points as keep
your linen clean and your shoes always
bright and freshly BACKED" battle FIRE
quently and be sure your breath is sweet
and your teeth Clean" and 'if you chew to
bacco do so in private and rinse your mouth
afterward."
The prospective book agent was instruct
ed how to get into the best houses, how to
ktay there when once inside, how to acquire
the admiration of ladies and how to use any
personal magnetism he might possess. The
ladies were told how to dress so as to COM
mand the best and most respectful atten-
ton, and one and all were repeatedly urged
to come to the office when ready to start,
and we will give you final instructions,
which may be worth millions Immense
capitals) to YOU"
This last bit of advice might be good to
follow in case one really wanted to adopt
the calling of lady book agent, but it will
be cold day when the writer goes there
again, and she shivers to think what might
happen should that pleasant, insinuating
class leader (who according to the adver-
tisement of his firm, treats all beginners
Ia discover