Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-11-09
THE AMERICAN 'DRUMMeR.'
Child of the Hagman OF Former Years.
, but Greater Than His Parent.

Child of the Eagman Of Former Years,
but Greater Than His Parent.
The commercial traveller OF tho
United States illustrates the growth
and extension and improvement and
elevation of the world and human
ity. Gcncalogically he is deccnded
from the laglnan OF the last century,
who figures III SO many stories he
who travelled on horseback selling
goods by sample, as distinguished
from the pedllrr who sold the artl-
cles themselves. The bagman, de-
irving his title from his saddlcbags,
represented the extension of com
lncrrc and the growth of manutac-
lures. He effected the direct con-
ucction between the Wholesaler and
tho retailer; between the port and
the interior; between the ccntcrs of
commerce and the manufactures and
the widespread country. lie was
the ambassador the missionary or
trade.
With the coming of railroads and
steamboats, the horseback traveller
and his saddlcbaGs gradually dlSap
pearcd, and so the name bagman
went ont of use. The original labors
of this dissemination of trade were
greatly increased in this country, and
from the fact that his business was
to vigorously solicit business with
an energy like that Of the "alarmlng
drum came the apr"llation "drnm-
mer," still in use. bat with the IN
creasing magnitude, and, as may be
said the increasing dignity of his
operations, came a yet more compre-
lcnsivc designation, and the bag
man of old became the commercial
traveller of today, as much greater
than his commercial ancestor as Il
locomotive is in power than a horse,
and as the colossal sample trunk OF
the nineteenth century is to the sad
dlebags of the eighteenth.
The commercial traveller, muster
ing hv thousands, is now a great FAC
tor and feature il American business
and social life. The value and ncces-
sity of the commercial traveller have
been SO fully demonstrated that there
is no longer any talk of dispensing
with him. As every religion must
have lis preachers, 50 commerce,
trade, business, must have its speak
ing ministers and agents, its stump
,rs" solicitors and orators. Ihes plrlt
Of organization which distinguishes
the century has reached the commer-
cial travellers. They form a great
society, and they have divided and
subdivileI the land among them.
necessarily travelling, they have dl-
rectly and indirectly regulated lines
and facilities of travel, Every raul
road line has felt their influence, and
they have raised the hotel standard
of the country
The commercial traveller, being an
American citizen and usually a voter,
is necessarily a politician, and If he
does not control elections G.nd he has
been known to do that he becomes
a good Judge @s to how the election
is GONG. He moves about among the
people ana hVuolNGSa "people'S man.
He is an authority on popular events
and questions. II" connects distant
communities. fosters the exchange OF
IDEAS, carries the news and chcrlShce
tho brotherhood of man. Kansas
City Star.
Ihr Hrst tn"ss Players,
In what part Of the world is chess
most hunored: Before the close OF
the last century the best players were
of the Latin race Italians, Portu
gucsc and Spaniards. Their names
were Greco. Lucena, Saliva, Iarrcra,
Damiana and Lopez. Libraries are
crowded with the works of these
men Oh chess or with the Transitions
OF their bu KS.
After having held thrrhoss sceptcr
for several centuries, the glory of the
Latin race has departed. 1t does not
look todayus if til" l.&;ins would ever
wrcst victory from their conqucrora
The great players who are Germans
SIavs or Anglo Saxons, have left us
far in the rear. The Jews are the
great players I have had a list made
cut OF the G2 great chess players Of
the world, ard Is Of these are Jews
Soac are from Poland, others from
hungary. All the great Jewish chess
players aye professional. '-RcTue
DIES DcuX MondcS.