Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-02-02
EMBRYONIC AGENTS INITIATED
THE MYSTERIES.

IHe MfSl EhlES.
A school In which Ambitious Book Ped
diers Are Taught to Interest the Elusive
and Outlines Abusive Customer-Les-
sons In Eiocution. Nj
It is doubtful il many of the people SO
constantly bothered by the perennial book
agent know that the patient. glib indiyid-
ual who rattles of the stereotyped address
the instant the dooris opened to him or her
has studied and practiced his Grafton as
carefully as the prima donna does her aria
or the elocutionist his recitation. Such is
the fact nevertheless, and, stranger still,
| there are several places in town where reg
ular classes for the training Of canvassers
| are held. and where they learn to declaim
their patter with what the instruction cir
culars given them call dramatic effect"
| The 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
lunch" sign. While she impatiently pa
trolled 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.
I
pleasant voice with very perfect intona-
ton, "a most wonderful book-one which
you will never get chance to buy again.
Splendid illustrations, good type, perfect
binding; 1t is indeed gem (herc dramatic
pause), and the price Is only $50"
: For about 10 minutes longer the voice
continued to talk rapidly in the same strain,
3 and then after moments silence some
> ono else took up the parable.
"StopI' cried the first voice, ''you can do
| better than that"
The second voice began again, and after
] several more failures carried it to a sue
= cessful termination.
Q "Nextp' was called, and the performance
s commenced again with a trembling, quavcr-
r ing apology for o voice trying to carry the
!, burden.
I The door of the room from which the
y voices came was Of frosted glass, of course,
n but the letters forming the name of the
t. company were clear, SO applying her eye
e to the largest capital the writer obtained
Ie a coveted look into the mysterious cham
d ber Seated along the side opposite the
D. door were about 20 people of both sexes
and nearly every grade Of rocial life,
70 from the pert young maiden fresh from the
y school to the tired teacher anxious to makf
s. a living during the summer months, and
r. the careworn man who had failed in all
Sc the other ways of working possible to him
" In front of them stood the owner of tn,
Il pleasant voice, a tall, good looking fellos
ID of so or thereabouts, and as each membe!
n Of the class in turn recited the foregoing h,
rs reproved, commended and encourage,
m them. Occasionally one would be told t,
pt study the circular more thoroughly, ant
after listening to the others try again, an,
f,of,
as "That'll do. You're all right"
us Every pupil seemed to be in dead earnest
to and one or two chung to their prospects,
U.s. with a frantic grip born of despair. Som
ne recited with great boldness and confidence
nd others blushed and stammered, and IA
TX each and all the leader had an encouragin
lite word.
up Later, her business outside completed
VI the writer boldly entered the book comp,
ne ny's room and stated her desire to see som
ire of the people who advertised for agents
pa courteous gentleman showed her sever;
ed books, gave terms and advised her as to ht
selection.
Most young ladies do better in the bus
loo ness offices, he said, "but you, think, ha
~ better keep to the houses and deal wit
io' ladies. (The writer is not gifted with pc
sonal beauty) AS to experience, yo
nd study this little booklet and practice {
,rk some friend or relative" and reckoning
m the class leader he turned the seeker aft.
mn information over to him.
NE II think you would make good ca
l.. vasser,n this gentleman remarked chez
=. fully as a beginning. "Your manner
-, pleasant, and your hands are small al
uu pretty; besides am good judge of cha
~ acter, and know you possess deterinin
us t ::.:Jf.
ost "But have no experience, she suggeste
,er land l don't know how to get It. Shall
TOO go into the business on the hit or miss pl,
~. and try to gain iti'
"Oh, by no MEANS" smiled her listene
Is "You could not do worse You study Il
'iu circular we give you and then come dow
here, and we'll help you. You shall try
sell us book, and we will try to sell y,
onen
las "Oh, do you have a regular clasp Q
ian claimed the writer impulslvely and as
nei proved very unwisely, for her adviser ga
Of her keen look and ceased talking X,
m IDENTIFY that class was trade secret, not
nm be parted with until sure Of the ager
IN Hastily collecting lot OF circular pal
phlets and letters of ''advice to agents. t
suddenly silent man crammed them In
ea' the outside pocket of the supposed emplo
rg ment seekers satchel, and advising her
,m book to solicit for babe her brief ''go
ned morning" and returned to his desk.
ing And truly those little booklets ma
,sv funny reading. Some Of them had stro
family resemblance to that famous c
recipe for cooking hare which begs
First catch your hare" Between I
covers OF those instructions" were fou
St directions for everything In the way of cs
the vassing, from the best manner in which
be attract the attention of a probable buy
in excite his curiosity and leave it still uns
,yo lsded, down to such minor points as IKE
:, your linen clean and your shoes alws
bright and freshly blacked, battle (
quently and be sure your breath is sw,
SeS and your teeth Clean" and IF you chew
rty bacco do SO in private and rinse your mou
the afterward."
my The prospective book agent was instru
lne ed how to get into the best houses, how
. Il stay there when once inside, how TO acqu
,s.s the admiration of ladies and how to use a
No. personal magnetism he might possess I
ladies were told how to dress so as TO CO
mand the best and most respectful att
tion, and one and all were repeatedly ure
to come to the Office when ready to sta
nny and we will give you final instructio
ami which may be worth millions dmmel
ars capitals) to YOU"
I IA - - - = =.