The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-02
HIS LAST TRIP.
Interesting Facts About Former Port
land Man.

o A veteran travelling man finished his
last business trip through this state last
week and returned through this city
from Aroostook on his way home to
Littleton, N.H... His name is N. B.
Dalton. He is well known in this city,
for twenty-six years has travelled for
John M. Palmer. A few years ago he
came to the conclusion that he had
travelled long enough and retiring from
his position moved to Littleton, N. H.,
where.he became interested in a butter
says with twinkle in his eye, that
took the milk in at one end and brought
it out as butter at the other,s without.
further assistance than setting the.wheels
in motion! But nevertheless, it wasn't
wholly successful and Mr.. Dalton
abandoned the enterprise.
Soon after (about three or four years
ago) he received an offer from a glove
manufacturer in Littleton to travel and
sell goods He replied that he had quit
travelling for good, having done so for
twenty-six years, and having reached an
age that demanded rest from the voca-
tion. But the manufacturer persisted
and told him to name his own salary.
Mr.. Dalton finally named figure that
he thought would Immediately stop,
further talk on the subject, but to his
surprise sthe manufacturer said:
agreed. I'll pay it,"
He had then to admit that he didn't
propose to travel any more under any
conditions, and would have to decline
the liberal salary. But the manufacturer
persisted, claiming that he had made a
bargain and must stand by it.
Finally Mr.. Dalton said: "I'll travel
for you on just one condition. Pm not
going out on the road End try to sell
goods thai DON'T know anything about.
Now my terms are these: go into
your factory and learn the business at
the bench and you pay me while I'm do
ing it the same salary as if I were
travelling"
But the manufacturer couldn't agree to
this. Why" he said, II could employ
three j. neymen Tor that money"
"All right" said Mr.. Dalton, I didn't
suppose you would" and so they parted.
word saying, II accept your terms
Come to the shop and go to work"
The staunch old drummer, with his
white whiskers and three score years,
donned the workman's dress aud went to
work at the bench, cutting out leather
to be made into gloves.
For the first few days the labor was
very severe for him. He weighed 800
pounds, and standing all day caused his
legs and feet to swell painfully But he
kept at it, and in three months could
make gloves as we'll as any of the others,
and even better.
His first trip was through the West.
His natural ability, his lifelong expert
ence, and his mastery of the business
were effective. He sold $4,000 worth of
goods, a remarkable record in the ex
perlence of his firm and it's competitors
He so entirely eclipsed one young, man
representing competing firm, on the
same route, that he lost his position.
He has since travelled through Maine
and built up a fine business in Aroos-
took, that Boston men have tried in
vain to get away from him. On this
last trip he sold in one day in Houlton
over $500 worth of gloves.
He is the father of Melvin Dalton, the
young man. well known here, whose
name appeared in the papers here some
time ago, as the hero of remarkably
lucky deal in gold mine near Denver,
Col. which made him suddenly wealthy.
The facts are all as then stated. Mr..
Dalton visited his son in Colorado last
year and now carries with him several
small pieces of pure gold that he, him
self, procured from mother earth by the
placer process. One of them is as large
as a lozenge and worth $50. Mr.. Dalton
now leaves the travelling business to
ioin his fortunes with his son in
Colorado, and will soon take his dep art
ure from his native New England, over
which he has travelled and sold goods
SO long and so successfully.