Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-02-25
A WOMAN DRUMMER.
SHE ACHIEVED GREAT SUCCESS IN A
FIELD NEW TO HER SEX.

She Covered "Tcrrltory" Larger Than
Usually Falls to Commercial Tourist"
Feminine Personality More an Assistance
Than Drawback.
The first woman to become a commercial
drummer In England while in New York,
recently, was seen at her apartments by a
reporter
Mrs. Il. d, Sawkins, the drummer"
looked good deal more like an elegant
society woman" than what you might cx-
poet Of one who Is strictly business She
is tall and slender, with beautifully ar
ranged blond hair, clear blue eyes and
delicate complexion A handsome black
silk gown trailcd after her as she walked,
and her manners were pleasant, refined and
quite English, you know"
When woman has been glittering sue
cess at anything, It Is always interesting to
other women to know how she did IL.
How did | happen to become COM
mercal drummerW said the lady. at was
this way; never could bear the round OF
visits and tea drinking that make up the
life Of 80 many women. wanted 10 be in
buslness-to be doing something of some
account
81 took position rs bookkeeper with
Wholesale firm Of manufacturing chemists
in London, and one day when one Of the
commercial travellers, who was unreliable,
was away, and they needed some one to
send out, said TO the head of the firm,
You let me take up his business, and
zee how | get on lie looked at me in
amazement, but think he saw was very
much In earnest ut any rate, he concluded
to let me try.
II began by soliciting orders in the small
towns about London. Finally 1 Travelled
All over Europe IA representative Of this
house | came TO the United States and
visited nearly all Of the large cities here rs
well. You see, am an American. was
born ia Halifax, though / have lived a
large portion Of my time In England and
| Australia.
II Travelled for this one firm for nine
! years. Finally they wanted me to 20 TO
| Australia TO establish branches Of the bust
ness in several Of the large cities there.
The head OF the firm went with me, and the
large stores now doing business in several
| OF the principal cities there are evidences Of
our success.
After had been in Australia about six
| months was married to Mr.. George Saw
kins, the astronomer and newspaper man.
a native Of sydney aud grandson OF Thomas
! Sawkins, who went out second in command
OF tho colunizing expedition under Sir Ed
ward Parry.
My husband wished me to leave the
business at once, but | was under contract
to the firm and obliged to remain with
them six months after was married.
Air. sawkins "a a student and thinker.
aud when he decided to lecture on 'Scien,
tile Religion l determined to take the
management There isn't particle OF
business about him; his mind IS always ON
his studies, and Us like business turned
manager.
Il always went IN advance of him, NJ
tended to the distribution OF circulars. tho
! placing OF his picture In the windows md
| the advertising aud notices in the papers 1
| believed In advertising literally ia nane,,,
and was invariably well treated nv ina
press After had completed myclrcuit Of
towns ahead, would 20 back and Join Mr..
| Sawkns.n
| DO you think commercial travelling "A
| good Held for womenp was asked
u TANK IL is a splendid thing for a won.
an II she is businesslike, she Is suro 10 be
successful. Besides, she can do Rbout fo,r
times as much for au employer as can a
man. lady going into a store and nsli,g
to see the proprietor will stand five cbnncrs
TO aman's one Of seeing him. often yyos
admitted to the head OF tho firm immedi.
ately, while dozen men were waitlng N
see him. "
Then, too man Is often told IN cnli
again, so you see the waste Of time he bae
compared TO a woman. II certainly Is n
much pleasanter and more henlthfui occn'
pation Than that which most women in
business have al
u always made IL a point TO travel frs,
class and stop at the best hotels. | tooIs a
sample room and arranged my wares as at
t~c,lNeiy as possible. As the firm were
manufacturing chemists had all sorts Of
cosmetics, perfumes and toilet ort,cle' a..
ladies These would arrapre ~ ir,',,,. ~
" as could, taking care 10 hava ,i.'ts
spreads ON the tables P'0''S
Before trying to see the pron-,.,,. =,
any business house | wonld 6,d 80 ~ ~
49,. 49,, 70 'HNV 1 would know positively for
ways well dspssed- you know ~ ~ ~
are great deal after all-,,,j -
gained admission 10 tie rs,,,ta,,s.- on nss
at once that represented mon a'5 s.'u
house and endeavored to mae s ~. sueh
mcnt with him to come ma ~ ffsint
samples. never carried anv sar,,1. 80
me, because that looked tos n.y. VI 1,, w l
cunrasSrr. saw
-, 80 e.lei'l 20 make my Appointments
50 that no two probable cust5,ns ,l,s
eonle ~ the same time, When *, 80. ~
s.n.leman there and could Eiye nav -, ~
Nluo - MN, always succeeded N ,et ,,s.'s
an order. often selling los y, ~ letting
aldn' want or had 40 intestio- eosas ne
nAylns. Frequently my onI. 10y 81 81
amount 20 Ai.uoQ worth, sonnet,rs. w ms et,s
| aou ~. dealt only with .wholass,. .'',uVo,