Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-11
COMMERCIAL MISSIONARIES

The drummer is an institution. There is no doubt about that. He fits from community to community, and brings with him the atmosphere of his last
 resting place. Although they are con servative lot, they have well defined opinions on current events, and their Judgment on social, political and com
 mercial affairs Is not to be despised, com ing as it does from an extensive field Of observation.
 To the hotel man the drummer is a permanent source of revenue. He makes cash settlement of his reckoning, which finds its way into the financial springs | that refresh the community. | To the merchant, the man who pays | the drummers house for his wares. the drummer is also a welcome visitor. The merchant strives to please the pubic, | as the drummer tries to please the shop- man.
 TO the news man the drummer is fer l file field of study. They carry items as l a ..side line" and it Is infrequent that | the drummer is found without news. 1T | his luggage is safe he can give clear and full account of railroad wreck, and when business is brisk he literally bristles with casual matters Of inter- | est. x. | To the drummer then. occupying ms | unioue and individual position, 1t IS but | just that public journals should make | prominent mention of their observations ] and doings.
 | Rirmingham has its full share of drum
 mers. but all report good trade. Bir- | minpham is considered a good point. Said one knight of the grip" last night | to State Herald reporter: "Birmlng- | ham looks like a city compared to At
 lanta. There everything has shrunken' defiated appearance after the exposition,
 but there's lively push and hustle in | vour town that's especially pleasing to
 inc Travellers Protective Association | people"
 | Shocking of business, MT. c. T. Zachry representing the whisky firm or | D. H. Fonshee & Co. of Lexington, ky.' said that he had taken Birmingham as | his headouarters on account of the good
 business field offered here.
 Tt is a moving. live town. and my | trade is very brisk.
 reporter.
 l June and July. but politics during | those months this year will make 1t lively
 for me. though, of course. other lines Will suffer-"
 | Louis for the Simmons Hardware com ] pany last night introduced State Her.
 aid reporter to MT. Dean Smith of At lanta. Ga., who represents the tobacco firm of T. l.. Vaughn & Go. of Winston county, North Caroiina. MT. Smltn 1s known as "Joree" Smith. derived ff'ofn
 pedal accomplishment in imitation of the birds scratching for acorns. | Said MT. Gault: My friend Smith. like l his illustrious namesake who gave the reading public 'Gullivers Travels, has | anohe accomplishment-of lying while selling tobacco standing" MT. Smith will | be in the city about thirty days to work | his trade Both report trade good l Mr. J. E. Reese of High Point, N. C., l representing w P Pickett & Go, tobac- | conissts, Is also in the city competing with | other houses.
 | Mir A. s. Johnson, representing Throne l Franklin Shoe company. leaves today for | the wIlds of Walker. He will only he ab- l sent two or three days.
 l MT. R. M. Richardson, repT esenting | Richardson Bros & Co. of Nashville, is l hustIng orders for his house in the city
 MT. F. N. Crookshanks is vending hats
 for J. w & E.. c. Atkins of Atlanta. He 1 has a good weeks business in Birming- l ham, and gets out tonight for Meridian, 1 Miss.
 MT. J. E. Baird of Richardson Bros l Nashville. after successful business trip | in South Alabama. left foraNashville last night.
 MT. M. N Pride os Nashville. represent l ing Warren-Neely S Co.,. dry goods. is in | the city. and will remain several days | Mr Pride says his trade is better this | season in Birmingham and suburbs than 1 if ba heen for the past nine years.