The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-18
HE NET MISS GREEN.
The Kansas Business Woman Written
Up Again Interestingly.

travelling representative of one of the
largest paint establishments in the
United States.
1t was at Topeka that the cores
pondent met her, and he has this to say
OF 1t IN the Pittsburg Times:
Let me introduce you to Kansas
The speaker was a Kansas business
man, a Republican politician. and a
candidate for congress this year. In
thdt breezy Kansas style he is known
and addressed as Jack Harris He
seemed 10 know nearly every one on the
train, and had previously introduced
me TO half dozen or so Stalwart Kan
sans coupling the introduction with the
Information that my new acquaintance
couId tell me as much about the politi-
cal situation as any man in Kansas -
But when he spoke of the kansas
new woman, " I felt a momentary
replication for vision of Mary Ellen
or Mary EIizabeth-Lease flashed
across my mind. But all this vanished
as looked into the cherry, pleasant
countenance of the lady whom he in
troduced as Miss Ella Green, the first
lady commercial traveller in the state of
Kansas
How did I get into the business %
she repeated, and then answered.:
Wen l guess l was born with the idea
tnat wanted to be a commercial traY-
eler. No one had ever talked to me
about that business, and until after
mad left school l don't think I had ever
ed to follow that business. After 1 left
school kept books for awhile and then
L decided to try to get a position on the
road. The only way 1 knew to get one
was to go and ask for it. 1 didn't get
one the first time applied, or yet the
second or third time either. Finally in
1852, L got a place with a. small paint
and color firm and started out 1 got
along pretty well, but wanted a larger
house to travel for, and applied for a
place with the firm which now employs
me. They seemed sort of shy at first
ana SAID they had no opening, but ask
ed me to give them the names of my
customers and come back in a week or
so. L went back and they told me thew
had written to the parties I had named
and that they had never seen better
recommendations than those they had
given.
Are you not fattered?" they said.
NO" replied, I am not hattered I
am gratihed. That is what have been
working for and I am glad to know
that have succeeded
Well, they employed me, and have
been with the firm ever since. I have
now been on the road IA years. trav-
el through Kansas, Oklahoma and
southern Missouri I have had Colora--
do and Utah, and one year I did the
Pacific slope. But have dropped them
from my route. I was the first woman
commercial traveller in Kansas but
there are others now. OF course, 1 got
IN the papers, and the result was got
travel all the time and I like the
business don't like the jobbing trade.
as one has to sell so much more in or
der to make as good a showing in the
way OF profits than one has in the re-
tail trade. deal largely with lumber
men regularly call on about 300
firms But I like my work very much
In fact, always liked anything I ever
did. I'm always satisfied with what
have until can get something better
L m an Optimist from top to toe I don't
think there's an ounce of pessirnism in
me. l have a large acquaintance among
trading men. know nearly all of
them. Do you know the world really
knows very little of the inside charac-
ter of the travelling men? They're all
rtght-at least the most of them are.
OF course there are some bad men
among them, and they give away the
whole profession. But as a rule they
are good fellows. and, as they must be
to succeed, are above the average in in
telligence, energy and ability. And the
Kansas travelling men are the best spe-
cimens of our profession.
Do you know why? Because we have
no saloons in the state. That's the
reason.
I am often asked to speak or write
about my business. You know people
think it is strange for a woman to be
on the road selling goods. I don't see
why they should think SO. A woman
has a right to earn her living in any
pursuit in which her strength, inclina-
lions and ability fit her tOsucceed. Now,
I'm not a new woman. guess you can
see by looking at me that I'm not very
new. My looks show that.
I'm never treated disreSpe ctfully by
any one on the road. I travel day in
and day out, sure of gentlemanly and
courteous treatment everywhere. No
woman need be afraid to travel in this
country. She's sure of being treated
all right And get along with the
trade first rate Ny customers are al
ways glad to see me. One thing, never
talk politics with them And that's
what almost everybody seems to be
talking just now. 1 do get sick of it.
Do you think there's any chance Of free
silver winning? I hope not. think II
would be the worst thing that ever
happened to the country. Is this To-
peka? Here's where I get off, and I'll
have to hustle. I've got to see three or
four customers and leave on the
O'Clock train. Well, goodbye!
And away she went, satchel in hand,
CHEEKY, energetic. active, self-confident4
a true type of the woman this western
country has produced. Ana MISS Green
evidently did business in Topeka, II the
following from the next mornings pa
per is correct:
There's your train"
Il don't care. 1 am going to sell you
a bill of goods before 1 60"
But I'm stocked up 1 don't need
anything in your line.
Pj1t he did buy a lot of things within
the next five minutes II was me ne"
woman" drummer, and she risked miss
inc her Union Pacific train in North
yesterday to make a deal with
q new customer.
And when she started to go the block
between the store and her depot, where
the train stood waiting, she did not eX-
claim. rs my hat on straight! or
ssWhat did I do with that hairpinE' Not
on your tin-type. She just grabbed her
handbag of prices and samples and ran
the whole block like any common, every
dav drummer would do, and swung
onto the train just before it started
She is a success HENRY Hall
Miss Green made a record breaking
trip during July which would do credit
to Nellie Bly,. She made" a towns
in one week She travelled 4S miles