The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-09-17

silks with folded hands and what they
would say9 Not bit of it. She &C.
copied the business proposition made
to her and got down to hard work i'm
mediately.
"a girl can be drummer and at
the same time she can be a lady," re-
marked this drummer as she called for
her bill, her eyes all the time resting
on Tom McCall's large flash sparkling
out from his shirt bosom, and so daz-
cling bright as to cause the young
lady to shed tears, cor she can forget
herself on the road if she chooses. l
carry general line of goods with me
OF the dry goods variety; some girls
carry chewing gum, some toilet artic-
les and 50 on down. The chewing
gum girl seems to be in the majority,
chewing gum houses thinking it a
good advertisement to send out some
dashing blonde type to sell their
wares. These girls peddle their pref
ty pictures around; the boys want
them, and all of sudden they are
chewing gum sold by the girl-strange,
isn't it." and here Tom McCalps dia-
mond was neatly hid under his scarf.
The drummer went on to say that
she knew of a girl, Miss Ella Stewart,
who sells copper hardware for a Cleve-
land, Ohio, house, who had met with
greater success than most men that
preceded her in working for the same
house. Continuing the young lady
remarked: when I started out,
something over five years ago, it was
without any knowledge what ever of
the merits of my goods or what 1
would encounter in the way of compe-
tition. My first feeling was that the
commercial men as whole would
look upon me as an lnterloper. Ii
they did, they never let me know it,
and l have never had any unpleasant
experiences with them. have always
been treated with the greatest respect.
Merchants in every case have given
me as fair chance and showing as
they give my male competitors. The
life is not unpleasant, but sometimes
rather lonely. A woman has equal
rights so far as business is concerned,
but she does not have the same priv
leges as men about hotels and in the
railroad cars. Consequently, when
she strikes town she has to spend
her whole time in her room when not
engaged in business. Again, she trav-
els for days at time without speak
ing to any one except the porter of
the sleeping car. So you see there is
very little excitement in a travelling
saleswoman's life outside of her work.
For all that l like it, and l know that
l am much healthier than if confined
in an Office"
Have you made success of it dur
ing your career on the road?" was
asked, and while Clerk Mccall again
brought the flash into view she re-
marked that had she not been fairly
successful she wouldn't be on the
road at the present time. Then, too.
the fact that there are so many wom-
en- in the commercial drummer bust
ness speaks we'll for them as business
workers. By the way, do you know
that | have a sweet friend travelling
for vinegar house. Rather odd,
isn't it," and the speaker gave pleas
ant little chuckle that made the clerk s
heart move right up in his mouth.
81 certainly have had some great
experiences in small country towns.
Many time I've nearly frozen to
death at some little hotel in Maine or
Massachusetts. The cheapest board
l ever struck was in North Carolina.
1t was before the railroad from South
Carolina was finished to Asheville, and
passengers had to stage it for twenty
miles from Hendersonville. | got to
the latter place one day about noon,
and after doing considerable business
there 1 concluded to go on to Ashe-
vile, that night. 1 hired team and
with mere mountain lad as a driver
struck out. Darkness overlook us be-
fore we had gone ten miles, and the
little rascal talked to me 80 much
about moonshiners and their desper-
ate deeds began to get cold and
shaky. Every time we saw a light
twinkling ahead he would say:
"'That airs or still house yander
IL