The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-30

If the travelling men would all die In a
night.
1t would leave the country in a terrible
plight
1t would weaken the sound OF the must
cal gong,
And livery rigs would sell for a song.
The hinges OF the theatre doors would be
covered with rust,
And the stages and omnibuses would crun
BILE 10 dust,
And passenger trains would rust ON inc
And hotel business would be dead as Il
nail.
The blind beggar would get no more
dimes In his hat,
And The saloon busiaCss--l hardly know
as to that.
The practice of flirting would suddenly
And all other legitimate business would
stop.
And imagine their grips of all sizes ana
STYLES.
II they should be emptied In promiscuous
piles.
What a wonderful mixture the eye would
behold
From the coarsest OF fabric to the finest
OF gold
Dry goods and groceries and fancy goods
rare,
Pig iron thrown In among crockcry ware
Leather case TASKS Of the fanciest style.
Would frequently be seen im this curious
pile.
Thus fancy runs on, and much could be
said
But We have positive proof that the drum
mcr's not dead
While spending an hour in gentleman )
store.
We are often introduced to dozen or
more.
They are living and moving, am happy
to saw
And Jolly good fellows they are. by the
way;
Have a smile for they boys when they
call at your store,
And rive them Il greeting If you dc
nothing moro,
Lecture to Commercial Travellers.
BY DR.. Maurice Il. Wilson of Dayton OHIO
and rcpublished in the Sample. Case
The text was from Romans xii. II: Not
sioihful IN business. ferveelt in spirit, serv-
ing the Lord" The doctor said:
The changes that have taken place in
the course of years in the commercial
world are altogether as remarkable as those
that have taken place In any other sphere
OF life. Methods have been revohtioniled
IN all their details The man who was per
feetly at home in any great mercantile
house fifty years ago, conversant with all
lis modes and ways OF dealing. master OF
the situation, would today be like fish ont
of water He would b. absolutely non
plussod. HIS head would swim. The
changes would make him think he was IN
another world. ARD he would be virtually
But In no respect would he note II greater
difference than In the manner Of gaining
trade. The old way was TO insert In the
public prints an occasional advertisement
OF very matter-of-fact. pro,saic order. and
then wait Tor the people to come and buy
Beyond this no effort was made TO speak of
What revolution has taken Dlacei II ia
computed that there are today something
like 100000 men who spend from six TO
twelve months each year "on the road" So
Letting business. Commercial tourists.
commercial travellers, commercial solicitors.
commercial statesmen, travelling men, drum
mers-they are known by all these names.
For the most part they are young men 60
Intelligent. energetic, uciscyeriug and
pushing universally considered clever, and
not easily imposed upon No class of men
better understand human nature. II is
their study.
They must have wit and Judgment bold
ness and discretion, fnesso and fairness
and immense powers OF adaptablity a
fool can not do the errands Of a travelling
salesman. In my iOurneyings hither and
thither have often had opportunity 10
observe these representatives of different
lines OF business, md as a class ] have
found them to he the best posted men on
general topics 81 any with whom one can
be thrown. Through their intercourse with
people in different portions Of the land
they absorb information on every subject,
ana n a rule they have no trouble III tell
ing what they know, IT is not surprising
that they should be tremendous power
in the business ana social world of today.
There are several noticeable points about
this class Of men. They always dress well.
do not know what the tAilors would 40
Without them. They Influence largely the
fashion of men who pay any attention 10
fashion and thereby control the dress nd
tagtos of large number ! have read OF
one woman in Paris who exercises more
SWAY over III, female population OF the
civilized world than the pope, all 7he pc
tentetcs. Ealiants and husbands combined
and tie same rs much the case with travel
ing men. Whether he looks or does not
look Ike "trc glass OF fashion when ne
rr,s dawn 10 business he neither talks like
fop nor ncts Ike fop,
Again. they always live high and traVei,
wcli. They are generous set OF men. II
wanted 10 raise money for poor suffer-
4 ing fellow man. or a needy family do not
know where | should more confidently urn
arc soeiable lot 81 men. Watch them on
the trains and IN the hotels, hear them sa,
lutte zach other Hello, New YORK
Hello Boston, PHILADELPHIA" Listen Ia
! their proverbially fine storits their anus
inn and thrilling eSperiegees. see now
/ easily they ret acquainted with men OBJ
nerfectly strange merchant. lay a card
lie dcelt 20, into his good sracis. dine