Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-07-01

Then he builds castles in the air and
pictures a bright future with himself
in the center as a successful drum
mer No one in a small town or vii
lage is more looked up to than the
peram bulating travelling man, whose
natty clothing and nobby neckties ex-
cite the envy of the village youth.
Then the drummer has such a bold,
familiar way with pretty girls and the
old. He is so blase, so jolly and wise.
We believe if vote for choice OF oceu-
pations was taken today among the
village boys Of America, nine-tenths
Of them would want to carry sample
cases. Well, in reply to the verdant
one's letter comes confidential reply,
worded in encouraging language, tell
ing how easy it is to sell cigars to
merchants. .'All you have to do is
to show the goods. they sell them
selves.
Mr.. Verdant may have the agency
Of his county and will be put on the
salary list as soon as he has qualified.
He is requested to write and say
whether he would rather have salary
Of $75 a month and expenses or work
for fifty per cent. commission. He is
also told to remit $14 to be held as
security for the fine lot of samples TO
be sent him. Now, If Verdant stops
right here he viii only be out two
cents, but if he proceeds he will lose
$l4. II he RENTS he gets a few hor-
rible cigars that will neither smoke
nor sell. Ii he has preferred to work
on a salary instead Of commission he
IS sent a contract to sign, wherein he
agrees, IN consideration Of the salary.
to sell for cash at least 100, 900 cigars
a month. He cannot sell any OF the
cigars, for they were never made to
sell, they were especially built to work
this "help want racket
The Chicago firm that buncoes
some 10000 each month OF these
would-be drummers would be very
much surprised indeed if one OF its
victims should actually send in an
order for ten thousand stogies. II
the city dailies continue to play stool
pigeon for thieves then the farm pa
pers must take it upon them selves to
expose he frauds.
There i one iakir whom an ac-
quaintancc Of ours investigated for
himself We relate his experience
with the advertiser in his own words:
He seemed square He offered s. a
hundred for names and addresses Of
ones neighbors. | applied and got a
letter telling me had been appointed
agent for Grant county He said he
liked my penmanship all right, and
felt hopeful and began to look for
ward to earning a watch aud chain
that winter. But there was a string
to the game | must first send 81
for special book in which to tran
scribe the names. eoughed up the
two beans and got a lap pad worth 5
cents. Then was at last ready to go
to work but my Jaw dropped when, on
looking over the instructions in the
hani saw that the neighbors whose
u,,.Aes and addresses were wanted and
for which s. a hundred were paid.
were only those whom boilers had
blown up or VINO had fallen out of
balloons within the past year. My
book is blank yet. and unless things
thicken quick VIII be loser.
Answering advertisements by mail
gets to be mania with a person who
once starts it. 1t is worked on the
principle OF getting something for
nothing The advertiser beat; YOU at
your own game in the end Perhaps
calling 1t your own game is over
stating the matter. as you merely
wish 70 accept Of his golden offers
but he understands human nature
better than YOU 10. First a stamp
not very much, you th.i,k ;hen fifteen
cents to two dollars for samples
won't kin me ii / do lose ii then 4
biz aud final deal ia which be reaches
tar VII Of your money and valuable
time
The Heralls advice u you II
Don't play with thc hro b begin with
but if you 10 get IN, So out before In,
heavy acts come ou.
/ George w SmaueY via contribut,
81 article on The Personal Side j