The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-04
"iu inner I'm tho Pacific Coast Com
inerctp1 TrnycIcr


mcrcin1 Traveller.
was three weeks making my prepars.
tons and l carried more personal bargap,
tnah the prima donna OF an opera company
NOW | manage to get along comfortably
with an extra pair of socks and a hall
brush wrapped up in newspaper and
damned into my overcoat pocket. A man in
| whom placed the utmost confidence said
that my success on the road would depend
altogether on my personal appearance. He
insisted that I should wear plug hat
and a Mother Hubbard overcoat with a
| white rose pinned on the lapel. Retribution
later overlook this false friend. He served
two terms in the legislature and one in
tho State penitentiary, and has in other
ways suffered disgrace
bidding my house goodbye one bright
May morning, aad instructing them to in
crease their stock Immediately. l set out
on my travels to astonish the world OF
, trade. and did-in way.
The newest thing on earth is new
drummer. He has first trip written all
over him and is spotted with the same
alacrity as a newly married couple. He at
once becomes mark for train boys, hotel
employees, bootblacks apd others who are
looking for good thing What 1t costs
him to learn the road will never be
known.
The first town / made was Oatville.
arrived there too late TO interview the mcr-
chants. l placed myself on exhibition.
however, in the hotel office and told two or
three good stories which ! had learned
especially for the trip. Nobody laughed,
and the landlord volunteered the iuforma-
ton that drummers had been telling him
those same stories every year since he
opened the house. and that was in 1856
sneaked off TO bed leaving 5 o'clock call.
About II o'clock was awakened by
brass band playing under my window. l
dressed myself and stepped out on the bal
ccny The crowd set UP shout, There
he is! Hoorra!" Then the band played
another piece and felt 1t my duty to make
a few remarks. Gentlemen. while I
appreciate this unexpected honor ] take 1t
more as compliment to the house | repre-
sent than TO its humble servant Here Is
SO. Drink to our prosperity" The crowd
howled with satisfaction and | re-entered
my room impressed more than ever with
the importance of myself and tho popular
ity of the house l represented. The next
morning | read in the Ontville Oracle that
the head waiter of the hotel had married
the chambermaid. that they were serenaded
by the Oatville band and that the groom
bad generously given the crowd $40. Fur
Their, my speech was reported in full and
Vas referred TO as neat. modest and APP
1ropriate j confessed to myself as. | read
i that 1t really did seem 10 fit the occa-
sion.
After breakfast I started on my rounds.
The first merchant ] called upon stunned
ne by declaring that he had never heard
If my house. The second said that my
ira had swindled him on a case of Keely
'ured hams and gave me Just one minute
n which to reach the sidewalk, The third
vas selling goods cheaper at retail than
could at wholesale. The fourth told me
hat the Do-oyer Packing company was
cling tomatoes at Go cents n dozen, while
he best figure that | could make was Sl.15
wired my people that every house in the
ountry was underselling us and that 1t
vas impossible to do business. They
wired back: Never mind what other
ouses are doing. They are stringing you.
let in and dig. or come home | dug. In
month was wearing human clothes and
citing little moro like n rational being.
iy success dated from the time that 1t !
toie over me that there We're other travel |
RS and other houses. and that it was Just |
arely possible that tho wheels of COM
lerco would continue to turn. even II l |
hould take vacation for a few hundred |
Cnrs