The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-01
THE DRUMMER
ON HIS ROUNDS
Richmond 7. P. AS HustIing to
Secure the Prizes.
KNIGHT OF GRIP UP AGAINST IT.
Pen Pictures of tie Man He Has to
Approach and Interest i" the
Bargains Of the
Age"
OF GRIP. UP AGAINST IT.

The T. p AS are hustling for the
prizes offered by the State Division for
the securing of new members. n l. r
4. button is given 10 each new member
between February Goth and April 2Oth,
and it is stated that there are few mem
beers who cannot easily win one OF these
prizes Writes a member: I'VE have
many who can win the best. while there
is rot q single member of virginia IH-
vision who cannot bring in At least one
of his friends before April 10Th. We APP
peal to each of YOU atyou VIII az
least promise to doHttl.s much, and thus
serve Your friend and the association at
the same time. Think OF what = grand
showing our division will make when the
National Association meets at New Or
leans in May If each one of our present
members will only send in one new APP
plcation" Membership March l, f15o,
1852.
The writer again seats himself in his
easy chair. This time he is patiently
waiting an opportunity to approach one
OF those merchants who he will style
the autocrat of the village store. Many
Of his readers will recall having been
similarly situated, and vii! readily rec
ognize the aforesaid autocrat. You per-
haps have heard of him before visiting
him. He is one of those august per-
sonages who have persuaded themselves
they are absolute monarchs of their
surroundings. You discover this as you
lie in wait to catch his eye and ear. he
is apparently insensible to your presence
as he passes and repasses the place
where you are sitting, ana is seemingly
absorbed over matters of great pith and
moment" You realize that you are in
the presence of the .autocrat before
&c nj n
yourself involuntarily taking an inven-
tory of his probable wealth and stand
ing If you begin at first by COM
pairing him with the merchant princes
of the day, he is bound to suffer by
the comparison; while you will not only
be wasting valuable time, but are liable
to involve yourself in labyrinth or
speculation from which You Will emerge
with decidedly prejudicial view Of the
autocrat Besides time is valuable. 10
not. therefore permit yourself to enter
a field like this at such a time, but hold
yourself in readiness to take advantage
Of the first favorable opportunity to ap-
proach, if such time should come. II you
must speculate upon your SURROUNDINGS
let it be upon the size of the order you
hope to get. This is an all sufficient
speculation and one, too, in which you
simply start from zero and advance step
by STEP as fancy Snail- DICTATE. "
course. he is Just now very busy man
has been ever since YOU entered the
store. not waiting on customers, or put
ting M goods or working on his books,
or making changes in his stock, or get
ting rid of accumulations of dust when
Won have noticed everywhere. He is not
BUSY cleaning UP round the stove. nor
cleaning out the old sawdust spittoons
with their abominable accumulations OF
stubs and guilds: nothing Of this kind.
He is just simply busy, unapproachab!y
busy. forbiddingiy busy. studiousiy neg
slectfully busy, approximately busy. You
wait. Will he see you? Will he note;
YOUR presence? Above all, will he abate
that forbidding. austere demeanor long
enough to admit of Your approach. II
he would just only deign to give you
one nleasant look. but he doesn't.
-. GO AFTER. HIM
What shall you do? II you could obey
YOUR feelings you would. no doubt, like
IN snring into the middle Of the floor
near him. giving forth an Indian yell.
md Jerking out revolver, proceed to
nerforate holes Through the various ar.
5ticles OF household utility hanging over.
head. ust to get him to look at you. to
9sce YOU. as at were. But you restrain
yourself. merely clearing your throat t,
with aamodudaiea s4.hem. 2 Rhtao Ig1skBen