The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1900-10-26
AGENTS PERSISTENCY
By Susie RerelS CdytOn.

ton. But, said Mrs BlantOn, who
was going through one Of the most
trying Ordeals of the feminine world
paying her first call on new neigh
Dor, you have just moved to this
Western country, Mrs. Crosby. You
cannot yet appreciate the difference
between the Eastern and Western
agent. Out here their persistence
often runs into impertinence." The
above remarks was the remnant Of
a conversation on ''things in gen
eral, and were uttered by the ladies
as they stood in Mrs. Crosby's front
door just prior to Mrs. Blanton's de-
parture. Then, in the way Of bit
Of friendly pleasantly, Mrs. Blanton
continued: ''Take yourself, for in
stance, Mrs Crosby. You are a
stranger here; the agents will find
that out and you will be besieged.
Now, it will be next to impossible
for you not to either use a real Sc
we're tone with some Of them or buy
some article Of them, in even so Short
time as one week from today.
We'll try it then" replied Mrs.
Crosby, land III let you know what
| think Of it one week from today"
And she closed the door after her
caller, feeling quite confident that
she could easily maintain the stand
she had taken. Yes" she solilo-
qulzed, ION one week from today [
shall return her call so as to inform
her that | have used all gentleness
Imaginable, have not been imposed
upon nor made single purchase"
That was Tuesday. Wednesday pass
ed and not an. agent called; but
Thursday morning, just as Mrs.
Crosby was busy in her morning
duties, her door bell rang. On the
threshold stood a middle-aged wo-
man, who, the minute the door was
opened, began: Good morning,
madam. | am canvassing an article
OF my own make frst-class, up-to-
date, tve-clasped, double-stitched
corset; done in black or tan; canvas,
satin or silk, to suit the purchasers
taste. l have travelled all the way
from Mexico to Nome with these
stays and have fit women of every
size and shape in the world, and [
know L can give you a fit that will
make you just the shape you ought
to be. Mrs. Crosby felt inwardly
wounded and not a little indignant
at the doubtful compliment, but
used gentleness, and finally got rid
Of her first agent.
About an hour later and there was
a timid tap upon her inner door,
followed Immediately by a woman's
head, then her shoulders and next
her entire body Mrs. Crosby threw
hasty glance at the woman's hands.
Yes, there it was-the little leather
satchel-agent No. 2.
Il thought you might not hear
me, you know she began, 80 [
made bold to just walk in to the in
ner door What extracts do you gen
orally use" she asked, as she placed
her open satchel upon the table, dis
closing several rows Of bottles filled
with perfumes. Then without wait
ing for Mrs. Crosby to answer, she
snatched up first one and then an
other Of the bottles and, using the
atomizers already attached, pulled
the various extracts in Mrs. Crosby's
face, on her hair and over her dress
in rapid succession. When Mrs.
Crosby got her breath and a chance
to speak she said: Don't dear. Il
never use perfumes and the various
odors make me quite dizzy-in fact, |
sick on the stomach"
Nor had she by any means recov-
cred her equilibrium, although it was
much later in the day, when an elder
ly man, package resembling book
tucked under one arm, stopped at
her door. Respect for his gray hairs
and memories Of her father back
East, whose hair was also quite sill
very, prompted her to more kindly
receive him. Encouraged by her
manner he entered the sitting room,
took set and told her he would
like to take up few moments of
her time, just to show her the pros
pectus Of book, a beautiful work
on the late war in Cuba, which he
was selling. Mrs. Crosby took a seat,
the agent got out his glasses, rubbed
them for several moments and then,
adjusting them on the end of his
nose, began at the first illustration
IN his book and slowly and carefully
read the description printed under
meath it, and so on through the en-
tire book. Remember, this is only
a prospectus" he would occasionally
pause to remark, as he looked at her
over the rim of his glasses. "The
real work contains many more
pages" Mrs. Crosby inwardly re-
Joiced that she was being shown the
prospectus only. 50 it went on
through the entire week, but al
though she had been at times severe
ly tried she neither had given a hastv
answer nor made a single purchase.
Tuesday, the last day Of the week of
trial dawned bright and clear, and
Mrs. Crosby was in great haste to
complete her morning duties so as.
to 90 that afternoon in triumph to
return Mrs. Blanton's call, when
quite forcibly her door bell rang.
The little woman who this time
stood at her door, satchel in hand.
was quite below the average height.
She wore a neat, business storm skirt
and jaunty walking hat, while her
early fall wrap fit her with great ex-