The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-29
AN UP-TO-DATE BOOK AGENT.
She Goes About Her Work Free from
All Sign of Books.

New Orleans Timcs-Democrat
The law of the survival of the fittest Is
being exemplihed more and more every year
in business and in the professions" said ii
Northern business man who was in New
Orleans recently, but one of the most
unique and, for a time. successful applica-
tiOns of this law which ever came under
my observation was made by a young lady
book agent who foated airily into my town
not long ago. In appearance she was what
the boys would call a dream She had big
blue eyes and a face like the Sistine Md
donna, but for wayrs that were dark and
tricks that were vain she could give the
heather Chinee cards and spades and beat
him out in two hands. There was a time
when the visit Of the book agent was looked
upon as being only "a little less terrible
than the bubOnic plague, but that was be-
fore he became epidemic, and when known
remedies were applicable to his case. But
experience with this voluble and tenacious
species has made the business man and the
housewife wary, and now, II the plausible
looking stranger displays the least symp-
tom OF belonging to the craft he can't
break into a house with a kit or burglars
tools. If d book agent should spring upon
you unawares, and If you know he is a
book agent you know his limitations, and
can meet him on his own ground. Perhaps
you can bluff him and maybe you can out
hold him. But this girl carried no outward
evidence of her real character. As an act
ress she made Bernhard look like a figure
in d show window. / found a set of books
In the library when l went home one even
ing, and then my wife told the story. The
young lady, fashiOnably and correctly
gowned, would call at a house, ring the
bell and when the servant would answer
she would present a visiting card OF the
latest size and shape and ask sweetly is
dear Mrs. So-and-So is at homer The
servant would be so favorably impressed
with the social standing of the caller that
she would usher her into the reception
room without even learning ii her mis-
tress was at home. The caller would
greet her hostess with all the bOnhOmie
of an old acquaintance, and a few mo-
ments would be spent in the social gossip
of the day. The lady OF the house would
ali this time be cudgeling her mind To re-
cali where she had met her visitor. Then
the visitor would stoOp over, calmly raise
her skirts, there would be "a rustic of
dainty lingerie, the fash of silken hose, an
i~nstant's exposure of "a small and we'll
shod foot, and the caller would be holding
in her hand a set of about eighteen pounds
of assorted literature, in three volumes,
which she would at once begin TO explain
that no we~ll-regulated household could be
without.
Before the astonished hostess could re-
cover from her astonishment," continued
the business man, she had given an order
for How to BE Happy Though Married;
or, Ten Thousand Secrets of the Home
Revealed or something of that sort. Well,
L made a few remarks about expecting TO
come home and find gold bricks being used
as door holders, as a mark of my wife 5
ability as a business man, ana thought
nothing more about the matter. My wife
said the girl walked out of the house with
all that literature concealed about her and
never made a wObble. We have two sets OF
those books In our family, continued the
NOrtherner refectiVely. About a week
afterward my office boy brought in a card
and said that a lady was waiting to see
me. l was busy, but always had time 10
see the ladies. L said, Show her in, and
she came. She began by telling me that
she had wanted to see me for a long time
on a matter of business, and knowing my
reputation for honesty In dealing with
women, had decided TO ask my advice
about an important matter l assured heT
that my time was at her disposal. Then
she reached for her-books. l recognized
her in a moment, but would not have tried
TO stoD her if she had been reaching for a
gun. She showed her hand before l could
call her. and after that it was all off with
me. | have the books in my office. Before
l realized what l was doing, l forgot that
my stenographer was in the Office, and was
holding that book agents hand and beg
Eing her To go to lunch with me. She de-
clined, and replacing the information
where ii belonged she bade me good morn
ing. and, promising to see me again, she
left the office She was certainly carrying
weight for age. but she never wavered. She
won in a walk. After she had left the Of
fee my pipe went out and l remembered
the stenOgrapher was there. The stenOg-
rapher also had a memory, and asked i
she should send the books up TO my home
| said. No. Jennie. just leave them here.
nav need them But she was wise. 1 have
raised that girls salary three times, have
bought her flowers and taken TO lunch 81
often that my business friends have go
10 winking at me and calling me a sly
dog But they were worth all they cost
IL that book agent comes down here, boys
look at her goods. / am considered a hard
headed proposition, but am willing TO bu!
a library