The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-11
A DRUMMER'S DREAM

l was lying in a hammock swung To-
tween two large and shady oaks.
sofa pillar was arranged comfortably be-
meath my head and in my hand l held
a magazine. A gentle breeze was blow
ing, the birds were chrping as they
fitted from twig to twig in the trees
above me- The sun was sinking and
through the foliage bright ray cleaned
here and there. The hammocl; swung to
and fro, the birds continued their game
of hide and seek among the leaves and
the sun sank lower and lower. To and
fro swung the hammock, heavier and
heavier seemed my eyeids, the magazine
dropped from my hands, my eyes closed
and l was asleep.
Shortly after my eyes closed l began
my wonderful trip, a trip which l shall
never forget. l wandered through dream
land, that vast domain where happiness
is cheap. l was a drummer and was SELL
ing Shredded Sawdust." a breakfast food
guaranteed to cure Indigestion in three
weeks. l had an annual pass on all the
railroads and the hotel proprietors posi-
lively refused to allow me to pay any
and under my plate each morning at
breakfast l found large check from my
house. No competitor had ever been in
that territory before me and the inhabi-
tants of the towns in which l stopped
were tired of the food they had been
compelled to eat day after day and were
dilrious with JOY when they tasted my
samples. The merchants bought my goods
In large quantities, never asking for a re-
duction In price or a little extra dating.
my house filled all orders promptly no
matter how badly rushed they were and
no customer ever made a complaint about
my goods. All the roads on which l trav-
eled had fast trains all their cars were
sleepers and the porters became insulted
If | tried to tip them
The hotels were large and roomy Elec-
trio fans were in every room, there was
no extra charge for bath or having
clothes pressed, the ice water never gave
out and the walters and bell boys were
so polite that they made me feel like
they enjoyed waiting on me. They did
not know the meaning of the word tip
and their promptness in carrying out
orders was remarkable. Even the clerks
were pleasant. answering any number of
questions without a frown and not one
of them ever failed to wake me up in
time TO eaten an early morning train.
All the towns were clean and healthy
the water good and the people pleasant
Each town had numerous places of amuse-
ment and the shows were all of the very
best. A travelling man was looked up
to and considered man of learning. a
man of standing and one to be cultivated
Every, home was opened to him and a ia
Their was happy when he saw his daugh.
ter promenadng down the principal street
with travelling man. Dances, supper
and theatre parties were gotten up for
the Knight of the Grip. He was an honor
ed and respected guest on all occasions
One night l was out at park. taking
ride on the figure eight roller coaster
Just as the car had turned the second
curve l heard a terrible crashing sound
and SHOT Aogn- a t a terrific pace: I SEEM
e to be falling through space at the rate
'of millions of miles a second and the air
rushing past took my breath away. Sud
denly l came in contact with something
solid with a terrible Jolt. dreadful
pain ran through my body and with
fear and trembling / opened my eyes
I found myself lying on the grass. The
hammock had broken and I had fallen
to the ground.
AS / picked myself up and walked into
supper to my mind came the chorus Of
that beautiful and pathetic little ballad,
II Must Have Been Dreaming"
SIDNEY F. LAZARUS.