Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-05-31
ENGLAND'S LADY DRUhMERS.
MANY WOMEN SUCCESSFUL AS
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

. -
1t Is Surprising How Many Are EN-
ployed Touring Among Doctors in
the Interests of the Big Manufacture
ing Chemists.
There are known to be 155 lady com
mercials on the road OF course, that
they travel" in trousseaux, baby
cloths, and ribbons, is the obvious
comment on the feminine commercial.
But this by no means follows. One
of the most successful among the sis
terhood represents a high-class under
taker, and does remarkably well at
it,
Her especia mission is to call on be-
reaved widows and persuade them to
put the entire funeral arrangements
into her expert hands. She makes
between 9200 and $500 year at
this somewhat depressing business
but you soon get used to it, she
says.
Another speciality of hers is to ar
range for the funerals of babies and
I little children. In fact, the undertaken
in question puts the entire branch Of
his establishment under her direction.
Curiously enough, the births, mar
riages, and death column of daily
newspaper keeps several lady travel
ers busy, brings them very fair in
come. and grist to the mill OF their en-
ployers.
Two women travelerS-there are
probably more, but the writer happens
to know both-earn a salary of 15s. a
week and commissions on all business
transacted for their firms in baby
clothes, feeding bottles. aud nursery
requisites. Their clientele comes from
the old maids corner of various news
papers.
Other roadsters of the feminine
persuasion" call on brides to be and
arrange to furnish the wedding gown,
or the entire trousseau, as the case
nay be. One woman commercial does
very well, indeed, as traveller for a
famous firm of soap makers. Her faith
er held the post before her. From the
day she cut her first tooth she learned
all the mysteries of the trade when her
father was at home in loft the road
intervals. Many of his customers
knew her well, and when the old man
got beyond doing his entire round she
started among the clients she knew
best, and thus gradually succeeded to
his post Canyassing for a laundry is
a common field for feminine energies,
and the number of women employed
at this is rapidly increasing.
1t is their business to keep an eye
on all the inlet houses within their
radius, and to make prompt call on
incoming tenants.
Almost before the kettle is unpack-
ed from the removal van the canvasser
for the laundry presents her business
card to the lady of the house.
A laundry is one of the first requi-
sites of the newcomer, and the sue
cessful canvasser is she who arrives
early on the moving-in scene.
Salaries fuctuate according to the
smartness of the persuasive tip to her
| tongue of the lady canvasser, so that
it is difficult to speak of the industrial
aspect of commercial travelling for
women. Some firms offer fairly good
salary and small commissions Others
prefer to ''pay by results offer no
salary but give a very good commits
sion, and cover their representative
travelling expenses.
In commercial travelling the surviy-
al of the fittest is quick process. A
woman who takes to canvassing soon
disappears from the road if she has
no talent for the task.
1t is question of quick returns.
Either she can bring in business or
she cannot. Aptitude for this shows
very quickly, and it is a good paying
quality for its possessor.
Commercial travellers are said to be
bern, not made
A business man who has employed
several of the commercial sisterhood
says: MY experience is that woman
makes her mark at once-or not at
all A man learns more by experience
on the road than woman does. I'm
less the lady traveller brings business
the first month I know she hasn't the
gift
1t is surprising how many women
| are employed in touring among doc
tors in the interests of the big manu-
featuring chemists. They take round
samples of tabloids, compressed drugs,
bandages, and surgical dressings. 9th
ers travel among the dentist with new
patterns of artificial teeth, the latest
antiseptic mouth washes and painless
patents of all sorts for the dentists
torture chamber"
A sound constitution, an unfailingly-
good temper, and pleasing manners
ars the stock-in-trade of the success
full woman commercial.
It means knocking about in all
weathers, being necessarily on the go.
Therefore it suits best tine outdoor
type of woman. Several of the most
successful are good hockey players
and general alIITound athletes, used to
all sorts and conditions of weather. A
delicate woman, sensitive to quick eli
matte changes, would be of no use on
the road. 1t is an occupation calling,
| above all things, for hardy constitu-
ton. Given this. the lady traveller in
| terviewed by the writer agree that the
business offers a pleasant and remun-
erative life. But it's very hard work,"
is their unanimous verdict London
/ Daily Chronicle.
How Soldiers Were Transported.