The Opelousas courier., 1904-07-30
|BNGLAND'S La
DRUaMERS.
MANY WOMEN salcEssFUL AS
COMMERCIAL WAVELERs.

-, " nCiAL %ts-
5ra s+fat~,,5-T- y ,
|. is Surprising How Ny Are EN-
pioyed Touring AmonsPoctors in
the Interests of the Big N"ufaetur-
ing Chemists.
There are known to be 1856 com
nercia4s on the road. Of co Ase, that
they travel in trousseaA baby
cloths, and ribbons, is the DEpVious
comment onthe feminine CON- Frciai.
But this u no means followsA One
Of the most successful among tn sis
terhood represents a high-class Nder-
taker, and does remarkably %elAa at
it. '-
Her especial mission is to call on e-
reaved widows and persuade them N
put the entire funeral arrangement n
into her expert hands. She makes
between e2OO and $500 a year at
this somewhat depressing business
but ''you soon get used to it," she
says. '". <n> Il
Another speciality of hers is tear
range for the fherals of babies and
little children. In fact, the undertaken
in question puts the entire branch OF
his establishment under her direction
Cnriously enough, the births, mar
riages, and death column Of a daily
newspaper keeps several lady travel
ers busy, brings them a very fair IN
come, and grist to the mill Of their en-
p1oyers.
Two women travelers-there are
probably more, but the writer happens
to know both-earn a salary OF l5s. a
week and commissions on all business
transacted for their firms in baoy
clothes, feeding bottles, and 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 a
may 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
dav she cut her first tooth she learned
all the mysteries of the trade when her
father was at home in "oT the a
intervals. Many of his customers
knew her we'll, 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. Canvassing for a laundry IS
a ommon field for feminine energies,
and the number Of women employed
at this is rapidly increasing.
II is their business to keep an eye
on all the inlet houses within tnelr
radius, and to make a 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 requl
sites of the newcomer, and the sue
cessful canvasser is she who arrives
early on the movingin scene.
Salaries fuctuate according to the
gmartness of the persuasive tip to hel
tongue of the lady .c%anyasser, so thai
tits difficult to speak of the industrial
aspect Of commercial travelling %
! women. Some firms offer a fairly gooe
salary and small commissions. others
prefer. to "pay by results" offer ne
salary, but give a very good commits
sion, and cover their representatives
travelling expenses.
In commercial travelling the survlV
al of the fttest is a quick process. a
woman who takes to canvasslng sool
| disappears from the road II she ma:
no talent for the task.
IT is a question of quick returns
| Either she can bring in business o.
! she cannot. Aptitude for this show
very quickly, and it is a good pa. nj
Quality for it's ~possessor.
Commercial travellers are said to 81
born, not made.
/ A business man who has employed
| several of the commercial sisterhoo'
1 says: "My experience is that a woman
makes her mark at once-or not a
all, A man learns more by experience
on the road than a woman does. Un
less the: lady traveller brings bushes
/ the first month | know she hasn't tn
/ gift" ~
HnaH is surprising how many Womel
are employed in touring among doc
tors in the interests of the big manu-
featuring chemists They take roun
samples of tabloids, compressed drugs
1 bandages, and surgical dressings. or
ers travel among the dentist with neN
patterns of artificial teeth, the lates
antiseptfc- mouth washes and painles
patents of all sorts for the dentist
torture chamber"
A sound constitution, an unfailinglJ
good temper, and pleasing manner
ars the s~tock-in-trade of the success
full woman commercial.
III e knocking about in a
weathers, being necessarily on the 81
Therefore it suits best the outdoo
TYNE of woman. Several of the mos
successful are good. hockey player
and general a1lfound athletes, used
ali sorts and conditions Of weather.
delicate woman, sensitive to quick cl
matte changes, would be of no use 0
the road. It is an occupation callint
above all things, for a hardy constit'
ton. Given this, the lady traveller il
teryiewed by the writer agree that To