Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-04
LIFE OF THE DEMONSTRATORS.
More Nerve-Wearing Than Trained
 Nursing.

According to the advertising man.
 ager of a firm that manufactures
 health foods and breakfast cereals,
 there is one calling for women hard CT even than trained nurses, that of the demonstrator. says the New York l Sun. "The trained nurse complains
 because in her profession woman can endure only ten or at most fif-
 teen years of hard service and must then go on half time or find some thing else to do," he said. With women demonstrators 1t is only four years of work, and then nervous prostration in twenty-four cases out of twenty-five.
 'It is hard to say why. The hours and standing are no longer for the demonstrator than for the clerk, and the pay is higher. Demonstrators come under the control of the adver- tising department of firm, and when we find one who Is really good we send her all over the country to introduce our wares. and this gives her a chance to travel and see quite bit of the country.
 Still 1t is a profession In which the supply never even meets the de- mand and in which three years is nearer the limit of endurance than four for by far the great majority qf those who attempt It."
 A young woman who booms tea In a department store gave her version of the matter. -Four years and then nervous prostration? Yes, that's very true" she said. I've been demon strating for eight years myself. but I'm one of the great exceptions.
 Then I go to my home in the south from June to October every year to rest. Even so almost went under one winter. I had to lay on for four weeks to recuperate.
 Oh. 1t isn't the standing for 10 hours day. though that's hard; It's the people. A good appearance and an ability to talk well aren't bit more important for the demonstration than are an inexhaustible supply of patience and optimism. a keen eye Tor the humorous side of life and a wit quick enough to get even with mean people nicely and in such a way that they cru't report one
 "without some or all of these qual- ities, the manner In which she is spoken to and treated. and scoldesl by dozens of other women daily will soon get on her nerves and she will he in continual trouble fin spite of herself.
 "Unless you have tried it you can't even conceive what a demonstration has to put up with from what we call the regular grafters. Of all the cities I've worked in. New York Is certainly the worst in this respect.
 There are dozens of women here who live In furnished rooms and make a practice of procuring both breakfasts and luncheons from sam ples In department stores. Its not hit of an exarEeration. They come day after day regularly. or some % to one store one morning and to an- other the next. so that we have them once or twice q week at least.
 "A demonstrstor must sell a cer- tain amount every week. IT she falls below her aversTe the firm viII instantly inquire how this is Then she must work harder than ever to rise above the required mark the next week In orier f0 bring her sr- craze ID to the stanf1rd. So ,sul can see inst when she gives out sample after sample and nakes no sale. her nerves are apt to ret the wur~t of H- uni-<< she has optimism eunuxh to ssy- Uh. wei R thss xpe< fhrouah. there f< siways eouefhfnx eIae for ore to do.~