The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-12-08

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BY Charles N. crewdson.

BY Charles N. Crewdson.
tAutnof Of Tales Of the Road, Etc. }
It's funny how even little thing
VII knock you once in awhile began
the travelling salesman Who sold
duck goods.
You know, / used to be sort OF
general utility man in my house
They basted me around into almost
any territory they pleased for awhile
knew one Of their men, down in
Arkansas, who had an idea that it
was his moral duty to buy all the
booze and put his finger marks
on every poker chip in the state
he got to borrowing from Gus
iomers, SO it was up to me, all of a
sudden, to finish his. trip. Good fellow,
100, % Was-prince Of q felloW-but
little too curious about making com
Dlnations with the pasteboards. He
had, however, several very warm
friends. He got on toot in Little
Rock and sold all of his samples to a
kyke. ] didn't find this out until /
went down there. Then I wired the
house to express me a fresh line.
You know, our overall line is very
strong and it looked nice and
fresh when spread it out, and /
was sure I would land a good
order. went up to see our
old customer and, just as easy
as sliding down the bank of an old
creek, he said: Yes. sir, I'll certainly
be very glad tozcome over at any time
you specify. | made an appointment
for the afternoon, knowing that it
wouldn't dc to hurry things down IN
that country. I had heard everybody
who came into the old gentleman,s
store call him colonel-and I soon
tunbled to this. At two o'clock went
over to the store and said: Colonel,
am at your service, sir Very well,
will go right along with YOU
Color Offended Colonel.
tAs we walked over toward the
hotel, the old gentleman was COM
municative He talked in the f1oWery
language typical of the south. When
he walked into the sample room,
though, his stream of honeyed words
at once ceased to flow. He pulled at
his Whiskers with one hand and
flashed a goose quill toothpfck out OF
his pocket with the other and stuck it
in his teeth. saw him come down on
it rather hard with his jaws. To jolly
the old gentleman up little offered
him cigar. No, thank you, sub, said
ne. | knew there was something
wrong-and sure enough, in Just a
minute he turned on his heel and
started to walk out. Still, he couldn't
leave the room without making an ex
PLANTATION
Look here, subj said he, DO you
know, sub, that / was cunl in the
confederate army, that for fob long
years followed, sub, the Stars and
Bars. During all this time I heard the
cannon roar and the minnie balls hiss
and my men under me and myself
drank coffee made out of parched
sweet potatoes, and often for weeks
at a time, sub, fed on mast, the food
of hogs. I cannot forget it, sub. Can't
forget it. A man like me, who woh
the gray-and here you come and try
to sell me merchandise for my stoh
with these hyah samples-and with
this the old gentleman did walk out.
You know, the boy who looked
after that department up in the house
had sent me samples Of blue over
alls, Instead OF gray! | went up ana
rather squared things with the old
gentleman as best l could, but that
day, sure's you're born, I went away
from that town skunked.'
Il was dropped last season on
mighty good count, too-over in Kan
sas, commented the boy sand chill
dren's clothing man. Il had been sell
ing my man there for three or four
years. Just about 12 months ago now,
when I was there, after I had taken
my order and the proprietor himself
had returned to the store, leaying his
buyer to wait and bring along the
copy, the buyer picked out d suit for
his ltst1e boy. I put it on the bill and
instructed the house to send out the
suit complimentary. You know there
are great many buyers and business
men themselves, even, who rather ex-
pect that sort of thing, but you'll never
catch me doing trick of that kind
again. When | came around this sea
son. the old man was red-headed. He
told me he didn't like to have anything
sent to- any Of his men without their
apaying for it: so now I've made up
my mind that I'll never enter an item
on bill and not charge even the Gus
toner himself for it, unless he espe-
ZoialIv asks me To do So
Customer Stuck to Old House.
Its mighty hard on fellow to lose
a customer that way remarked the
furnishing goods man. Il had bitter
taste Of this several years ago when
/ quit my old house. I had an idea
that I owned my trade. Another
house offered me a raise Of $500 in
guaranteed salary, and | went with
them. | not only lost out on one man,
but with several; but losing one par
ticuIar customer. really hurt me hard.
thought we were the very best of
friends. and that by all means he
would give me his business when I
changed / counted on him because
we had been very closely associated
with each other When / first opened
the account he was slow with my firm
and they would not have shipped him
had L not strongly recommended the
account MY firm. at my suggestion,
broke one of their iron-clads and
Tapped bills on this man.
Tapped bills?" asked the young