The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-03-19
The WISE MAN

mere goes one or the best-posted
men you ever SEEN" remarked the
suburban storekeeper to the hosiery
drummer. as a shabbily dressed cit.
zen passed the window. eIf 1 knew
all he does about business I'd be
rich"
HE doesn't look to me. as If he
knew much" said the hosiery sales,
man. What's his line?"
Hosiery" replied the storekeeper.
He's an expert on socks an stock.
ms He can look 'em over an tell
right away whether they'll ravel or
run. What's more, he could tell me
whether | ought to order from you
or not an how big an order / ought
to give you. He can tell just what
the trades goin'. to call for, too. There
amt nothin' about a sock r-stockin'
-merino, Isle, wool, mixed or slk or
mercerized-tha he couldn't give
points wuth rememberin' on; open
work, fancy or plain. heavy or re.
enforced-don't matter what"
Why didn't you call him in, them"
asked the drummer. I'D like to have
him see these hose. If he knows any
thing about it he'll tell you that
they're the best ever put on the mar
ket and he wouldn't advise you to
buy less than couple o. dozen boxes
to try. Shall I go outside and boiler
at him?"
Not on your life" replied the store
keeper. I'D sooner take your word
for it,"
Where did he learn about the hos
iery business?" asked the drummer.
Search me-" answered the store
keeper. Where did he learn about
Fall River prints an Redditch NEE
dies? Who gives him experience in
window dressin'? How did he find
out the way to arrange stock an adj
vertise it? Who taught him what he
knows about the principle of bargain
Fridays an the kind O. notions it pays
to keep In stock? I'll never tell you"
Maybe he's been in the same line
O. business you're in"
Not him." said the storekeeper
mo more'n he's been in the drug bus
mess or the hardware or the furni-
ture or the butcher business. l never
heard tell of his practicin' law or
drivin' team or runnin' a newspaper
or servin' in congress-. but he can tell
you about any o. them"
Kind of an all-around man, isn't
he?" commented the drummer
He's all around all right" said the
storekeeper. That's the only thing
that saves my life. Sometimes he's
around to the butcher shop telIin'
CURLY how to cut meat an then he'll
mosey over to Roots drug store an
tell him how he might make his ever
lastin' fortune putin up snakerooi
bitters after recipe his grandmother
had wrote down from another recipe
a Kiowa squaw had given her wheI
she was a young gal an which she't
improved on by 60 years experiment
in
Hes an all-around man sure. He'
around Williams real estate Office tn,
best part O. the mornins readin' VIII
liams' papers an maxim plans TO
o. business. Williams lets him sta
around because he gets lonesome il
the office waitin' for the boom that
comm when they extend the electri
line out here Yes. sir, I'm glad he
an all-around man. because when he
around them other places he ain
around here"
whats his business2" asked th
drummer. "Or has he got any?"
"Ain't tellin' your" said the stor
, keeper. His business is my bushes
an anybody's business. It's givil
valuable points. Mind you, he don
pretend that he knows all about dr
goods or groceries or law or postho
diggin' or knittin' tides. What /
I claims is that there's fundament
principles at the bottom of all of e.
! and that them principles is principl,
o. common sense. He's got an idt
that most of us around here is sprea
) In termatter catsup on roofin' M
( terial guess, an that's what keel
: him busy correctin' u.s.
I There's lots like him." said til
8 drummer. Well, now many DOxs
I are you going to take? Say thre
: dozen, just to start with"
Z well, there 1t is, said the stor
! keeper. q told you was overstockt
i on hosiery now an it didn't seem goo
. business policy to me to order al
3 more, but you tell me need to ord
! three dozen boxes more. What am
& goin' to do? l put it to you now,
I a reasonable man. I'm doin' a pref
4 fair business, maxim money an thin
4 in of enlargin' my store an hirin'
3 couple more clerks this fall. I've do
& 1t by actin on my own judgment B
Z here's this Teller I've been speak,
Z OF tellin' me that | don't use enoui
: common sense, an you're insist
& that I'm away off when think Ldol
! want your darned hosiery an"
" 'You don't need to darn the
= hose" said the drummer, closing
= sample case. 'Tll call on you sol
Il other time. Keen me in mind, tina