The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-02-23

W W agent is 1OLulu3 put q you
dler! Who ever heard OF a
book agent that amounted to anything
or had any money!"
This idea Is quite general through
out the country among people tnas
haven't had opportunity to know mucn
about the publishing business; who'
Immediately the subject Is mentioned
think of comic picture they saw
somewhere depicting an irate mousse
keeper emptying the contents OF q
dishpan over the head of an ohend-
ing book canvasser. It is doubtful
II a book agent ever had such an ex'
perience as that or one at all ike ~.
No. the proportion of successful
men who have made their place IN the
world through the medium OF selling
hooks. particularly during the present
day. is probably as great as IN mos
other lines, and If your boy mas II III
him to be a good salesman, and taxes
I'M the selling of books seriously as
calling as he would other lines, ne
has a fine and promising field all MS
own.
This might be called the book age;
for never in history has there been
such a tremendous printing OF books
md. as practically all OF them are
made to sell, and their pubhca1lon
rests primarily upon that fac1' II
stands to reason that they are SOLD
Also. such a great proportion OF them
nre sold by direct canvassing that
this gives employment to an army OF
rnok agents, who are seen In all the
highways and byways of the country.
The latest figures show that l50,ooo
volumes are published In the world
every year, of which 10000 are turned
out in the United States and an equal
number in Great Britain, with winch
our country maintains close CONNER
cial and publishing relations
Now. we shall take 1t for granted
that YOU have investigated the bust
ness carefully, have overcome YOU
onposition to 1t, and that your son II
willing to give it trial. 1t Is lmpor
tant. as already said, that he possess
natural ability as salesman; but tnl'
IA one of the commonest traits II
American character, particularly a.
nearly every material success is pase'
unon It. and there Is much more thai
an even chance that your boy doe
have this ability.
It is easy enough for him to- find a
opportunity to try his hand at ooo
selling: for every publishing nous
that does any canvassing, and most c
them do. is anxious to get good agents
and will respond instantly to an II
quiry. All you have to do Is 10 PIC
out the book and the house ana VIII
. letter to the publisher or sellin
agent. In all probability you or tn
boy will already have read dozens
advertisements asking for canvasser
an answer to any one OF which "oul
bring an instant reply.
If your boy is in earnest and 1ntene
IN take up the work seriously, and
informs his prospective employer u
latter will arrange meeting with OF
of the experienced general agents
give series of first lessons In boz
craftsmanship.
had almost exactly this experien
when working my way at college. "
name was handed to general age
seeking likely representative at
college to handle somewhat popul
hook. and the agent thereupon
ranged to give me three weeks
struction in the business OF selling.
spent a couple Of hours with him {
cry day, my teacher each day usi
the part of probable CUSTOMER
day housewife, the next busy la
yer, then a merchant, then farm
then a workingman, etc.-until I
equipped, so far as technique was CT
cerned, to sell book to anybody
earth.
In the meantime was trying
hand among real people, with the
suit that, soon after the general ag'
had departed, was able to avera
selling three or four books any aft
noon | went out. AS this particu
book was sold for $3.50, and my &C
mission was so per cent, l was e
to make from over $3.50 to $3.50 CT
day. This was not, and Is not, at
unusual, even soon after the beg