The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-12
The CHIVALRY OF
TRAVELLING men
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS
ARE THE MODERN SIR WALTER
RALElGHs AND ARE NOTED
FOR PoLITENEss AND cHlv-
AIRY.

There is without doubt no class OF
men who extend to humanity at large,
without regard to rank and file, the
same spirit OF chivalry as do the
knights or the Grip. The immortal
Raleigh spread his cloak before the
queen that she might not even damp
en- the soles Of her shoes. Not so with
the modern salesman: he does not
look for queens to serve that he may
ammortalize himself in history, but
looks for those to whom his assist
ance may be of real value.
Take for instance in a crowded
train, it's the travelling man who first
admits he has only paid for half Of
one seat. and makes shift Of his
belongings that some one may occupy
the other half. Watch the tourist or
occasional local traveller and notice
how unwillingly many Of them divide
a seat with you. The whole seat is
not enough, they must have one for
their feet and baggage and one to sit
in. II they are forced to give up a
portion Of this space occupied. the
stare they give you makes you feel
like cold storage plant in January.
One January day as a raging bliz-
card was just lulling itself asleep. a
belated passenger train was making
ready to pillow its way still farther into
the unknown. 1t became obvious that
those abroad might be forced to spend
an uncomfortable night stuck in the
snow. Seemingly the only thought of
the passengers was to again get
started on their journey. It was just
supper time. No one dare leave the
train as they expected to pull out at
any minute. A gentleman from Ken
lucky, commercial ambassador. be-
took himself to a nearby restaurant
and there proceeded to buy several
sacks of such eatables as they could
hurriedly prepare. He returned to the
train with his purchases and began
making a canvass of the car. He first
went to all those who were accom-
panied by children and ascertained II
they were in need of bite for sup
per. He then passed to the ladies,
then to the gentlemen, all at his own
expense and all of his own accord. You
may call this chivalry. you may call 1t
big heartedness, call 1t what you will.
1T is merely characteristic Of the trav-
cling man as we find him on all such
occasions.
An old Assyrian lady came into the
station in a small town carrying two
rather heavy grips; when she placed
her hands near the fire they began TO
ache intensely for they were quite
badly frozen. Other ladies who were
waiting in the same room made no
offer Of assistance A young travel
ing man stepped to the door gathered
up a handful Of snow, returned and
placed those bony, shrunlSen fingers in
the snow with the tenderness that
spoke palmer than words, that he, too,
had a mother old and gray.
There is no chivalry in such an act
as this. Chivalry is always accom-
panied by the trappings Of pomp and
splendor. 1t is simply humanitarian
ism with heart that beats warm and
true to mankind.
We could write volumes on this
subject and every word of it be the
truth, but we are not introducing
these facts in defense Of any counter
argument, but merely as a compliment
to the modern knights Of chivalry.