Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JUNE Il. 1914

the entire season. He had been unusually
successful the year before, and was now plan
ming on beating that record. He spoke of
his possible big commissions, as it meant
five hundred dollars or more clear profit for
his next weeks work.
The mention of this easy money gave me
an idea. Being familiar with the Thousand
Islands and having personal acquaintance
with most of the business people there, de-
cided to get on the ground first. So the next
day found me in the office of the S. &, W.
Cigar Company, where, after an hours con-
ference, l was given sample cases loaded
down with cigars and order books, and a
guaranty of twelve dollars and fifty cents a
thousand commission on all orders l could
land within the next ten days.
Although the cigar business was an en-
tirely new line for me to tackle, had fairly
good reasons for believing that | should
make good. Having strong friendship
with Ellis, the druggist at Clayton, l wrote
him requesting that no matter what | tele-
graphed him to do for me within the next
forty-eight hours, however odd or strange
it seemed, he should follow my directions to
the very letter, as l intended to wake up
Clayton as it had never been awakened be-
fore.
Next day he received the following tele-
gram:
Have Clayton cornet band at ten-fifty A. NJ.
train tomorrow. Have dinner ready at Hub
bard House for thirty persons at noon sharp.
Have steamer Magnet at warehouse dock at
twelve-forty. Have everyone in Clayton out
to see the fun, as there will be something doing
every minute from ten-ffty to twelve-forty.
l alighted from the train at Clayton
dressed in white linen buster and white
plug hat. At each side walked two very
black negroes, about six inches shorter in
stature than myself, each carrying a
sample case with the name of the cigars
painted on the sides. In the other hand
each carried white oilcloth horse covering
with the sign, Smoke S. & w. Cigars!'
printed in red and black. The band was
playing a lively air, and the jam of Clay
tonets at the depot was sight never to be
forgotten. Throwing the oilcloth coverings
on the backs of the West End Hotel ponies,
and giving the band leader his cue, entered
the bus, accompanied by the negroes.
Up town went the band playing popular
air, the bus followed the band, the people
followed the bus. Stopping first at the West
End, l sauntered leisurely into the place
with the negroes, the band still playing on
the outside Within five minutes l had in
duced the management to sign an order for
ten thousand cigars, to be paid for in three
instruments as the season advanced, with
the privilege of returning all unsold cigars
at the end of the season.
Then, following the band to the Walton
House, | went through the same procedure,
also landing an order for a like quantity;
then across the way to the Ellis drugstore
for five thousand order; then to the lead
ing cigar store for another; then fifteen
thousand order at the Hubbard House,
where dinner was served to the band boys,
the black boys, and myself. At twelve-hfty
we boarded the steamer Magnet, and with
flags flying, the whistle blowing, and the
band playing, left Clayton for other points
on the river, with nearly the entire popula-
ton at the waters edge.
Using the Clayton method of getting or
ders at Round Island Park, Thousand Island
Park, and Alexandra Bay, my sales at the
various hotels and business places amounted
to one hundred and sixty thousand for the
day.
At seven-thirty P NJ. was on my way to
Syracuse l received an immediate check
for five hundred dollars, another five hun
dred sixty days later, and as no cigars were
returned at the end of the season was handed
the balance due of one thousand dollars
Deducting three hundred for expenses,
was seventeen hundred dollars to the good
for this days labor and fun.