Evening star., 1929-07-03
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE BOOK AGENT
BY MAX ADELER.

tThe book agent, or book canvasser. has
the subject of more than one humorous
SKETCH OF which this Is not the least apt)
He came into my ONCE with a port
folio under his arm. Placing 1t upon the
table, removing a ruined hat, and wip-
ing his nose upon a ragged handker-
chief that had been so long out of the
wash that 1t was positively gloomy, he
said:
"Mr. Blank, I'm canvassing for the
National Portrait Gallery; splendid
work; comes in numbers, SO cents
apiece; contains pictures of all the
great American heroes from the earliest
times down to the present day. Every
body subscribing for 1t, and want to
see If can't take your name.
Now, just cast your eyes over that"
he said, opening his book and pointing
to an engraving. "That,s-lemme see
yes, that's Columbus; perhaps you've
heard sumf1n about him? The publish
er was telling me today before I started
out that he discovered-no, was it Co
lumbus that dis-Oh, yes! Columbus,
he discovered America-waS the first
man here. He came over in q ship,
the publisher said, and 1t took fire, and
he stayed on deck because his father
told him to, II remember right, and
was killed. Handsome picture, amt 1t?
Taken from photograph, all of 'em
are; done especially for this work. His
clothes are kinder odd, but they say
that's the way they dressed In them
days.
Look at this one. Now, isn't that
splendid? william Penn, one Of the
early settlers. was readin' t'other
day. about him. When he first arrived
he got lot of Indians up tree and
when they shook some apples down he
set one on top OF his sons head and
shot an arrow plump through it and
never faxed him. They say 1t struck
the Indians cold-he was such q terrific
shooter. Fine countenance, hasn't he?
Face shaved clean. He didn't wear @
mustache, I believe, but he seems to
have let himself out on hair. Now, my
view Is that every man ought to have
picture Of that patriarch, SOS to see
how the first settlers looked and what
See his legs, too! Trousers o little
short. maybe, as If he was going to
wade in q creek. But he's all there.
Got some kind Of paper in his hand, I
see. Subscription list reckon.
Now, how does that strike you?
There's something nice. That, think,
is-is-thats Ayes, to be sure.
washington. You recollect him, Of
course? Some people call him Father
Of His Country, George-Washington.
He had no middle name, believe. He
lived about 200 years ago, and he was
a fighter. I heard the publisher telling
a man about him crossing the Delaware
up yer at Trenton, and seems to me, If
I recollect right, I've read about 1t my
self. He was courting some girl on the
Jersey side and he used to swim over
nights to see her when the old man was
asleep. The girls family were down on
him, reckon. He looks like man to
do that, don't he? He's got 1t in his
eye. If it'd a been me, I'd gone over
on bridge, but he probably wanted to
show OF afore her. Some men are so
reckless, you know.
Nov, II you'll conclude to take this
I'll get the publisher to write out some
more stories about him and bring 'em
round to you. SOS you can study up
on him. know he did ever so many
other things, but I've forgot 'em; my
memory's so awful poor.
Let's see! Who have we next?
All! Franklin! Benjamin Franklin! He
was one Of the old original pioneers, I
think. disremember exactly what he
Is celebrated for, but think 1t was
a-dying a-oh, yes, flying kite-that's
1t. The publisher mentioned it. He
was out one day flying kite. you know,
like boys do nowadays, and while she
was a-fiickering up In the sky and he
was giving her more string, an apple
fell OF q tree and hit him on the
head. Then he discovered the attrac-
ton Of gravitation. I think they call
it. Smart, wasn't 1t? Now, If you or
med a-been hit, it'd just a-made us
mad like as not and set us ravin'!
But men are so diffrent. One mans
meats another mans poison. See what
a double chin he's gots No beard on
him, either, though goatee would have