PUTTING HIMSELF IN HIS PLACE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 125, 28 September 1877, Page 3

PUTTING HIMSELF IN HIS PLACE.

Trade is dull at present. It has hardly got dull enough yet, though, for some people to make jokes about, as is witnessed by the following little story which is stumping the round of the American commercial press. It appears that m spite of all their genius and perseverance the Yankee "drummers," or commercial travellers, are finding their results continually diminishing. One of these gentlemen, who had just returned from a trip for Thistle Brothers & Co., of Boston, did not show a very large exhibit of orders to balance the liberal expense account allowed him by the firm, and Mr Thistle, after looking over the return said— " Mr Rataplan, I am afraid you do not approach the dealers in the right way ; I used to be very successful in this line. Now just suppose me to be Mr Bigher, of Sellout, Illinois, and show me the way you introduce the house."

Accordingly, Mr Rataplan stepped •_, out of the counting-room and re-entered, hat in hand, enquiring. " Is Mr Bigher in ?"

" That is my name," answered Thistle, _ urbanely. " My name is Rataplan, Sir ; I represent the house of Thistle, Brothers & Co., of Boston." Thistle, in his character of Western merchant, here rose, offered the salesman a chair, and expressed his pleasure at seeing him. " I am stopping with Overcharge at the Stickem House, and have a fine unbroken lot of samples, which I should like to show you ; think we can show you gome special advantages &c." And Rataplan dilivered himself of a neat speech in professional style. " Very well,' very well," said Thistle ; " 1 don't see but that you understand the way to gret at customers." " Excuse me, Mr Thistle," said Rataplan, " I am afraid you do not understand the style of Western merchants just now : suppose you exchange places „, with me, and we repeat this rehearsal." " Certainly," said Thistle, and picking up his hat, he stepped out. Returning, he found Rataplan with his chair tipped _*back, hat cocked fiercely over his right eye, his heels planted on Thistle's polished desk, and a lighted cigar between his teeth.

Thistle looked at little staggered, but nevertheless commenced —" Is Mr Bigher in?"

" Yes, he is," responded Rataplan, blowing a cloud of pure Connecticut into Thistle's eye ; " Who on earth are you ? " "I represent the house of Thistle Brothers & C 0.," said the astonished employer, coughing out a quart of smoke from his throat.

" The blazes you do ! Are you one of that concern? "*'No, sir, I am not," said Thistle.

" Well, it's very lucky for you that you are not, for I've had two drummers to one.customer in my store for the last two months, and if 1 could get hold of one jot the stupid fools that send'em out here at this time I'm blessed if I would'nt boot him clean out of the towu of Sellout." * " That'll do, that'll do, Mr Rataplan," said Thistle ; " I have no doubt you did the best you could for the interest of the house. Trade is a \H\e dull."

Captain.