TRADE IS LITTLE DULL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXI, Issue 6366, 30 March 1889, Page 2

TRADE IS LITTLE DULL.

We find the following little sketch, h the Boston Commercial Bulletin. It forcibly, illustrates the feet that' trade is a little dull,' and ?W that the portion of the business community known as ' drummers,' or commercial travellers, despite their almost hexhaustible resources, are often obliged to yield to the pressure of these stagnant times. The paper referred to says :— ' One of these gentlemen, who has recently returned from a trip for Thistle Brothers and Company, of this city, did not show a very large exhibit of orders to b?'.ance the liberal expense account allowed him by the firm ; and Mr Thistle, looking over his return, se.:d, • Mr Rataplan, I am afraid you do not approach the.dealers in the right way. I nsed to be very successful in this line, Now just suppose ine to be Mr Bigher, of Sellout, Finois, and show me the way you introduce the. house.' Accordingly, Rataplan stepped out of the counting room and re entered, hat in hand, inquivhg, ' Is Mr Bigher in ?" That is my name said Thistle, urbanely. 'My name is Rataplan, sir. I represent the house of Thistle Brothers and Comprvy, of Bos ton' Tittle, in his character of western merchant, here rose, offered the salesmen a chair, and expressed Irs pleasure at seeing him, 'I am stopping with Overchange, at the Stickem House, and have a flue* lot of unbroben samples, which I shoi\d } ke to show you ; think we can offer some special adv; utages, etc, and Rataplan delivered himse 1 ! of a neat speech in professional style. ' Very we 11 ,' aaid Thistle ; 1 1 don't see but that you understand the way to get at customers.' ' Excuse me MiThistle,' said Rataplan,' lam afraid you do not understand the style of western merchants just now. Suppose you exchange places with me, and we repeat this rohearsa I .'

' Certainly,' said Thistle, and, picking up his hat, he walked out. Returning, ho found Rataplan with his char: t ;l ted 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 a little staggered, Neverless, he begin,'' la Mr Bigher h ?' • Yes ho is,'responded Rataplan, blowing a cloud of pure Connecticut into Thistle's oyes. ' Who in are you ?' ' I repre. sent the house of Thistle Brothers and Company,' said the astonished employer, coughing about a quart of Miioko from his throat. ' The blazes you do. Are you ono of that concern ?' Nc, sir, lam not,' said Thistle. 'Well it's d d luckey for you that you are not, for I've had two drummers to one customer iu my store for tho last two months, and if 1 could get hold of one of the fools who send them out here at this time I'm darned if I wouldn't boot him out of the town of Sellout.'

' That'll do, that'll do, Mr Rataplan,' said Thistle;' I have 110 doubt you did the best you could for the interests of the house. Trade is a little du I ',