Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1910 — MAKING A SALE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKING A SALE

“I have here, madam," began the zgint when Mrs. Pinkerson opened the ioor, *a really wonderful washing machine. It embodies all the good points as-the most popular machines and has nope of their bad points. It is indorsed by such men as Senator Aldrich, Gov. Hughes, President Hadley of Yale •” “What do those men know about washing machines?” asked Mrs. Pinkerson, who Is an extremely practical wdman. "Anyhow, J don’t want a washing machine, and if I did I wouldn’t buy it of a traveling agent. Some time ago I bought a patent cradle of an agent It had a lot of wheels and springs and you wound it up with a key, like a clock, and then it was supposed to rock iteslf all day. "We wound it up and put our little son, Henry Adolphus Alexander, In it,and started the machinery going, and you never saw anything like-the way the cradle acted! It bounced all over, the house and upset all the furniture, and then it went outdoors and seesawed all over the yard before we could get it stopped. Poor little Henry Adolphus Alexander was scared out of five years’ growths My husband has a shotgun in the house, and he’s going to butcher the next agent that comes here." "I am not selling insane cradles or infernal machines, madam,” protested the agent. "An up-to-date washing machine is something that every woman needs. Let me give a demonstration with this machine. Let me have some warm water and a piece of soap; and then hand me the dirtiest old rag there is around the house, and in two minutes it will be like the driven snow. Why, madam, this machine is in' constant use by Edward W. Bok, who washes all his lace handkerchiefs and shirt waists with it. Joseph G. Cannon has recommended this machine to the treasury department for the purpose of cleaning the soiled currency, "Wherever you go you will hear people singing the praises of this incomparable machine. With it in the house the Monday washing becomes a diversion, superseding croquet and lawn tennis. The children quarrel for the privilege of turning the crank. I have known a bedridden grandmother to leava her couch of suffering and insist upon doing the family washing. I was told before coming here that you would not buy and was passing the house, when you put your head out of, the window, and I said to myself: ‘A woman with such an Intellectual face will at once recognize the merits of my machine.’ I cater to people of culture and refinement, madam.” "Who was It told you not to come here?” asked Mrs. - Pinkerson, her mouth becoming a straight line. "The lady who lives three .doors’ down. She said it was useless for me to call here, as your husband was in desperate straits financially—but there! I should not have repeated her remarks, since they are obviously untrue." "So Mrs. Flipper said that, did she? And her husband dodging the bill collectors all the time! And the piano taken out of her house because the last installment wasn't paid! “She talked about me that way, did she. And only yesterday she was over here borrowing butter that she never intends to return. Mr. Agent, you put me down for two of those machines. I’ll give one of them to my married daughter. I’ll show Mrs. Flipper that my husband is not a pauper."—Chicago Daily News.