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Early Struggles
11

"no" had never any place in his vocabulary. Mr. Wiegand gave me some business, for which naturally I was grateful. At the present time his two worthy sons, George and Homer, are conducting a very lucrative business. They have rebuilt and remodeled their greenhouses on North Illinois st.

John Rieman, generally conceded to be one of the best growers in Indiana, is still conducting his business at the old stand. As a matter of course his place has kept pace with the times, having been remodeled and expanded within comparatively recent years. Mr. Rieman, at our first meeting as ever since, was courteous, though I cannot recall at this time whether or not he favored me with business at that time.


Terre Haute, Evansville and Other Indiana Towns

Terre Haute, Evansville, and other Indiana towns, were my next places of visitation, and my success everywhere was but nominal. My expenses were light, and so was my salary; and in consequence my employer never sustained any actual loss. Everywhere I went, I expanded on the merit of our goods, the liberality of our concern. I did missionary work to the best of my ability, which proved the stepping-stone to my later successful trips. St. Louis and Chicago overwhelmed me with their greatness—so much so that I did not consider it wise to venture out into these two modern Babylons, as I considered these cities at the time. How often we form ideas of men and places that never correspond with actuality! As a matter of fact, I found Chicago and St. Louis a few years later among the best places in my itinerary, having made as many friends as in any other towns which I have visited fifty or seventy-five times in the last twenty-eight years.

Turning homeward, I visited Western Pennsylvania towns, by this time finding business rather more encouraging. On the whole, my maiden trip was quite satisfactory. In December I was home again, glad to return to my family. My employer seemed to have been pleased with the results, and I had no sooner shaken off the dust from my first trip than he was planning a second one. I did not start out, however, until the middle of January.


Back Home Attending to the Candy Trade

My second trip took me to Baltimore, Washington, Norfolk, and some Western Pennsylvania towns; but in February I received word to return home, for it was time to attend to the candy trade. That abominable part of my business did not appeal to me at all. Yet I thought it prudent in view of circumstances to submit to the inevitable. Once again I took the part of a pack-horse, and as in the year previous suffered a sense of humiliation. My employer evidently was determined to make the best of me. I stuck it out that season, vowing, however, never to do such work again.


Exploring the New England States

Early in May, 1890, it occurred to me that New England States might prove profitable fields to explore. I suggested the idea to my employer, who after his usual hesitancy acquiesced, providing of course I could make it pay. I could not well assure him of the success of the undertaking, but I expressed the opinion that "nothing venture, nothing win" is a very wise saying. Having had a year and a half's experience on the road, I felt that I was somewhat of a veteran in the business, and that if perseverance and hard work counted for anything, there was no reason why I should not make it pay. I furthermore assured him that my expenses would be kept down to the closest possible margin—in a word, that I would do my very best for his interests. He bade me good-bye, wishing me, or rather himself, all manner of good luck.