general. And, on the other hand, when the traveling man is expecting
to make a change of houses, he often asks the advice of the merchant.

One of the biggest clothing salesmen in the United States once told me
how this very old man hired him. Said Simon, "When I started out on
the road my hair was moss. I almost had to use a horse comb to currie
it down so I could wear my hat. Heavens, but I was green! I had been a
stock boy for a kyke house and they put me out in Colorado. Don't know
whether I have made much progress or not. My forefathers carried stuff
on their backs; I carry it in trunks. Although changing is often bad
business, the best step I ever made was to leave the little house and
go with a bigger one. I had been piking along and while I was giving
my little firm entire satisfaction, I was not pleasing myself with
what I was doing. I could go out in the brush with my line, riding on
a wagon behind bronchos, where a first-class man wouldn't, and dig up
a little business with the _yocles,_ but I couldn't walk into a
_mocher_ (big merchant) and do business with him. Yet, when I first
started out I was fool enough to try it and I made several friends
among the bigger merchants of Denver. But this did me no harm.

"One day, when I went in to see one of these big men in Denver, he
said to me, 'Look here, Simon, you're a mighty good fellow and I'd
like to do business with you, but you know I can't handle any goods
from the concern you represent. Why don't you make a change?' I said
to him, 'Well, I'm really thinking about it, but I don't know just
where I can get in.' He said, 'I think I can give you a good tip. Old
man Strauss from Chicago is out here looking for a man for this
territory. He was in to see me only yesterday and told me he was on
the lookout for a bright fellow. He's stopping up at the Windsor and
I'd advise you to go over and get next if you can.'