Tokology : a book for every woman / by Alice B. Stockham.

  • Stockham, Alice B. (Alice Bunker), 1833-1912.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Tokology : a book for every woman / by Alice B. Stockham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    WOMEN AS BOOKSELLERS. DeWitt Talmage says, “I always feel like lifting my hat to the book agent, because he is doing more good than I can ever hope to do;” and no doubt he does lift his hat to nearly everyone who approaches him, for he is a thorough gentleman, and the majority of itinerant booksellers to-day are women. It is a remarkable fact that in this difficult but honorable call- ing many women have been notably successful. If you could look up the lists of our numerous book publishers right here in Chicago you would find that everywhere the names of energetic women crowd the pages, and their recorded orders often are the heaviest. One is tempted to ask why this is. The wag might suggest her “ready tongue,” but if the condition is looked squarely in the face the answer is pertinent. Woman finds herself compelled to do, and she follows the good rule of doing that which is nearest at hand, and she does it with her might. If one could follow up these before-mentioned publishers’ lists and look back of each name written there into the bit of history it stands for, what volumes could be written of incidents—brave, pathetic, and heart-stirring perhaps! It would tell of a home, may be, kept bountifully by the outside efforts of the same hands that knead the bread; in another case it would tell of the great self-sacrifice of one for many; of mothers educating their daughters; of daughters supporting helpless parents; of sisters and brothers giving each other “a lift.” Why do women succeed in their undertakings ? Simply because there is always some heart-reason bound up in their efforts, some motive for others that prompts their doings. And, besides all this, the majority of women will not handle a publication which they cannot personally recommend, or the teachings of which they are not in some way specially interested in spreading. Their ready sympathies and quick instincts make them alive to the right way of proceeding and the most telling thing to say to parties they are dealing with. A woman makes a good choice of a work and in- troduces it with enthusiasm.