The Butte Hotel Butte, Montana April 2, 1908 My dear Bertie: At the close of the day, I turn my thoughts homeward to my dear ones, notwithstanding that I have seen some strange scenes and heard some remarkable things since I last wrote you. I noticed during the day that Walter Wellman, the famous correspondent and late Arctic navigator, was to lecture in the city tonight. So I hiked out to hear what he had to say. He is the man who tried to reach the North Pole by airship, and the views he had to show, and the experiences he related, were very much out of the ordinary line. So after the trip north I am thinking of you and the little ones and hoping that you are safe and well. As I wrote you, the conditions in Butte are not all that could be wished, but possibly not so bad that they might not be worse. Our agent here told me he was not able to do any business, and said he only sold one bill last year, and my report of his sales were $133.00 for the entire year. So following my usual custom I began to sniff around to see what the difficulty was and what the prospect was for locating someone else. The third party I saw happens to be a large department store, and the biggest thing of the kind in this section, and I am informed is one of the many connections of the Standard Oil Co., Rockefeller, you know. And when I saw their outfit how I did wish I could line up with them as our representatives. Our local agent suggested I try to get this concern, the Hennessy Mercantile Co., to take our line. And after I saw what kind of a proposition it was, it occurred to me that they were handing me a lemon. The history of our agency at Butte has been a varied one, and has never been satisfactory, and has been switched around a good many times. You may therefore imagine how your little “Johnnie” felt here, on a “battle field” that had seen so many failures in handling of our line. This coupled with the recent disturbances in financial circles unmistakably indicated failure for me this trip, so you know what could me if I should intimate a little “blue” shading to my picture of my impressions of the first contact with Butte. But—I said to myself, I just must place a good agency here, in this ordinarily very prosperous city of 80 M. There is practically no one trying for the business in the proper way, and the stationers say the furniture people get all there is in my line, and the furniture people say the same of the stationers, with the very natural result that none of them do anything of note, and the business goes “East” from the consumer. The prospect looked so unusually good to me that I just couldn’t dismiss the thought that this was my chance. So I took my fighting chance of connecting with the Hennessy Mercantile Co. Called upon them yesterday, and found they had a very large line of fine furniture in their furniture department, but was delighted to find they did not handle anything of note in my line, aside from sectional book cases. And was further encouraged to have one of their furniture salesmen tell me they had been thinking of adding just such a line as I am trying so hard to sell. Now you can imagine how I began to scheme. Next step was to see the manager. Got the desired interview, found him receptive, and then the wheels in my “noodle” began to spin. Well—why I nearly talked an arm off him, and could see he was interested in my way of putting it—dropping the question—you know. At last got him to let me place the details before him, and he began to “sit up” and take notice. So when I found my progress so far was fair, I asked him to think over my proposal overnight and I would see him again tomorrow—which is today. So this a.m. I again “stalked in” on him and held him at periods while he was not otherwise engaged until 1 p.m. Then a short respite for refreshments and a dating for 3 p.m. Promptly at 3 p.m. I was “Johnny on the spot” and got down to the “and lastly” part of my proposition. And what do you think? After all of this time and detailed information as to the golden prospects in store for him if he would take up our line, and to prove portions of my argument, produced my photo of the line in the Trust Co.’s outfit at Spokane, showing “the most beautiful and expensive office outfit in the northwest.” I was, yes really, was not surprised so very much to hear it, as I had kind of felt it in my bones as I warmed up to the subject, as I gently but firmly, and convincingly as I thought, led him step by step into the beauty and superiority of the line—to hear him say he believed all I told him, etc., etc., etc. But, now mind you, BUT—the city of Butte was a very peculiar city, and the people were a very peculiar bunch, and all that— —but he was willing to give “the game,” as he termed it, a trial and would put in a line of not over $500.00. Now how do you think that sounded to me, in all this loneliness? Can you see that sparkle in the corner of my off eye? I hardly expected so much, but I had talked in large figures, intimating that he should carry $1500 worth of the line, etc., etc. So, to clinch the story I will place an order with him of probably $800 in all. Now tell me truly, my dear, was this really so bad when you so well know how I just dreaded coming to Butte? But somehow I just felt like I “will not let thee go, till I receive the blessing”—and I got it good and strong. Now if you were with me, we would celebrate. I know you will pardon me for giving you so much detail in reference to this little (big) deal, for I consider this really one of the biggest deals I have made, on account of the adverse local conditions, and past failures in our agencies here. So I know you will heartily join me in wishing all kinds of good things for this point. Now I must get this in the mail, and lie me down to pleasant dreams of you and the little ones—to say nothing of what I may dream of this day’s doings. I am quite well, and shall hope this will find you and the little folks the same—and happy. With a good night kiss and lots of hugs for you and them, I am, Lovingly your husband, Geo. A. D.