p. 21 | An Interesting Letter From Mexico by John L. Brown

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

An Interesting Letter From Mexico

By John L. Brown

MERIDA, YUCATAN, MEXICO.

March 9, 1910.

My dear Brother Palmer,—

I received your kind letter written to your Brother Green and myself, and also a copy of a letter to Brother Green dated February 13. These were greatly appreciated. Your letters make us who are in the field roll up our sleeves and go at the work harder and with greater determination to reach the highest possible mark.

We are encouraged to see how the message is going, and rejoice that the printed page is being widely scattered. Soon we can say that they have been scattered “as the leaves of autumn.”

Brother Green and I have had an enjoyable time together here in Merida. Recently we have canvassed some small towns about fifty or sixty miles from here. One morning we went to Progreso, and returned in the evening, having canvassed the “city.” Our work for the day amounted to $138.75. (All values in this letter are given in United States gold.)

Last Friday we worked another small town, and made our delivery, amounting to $56.50, during the evening after the Sabbath, and left for Merida Sunday morning at 6:30. Sunday afternoon I went to Isamal, another small town, where I worked hard Monday, and Tuesday until noon. Tuesday afternoon I delivered all my orders, and sold several books extra for cash, the total value sold and delivered during the two days amounting to $75.50. I am surprised to see how eager some of these poor people are for their books.

When I had nearly finished working one of these little towns, I saw an old hut out on the plain quite a distance. It was hot (the sun does warm things up down here!), and the road was dusty, so I stopped and said to myself, “I’ll not bother with going there; he is poor, and probably can not buy on such a short delivery.” I thought again: “Yes, I will walk away out there to give him an opportunity.” Result: I came back with an order for a four-dollar book. To save time, I delivered his book during the noon hour, only 1½ hours after I had taken the order. The man was glad the book had come so soon, and paid me the four dollars promptly.

I had another interesting experience. Another book agent happened to come into the town a day later than I. He began while I was finishing. When my work was nearly done, I called on a druggist who was out of town when I made my first canvass. I found the other canvasser there hard at work. After he had taken an order and gone away, I told the druggist that I wanted only dos minutos (two minutes). He said the other agent had just taken two hours. I lost no time, but made it interesting for him during those two minutes. The other agent tried to get his order for a six-dollar history to be delivered in six months; I took about two minutes, secured his order for a four-dollar book, and delivered it within a half-hour, leaving him cheered up and happy.

Brother Green and I have been in and about Merida not quite two months. We have just finished our last delivery, with the exception of eight or ten copies. Together we have sold and delivered books during this time to the value of $1,616.50.

Now I must retire for the night. May God continue to bless you in your responsible work, and may many stars fill your crown, is my prayer.

Yours most sincerely,

JOHN L. BROWN.