ABSTRACT
Crick’s travelogue cum-business-advice-manual appeared at a time when travellers had the choice between horse-drawn vehicles and the modern railway. The interaction and particularly the dinners were determined by a number of rules which were compulsory for commercial travellers, who could thereby demonstrate their affiliation with this community, this ‘fraternity’ of comrades. If the Sketches are often humorous in their descriptions of other businessmen, they also offer fundamental human advice. To a commercial traveller away from his family, the hotel staff catering for his needs were of particular importance. However, as the narrator points out, the position has its advantages: Because the boots carries out menial work at all times, never declines a job and runs errands he is trusted, gathers knowledge and saves up more money than anyone would believe.
