258 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
good judgment, little need be feared from the 
authorities in this connection. 
Before entering a foreign country for the 
first time, it is well to obtain letters of intro 
duction to leading merchants and especially to 
government officials. They prove wonder 
fully beneficial and are highly successful in 
smoothing out the rough places which are sure 
to be met with in the paths of business. It 
generally pays to act implicitly on the advice 
given by responsible people living in the land 
wherein you are a pilgrim, for they are well 
acquainted with local idiosyncrasies, and can 
suggest the exact spot where a small tip will 
facilitate matters materially. 
Be sure to cultivate the acquaintance of the 
high grade old time traveller whom you will 
be certain to meet sooner or later on your trip. 
You will find him pregnant with pertinent 
and useful suggestions, which will do much 
toward making your initial trip a success. 
Years of experience in the Latin American 
school of business have given him a marvellous 
amount of wisdom, which you will always find