Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-01-06
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE


TRACrfNti CUsroMERS-JAS. CEA-
ItY y CO-ANoTuER BILLIARD CAR
NtvAL --T THREE MATCHES AND
THREE VICTORIES FOR CHICAGO.
Christmas, New Years day and
the holiday season generally, present
about the same aspects in village aud
city, in town and hamlet, with this
exception that city people pay more
and receive less enjoyment III return
than their more simple and sensible
neighborS in the rural districts This
comes partly from necessity, and
partly from very foolish idea which
generally prevails ia large places,
that Thing is valuable only as it
costs. The notion Is ofcourse mis-
taken one, and leads to much evil, if
not actual misery and want, but ii il
people believe 30, and hence We find
many persons of limited means ex-
pending for presents sums of money
which must cause embarrassment for
months to come. Not that they have
such extreme affection for the recip-
tents of these gifts, but fashion de-
mands the sacrifice, and these peo-
pie are nothing if not fashionable. |
would say nothing against the old
time custom of bestowing gifts upon
relatives and friends, or lifting the
burden of want from the poor and
needy, but the prevailing fashion OF
giving 10 every acquaintance some
useless article worth twice " hat one
Is able to give All actual friend, and
then consider Yourself cheated unless
he gives You twice as much in return,
Is AN unmii!gated humbug, which
should be abolished by statute, If the
thing weie possible The number
and extent Of presents given in this
city 10y persons " ho actually hate
each other, would astoulsh one unac-
quainted with the sacrifices to fash
ION made 10y a portion of our people.
The aggregate would amount to
millions.
The great holiday season has heen
one Of unusual profit To our retail
dealers, who have sold more than
double the amount of any preceding
year, and at this writing their busi-
ness appears to he as lively as ever.
There have been all sorts of induce
ments held ont TO purchasers, but tn.
most successful plan to draw a acrowd
and make rapid saies-w aich has
come under my observation, IS that
adopted by james Geary n co, 1913
Dearborn street These gentlemeR, ,
who are the most extensive and Ie-
liable paw in the city, hay
ing accumulated a large amount OF
III .lt
their business, conceived the idea Of
diSposing OF them upon the follow ing
plan: They put up eight Thousand
pounds of first-clas9 assorted candies,
which they sell at seventy-five cents
a box and the purchaser has chance
of drawing one of the elegant prizes
offered by them, which range in al
tie from s. 600 to ten cents. There
are no blanks, and every purchaser
Is sure To get something. The rush
at this sale has been tremendous,
and | understand Geary & Co. pro
pose to continue it for some time.
Parties in the country can send or
ders for one box or 4 thousand, with
the assurance that they viii be fairly
and honorabiy dealt with, as there
is no firm in the community that
stands higher. The citizens of Chica-
go have the utmost confidence in
these gentlemen, and are patTonlZing
them very literally, and the writer
takes pleasure in adding that he has
examined into the system adopted
by them, has noticed its working,
and found it satisfactory in every in
stance.
Aside from the excitement Incl
dent 10 the holidays, billiards and
biliiardists have been the principal
topics of discussion this week. First
we had match>game for the cham
piorship of illinois, and after an or
dinary struggle, Nermulien again
assumed possession of the que. Then
came the struggle for championship
of the United States, Goldwa waithe, OF
New York, contending against our
McDevitt. The latter again won his
title To this greatest badge of distinc-
ton in his profession, after one Oh the
most closely contested and evenly
fought battles ever witnessed in this
| country; but the Chicagoan won, and
Chicago was happy. Then came uee
| contest between Tom Foley, the -
| champion of the State and "A particu
lar pet Of our people, and Mr.. fraW
| ley, the champion OF Ohio. Foley
won Verr easily, and the heart oi
| Chicago WAS again rejoiced. The
| feeling of Our people will Toe best IL
| iuStrated by All extract from an edi-
| tOrial IN one OF the morning papers.
| Speaking OF this match, the paper ia
| question says:
1T is to be supposed that, hence
forth, small places like New York,
! Cincinnati and Montreal will be con
| tent to keep their local champions al
| LOut. and thereby saw. their money
| their reputation and the huniliatiEp
| consequences Of defeat. Chicago i,
not only the cham pion al the cont
neut, but of the world -
| OF course, this is all bDinisast, vel
Chicago people firmly and positiyely
| believe i'm Ii, and are always willing
| 10 put up stamps on any statement
| Hhicli denies the supremacy 81 Chi
oago and her citizens ia any and eve
ry respect The ide. of calling New
| York small place" il refreshingi3
cool, even for this cosl weather, ba1
! il not uncommon with our city pa
pers. Ia fact, that city is now pener
| ally spoken of as "a frontier tow q,
| while Chicago j. always aiiudrd L
as the heart OF the universe. In
| didn't live here should be inclined Il
exciaim, some times, foo hum
| bug, r.ea Chicago - Butt have -
| local babitation aud u uanle' here
and ii wouldn't DO for fne ~ sIy snei
naughty Things.
Tie tate Baron Rotllsehiid va
| uncercIiIs.ni1tIs With high and ioS
ahk. \ great person once psnetra
t.i into his cabinet when the Baron