Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-25
Miseellatleoms.
TRADE AT HOME.

Few people ever stop to consider how
closely the interests of people making up
community like that OF Springfield, are
intertwined with each other. We are all
tempted to "go it alone too much, with
out thinking of our neighbors, s,--unmind-
iul that their prosperity is in measure
ours as well. The duty and privilege of
helping each other are too little consid-
cred. And In saying this, we have no
reference to giving aims to the positively
needy. We refer, rather, to the business
transactions every one must have with his
fellows, be they larger or smaller; and
we desire to protest particularly against
the habit so many people have of making
their purchases away from home.
As general thing we believe the peo-
pie OF Springfield do most of their trading
| and shopping here. There would not be
in our city such elegant stores, with so
complete stock of goods, as there are, un-
less there was demand and patronage
for them. Still quite too many folks of
snobbish turn OF mind, perhaps, or may
be influenced by what they believe is
economy, think they must 60 to Boston or
New York if they wish for anything par
ticularly nice in the way of house furnish
Ing or wearing apparel. To the former
class any remonstrance on the subject
will doubtless be quite thrown away.
Some families would be entirely unable to
enjoy new carpet unless they could say
it was bought at Stewards. though the
same pattern could be bought at one OF
our own carpet stores at the same price
And so Of furniture, silk dresses, coats,
and even boots. Some individuals never
seem to prize any of these things unless
| fbnr hot IL L.
Boston or New York; and if they can pos
sess anything brought directly from Eu-
rope. either by themselves or agents, they
are never tired OF boring their friends by
the obtrusion of their happiness.
But fortunately the snobs make up only
small part of any community. Most Of
the readers of the Union will admit, we
are sure, now that their attention is called
to it, that it is the duty of everybody to
make purchases at home, as far as possi-
BILE, though they may never have thought
Of the matter before. In the long run
there is economy as well as propriety in
this course. Mr.. A., the shoe dealer, may
think it very fine thing,-or his wife
may think so for him,-to get his dry
goods and groceries at Boston, where he
goes several times u year on business.
But suppose Mr.. B. and Mr.. c., the dry
goods merchant and grocer, should take
to buying all their boots and shoes at New
York, where they go frequently on busi-
nesse Where would then be the profits
of Mr.. A. that now enable him to exercise
the right of selection in his shopping
"Live and let live" should be the motto
OF every community. 1t pays to think OF
other folks besides ourselves, in business
as well as in the family and the social cir
Gle. 1t will pay the people of Springfield
TO trade at home, if not directly in dollars
and cents, as we believe it will, then in
the satisfaction of having performed a du-
ty to their neighbors, and in their share OF
the general growth and prosperity
Springfield Union