The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-07-31
UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMET OF BUSE

when appears 10 nave SCaFLcu us I'LL sttl'
yertising dodge. has proved quite phe-
nomenon in business. A year ago 1t
was hardly known as legitimate
branch of trade, but last December it
had grown to such proportions that
wholesale houses took it up. One con-
Germ in Boston gave up its other bust
ness entirely, and has been obliged to
keep open nights and treble its working
force to fill orders. This house is now
doing a business Of $500, 900 per annum,
which has been worked up without
drumming, but by means OF circulars
scattered broadcast over the country.
On their list of goods are three hun
bred five-cent articles, and one hund.
red and fifty of the ten-cent variety.
The articles are mostly tinware, iron,
wood, glassware and crockery, and
small housekeeping goods. such rs
soaps, brushes, handkerchiefs, towels,
napkins, etc. The trade covers New
England and the British Provinces,
and a branch at Chicago does an i'm
mense business in the West. Whether
this phenomenon is to be explained by
a legitimate demand for these articles,
or by an innate fancy in the Yankee
mind for things that are cheap, it is
quite astonishing, and has set good
many branches Of manufacture into 4
lively hum to supply the goods for the
trade.-Spyingfield (Mass.) Union.
Two elements enter into the success
of this plan of business, viz: ~ furn-
ishing what the public want at tri-
fling cost, and, (2) letting the public
know it by advertising. The money
crisis developed the plan of dealing di-
rectly with the consumer, no matter
how remote, and at prices Which are
sure to secure large trade. One town.
ship in Mobiles county has during the
past year sent from 5000 to 81 900 in
money to Chicago houses which do bust
ness OH this plan. Of course, this is
bad for our home merchants for the far
mer generally asks them to trust, while
he pays cash for all goods ordered from
abroad.
During our recent visit to Chicago,
we conversed with one of the heaviest
book merchants in the west and he in
formed us that what is known as the
regular book trade had been nearly de-
stroyed by the cheap publishing houses
which were printing standard and all
other works and dealing directly with
purchasers throughout the country.
Standard novels can be had at five, ten
and fifteen cents, in pamphlet form,
and in muslin, at from thirty to fifty
cents.
In this business the printed circular
does the work Of the whole mass Of
middle men, and it works like charm.
General advertising is always more or
less successful, but direct advertising,
which goes straight to TIE individual
with something of the force of personal
letter, is sure to bring him in due time.
LUCKY PREAC CHER.
EdwaGd II. May, an Episcopal minis
ter in Washington. recently drew 4
$4,000 prize i'll Il lottery. lie intends
to build church with the money, that
is, with part of it. Mr.. May said, in
NOHSSAOt%ClSlA VII VIC SuDJCCls
Yes, it is true have drawn the big
prize, and see no harm in it, either.
feel as though [ had been moved by
the Divine Spirit, and if | thought there
was amy wrong about the matter, or
that my action would offend Jehovah,
would not take cent Of the money.
On the contrary, there is nothing wrong
about buying a lottery ticket. A man
simply pays a dollar for the chance of
lettering his condition, and if lie loses
that is the end of it, and if lie wins
there is no dishonesty. 1t is not as bad
as for coal merchants or Wal! street
brokers to buy coal or stocks at low
figures and hold them back for rise in
the market. The lottery business is
not gambling, and it night do {. great
deal Of good. L don't know what nv
church friends will say, but can't help
it. mean to rely upon the Spirit of
the Lord, and if they refuse to ordalll
me because 1 won a lottery prize, very
we'll; can go on doing us have done
before. and preach the gospel on my
own hook"
Mr.. Mays reasoning upon the matter
may not he sound in \ business sense,
but morally and religiously it must be
right, because the churches nearly all
hold lotteries. They hold ten lotteries
where outsiders hold one and the
churches can't do wrong. For you see,
even if the principle is wrong, the end
the glorious end, you know, justilies the
means. The end is to build up churc!
and pay the preacher, and of course
the Lord will approve anything that
builds up a church and pays 4 preacher
Mr.. May is right in holding OH to the
money. Catch him letting that prize
go! But he is mistaken as to his va,
of taking off the sin or atoning for it.
if it be sin to take lottery ticket
lie can put the money to better use
tlap building church, especially in {
city where there are too many eostl,
churches already. lie ought to take
$4,000 and make it the basis of fun(
for the founding of a school in Which
al absolutely free education could be
obtained. II ever we strike a capita
| prize IN Il lottery, we shall 10 something
Of that sort with the money.
Il MINNESOTA SYSTEM
The Window Reporter, in copying
our article Oh /, MINNESOTA Railroad
SYSTEM" adds the tollowing:
We believe the ADVANCE speaks the
sentiment of everybody, and especiall,
| does it strike a strong blow in the last
paragraph. So far as the greater por.
ton of the state regards this question
it is cut off from Chicago as effectually
now, and made dependent upon st.
Paul, rs there is possibility of our be.
coming dashed to the great railroad sys.
tenn that centers in Chicago. We want
no monopoly. The people of Minneso.
ta do not wish to be held to strict allie.
glance to st. Paul, and so far as pro.
tectlng her from the encroachments of
foreign roads every effort will have the
sympathy OF the DeJDle throuohont tho