The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-25
THE STORE KEEPERS PEST.

walking few steps toward the proprie-
tor, ventured the remark mice day, but
a trife hot" -
eyes, it is hot" assented the proprie-
tor, as he took position in front OF
row of tobacco pals.
well. it's what we need" continued
the first speaker, as he lounged against
show case on the opposite side OF the
store.
Just then the reporter of the Free
Press called for half dozen "two for's"
and the proprietor, stepping to the front
of the store, waited on his customer.
Meanwhile the man who had commented
on the weather stepped to the tobacco
pals and from one of them took good
''five cents WORTH" and slowing it away
in his mouth, again remarked: "Morn-
in" and walked out.
\ II tried to, but failed" said the
store keeper.
Failed to do what?'
keep the sampler away from m y
tobacco. He comes in every day, some
times twice a day, and steals-although
I don't suppose he calls it stealing
from two to five cents's worth of tobacco
every time" .,,
"Whydon't you speak to him about it?"
"Oh, he's a good. natured sort of q
Achap, and know he has not any money,
so l hate to speak to him."
How many such customers have
, your"
y IT have three regular daily samplers,
I'd an average of half o dozen tran
w."
~ much per annum do you lose
way?"
phundred dollars year is low
Ie, 1 believe"
living the word "sampler" and its
and meaning in his mind, the re-
left the tobacconist and sought o
whom he found in front of his
ding array Of fruits, and asked him
,,e knew what sampler" was.
dol? Just step in here and let me
show you"
800 not the placards: Don't touch,
Please don't pick and the like, have
mot the least. I have seen men take
two or three bits of candy from o tray,
after which they would take the placard,
These are not samples, 4nd, turning to
me. sav. .You don't think such notice
as this is going to do any good, do your"
II couldn't say anything. 1t makes
me too full for utterance, but do ter
rible lot Of thinking"
The reporter visited the Central mar
ket. and upon inquiry there learned that
eyery one of the dealers in fruits and
green vegetables are constant losers by
the cheeky raids of the sampler" and
that even the butchers lose raw ham
raxxy hanfgtaQE
lass who have the effrontery and palate
Aior such articles.
"Shall l tell you how 1 cured family
of stealing my STUFF" asked an old mar
ket woman.
"If YOU please" said the reporter, as
he sampled" the tray Of blackberries
before him.
"There was family kept a boarding
house on Larned street. ana every day
the mother and father and daughters
vouli visit my stall. They always came
sipQlv and never passed me without
taking away handful OF berries.
peach, an apple or perhaps four or i've
pods Of green peas. l stood 1t as long
as could, cos they bought of me nearly
every day. At last | resolved to put a
stop to their pickings, 80 l provided
mySeII WIN louS uoiuioI Aton Spun
and quart pot full Of thinned tar.
Every time any of them came to my
stall after that busted myself stirring
the tar, and the first move they made to
sample l would, apparently without
thought, reach out to them with the
spoon, saying, Those are eight cents q
quart or whatever they happened to be.
and while doing this would drop the tar
on their hands"
ibid you cure them 2
<Yes, they 'tumbled' after each one
had been tarred, but lost their custom. :
.What do you know about 'samplersT
asked the reporter Of grocery man
Who was found sanding in front OF his
ltore.
II know EN- all. The sugar sampler,
L&he tea sampler, the cranberry sampler
and fifteen or twenty other kinds OF
samplers"
IFS there such variety OF the profess
sion?"
.You bet But the funniest case
aver saw was that Of butter sampler.
Never mind, I'll take your word FOL
it,"
mo, honestl I'm giving it to you
straight. There was 0 man year OF
two ago who used to- come to our store
about twice q week to look ut butter
He kept first.class boarding house and
we didn't think strange Of his visits.
He would ask to look at two differen:
l..,tt.,~ ,nl axn1ainipn that ba