Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-10-14
Pelon.

shopkeepers to offer small premiums
to their patrons, such as cheap chromos,
ETC., which cost but little and have a
great influence in controlling trade,
for mankind is always willing to pay
dearly for gift.
| don't know how this custom orig
mated in "the States" but it has been
practiced on the frontier for years,
and no man can successfully conduct
a business in the Southwest without
giving "pelon," which is an Anglo
Spanish word, meaning gift. If a
storekeeper fails to give "pelon" in
the Southwest he will "fail" in more,
senses than one. If man buys a
dimes worth of candy for the baby
he expects pelon of as much more.
Every storekeeper has private bar
in the Office where the pelon takes the
form of spiritueus refreshments and
cigars. No Mexican makes a pur-
chase without asking pelon, and woe
to the man who neglects this depart
ment of his business.
A friend of mine set up business in
a fourishing Southwestern Texas town
a few years ago and engaged in the
grocery trade. His store was located
in good quarter, and he thoroughly
understood his business. He opened
out with splendid stock of goods
cat prices which defed competition" +"
He understood only a few words of
Spanish and his first customer was a
greaser. The Mexican bought ten
cents worth of crackers and cheese,
and when the parcel and his change
were handed him, he held out his dir
ty hand again.
"Pelon, senor," he said.
"Just out" answered the grocer.
"Have in full stock when my goods
arrive from the East"
"Si, sil" assented the greaser, but
he shook his head and walked slowly
away.
The next customer was white lady,
who bought largo bill of goods, and
ordered the purchases sent to her
house. She called for a receipted bill,
and paid her score. Her carriage
was at the door, and the polite grocer,
anxious to conciliate such an aristo-
cratic customer, escorted her to the
door. She was just stepping into the
carriage when she suddenly stopped.
"Oh, l forgot!" she said laughing
ly, "pelon !"
The face of the grocer fell and he
mentally resolved to order a big stock
of pelon Immediately.
81 am very sorry, madame" he
said, aplogetically, "but my pelon
has not arrived yet. l ordered a
heavy stock and expect the goods here
on every train. am very sorry,
but"
ooh. never mind" said the GUS
toner coldly. 1T is nothing" But
she flounced into the carriage with a
dissatisfied toss of her head.
81 shall lose her trade, surely"
muttered the grocer as he went back
into his store, "and all on account of
that confounded pelon. / wonder
what it's like?"
He walked to his desk and began
letter to his wholesale merchants, or
dering full supply of pelon. He
did not like to say how many barrels,
boxes, OF bales, for he had as yet very
vague idea what pelon really was.
While he was writing the letter other
customers entered, made purchases,
and all asked for pelon. The constant
demand which he was unable to sup
ply drove him nearly to madness, and
he finally dispatched his chore boy to
the telegraph office with the follow
ing message
Mcssrs. Cash Stock, Wholesale orocers New Or.
leans:
Ship Immediately carload pelon, and draw at 30
days for BILL "
He had a splendid trade all the
morning, but toward evening it began
to drop off, and walking to the door
he saw customer after customer pass
his door to patronize his rivals in
business.
81 don't understand it," he cried
under his breath. ut must be on ac-
count of not having a supply Of that
pelon."
Just then telegraph boy handed
him message. He tore open the en-
velope and read the following:
New Orleans, La., Sept. 5, 1883.
John Turnipsccd:
What is Pelon
CASH 4 STOCK.
"Confound it'll" he cried, and then
glared wildly about him.
Two boys stopped in front of his
store and looked in at his tastefully
arranged window.
"He keeps fish-lines," said one
Lets 60 in"