The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-11-03
GIVING AWAY CRAZE,
STARTED BY AN ITALIAN CAFE
FREE LUNCH SCHEME.

Trade-Tbe Conflict las Spread TO Eyery
Avenue Of Iasincss - II Is a Boon to
Bargain Hunters.
Los Angeles is the paradise Of the free
lInchcr and the man who scrambles for
rerouic lottery. The wise merchants and
lhCpkcepcrs of this golden land, " flowing
with milk and honey, have been making a
study Of human nature, the kind that
buds in prosperity, and are devising means
of outdOing one another in the run for
trade And after their careful study in
motives all eventually hit upon the same
scheme. The rivalry has now arisen to
the point Of lively competition. Each is
now wing to give to his customers "free
with every purchase more than his neigh
Dor. The whole town has caught the fever
and the conflict has become amusing and
interesting Certainly il appeals to the
crowd
This is how it originated: The keeper of
an Italian cafe on one of the business
streets placidly hung out a sign one morn
ing bearing the shibbOleth in large letters,
Free! One plate Of ice cream with every
lunch or dinner 1t took like wildfire
Crowds stopped and gazed stupidity at the
induCcment, the Catchpcnny. and nearly
all went in. NeighbOring cafe keepers
clustered and swore when trade began to
fall off. Finally the host of German inn
two doors beyond displayed one morning
in his window the announcement: Free,
One pla.e Of best ice cream and a cup of
Kaiser NilIelm coffee with every lunch OF
dinner The restaurant keeper across
the street could not stand the irritation
and the hated competition Of his rivals
any longer, 20 he hung out a sign which
read rec lunch or dinner with every
purchase OF coffee or ice cream. "
Free lunchers we've jubilant. So many
people t1ocked to the place that he opened
an annex and hired more help. And he
did not lose money. He charged 10 cents
for coffee and 5 cents for ice cream.
But that was only a preliminary Skin
mish The conflict has spread, embracing
now every avenue of trade A druggist
took up the warcry next and began issu-
ing series OF lottery tickets from time to
time to his customers, about One-third of
which drew prizes Of articles in his stock.
so the druggist became popular and
continues to flourish. And other men
have caught the fever, so that the pur-
chaser Of any kind Of merchandise. from
toothbrush to a roll Of carpet in whatever
shop he enters, is sure to be presented with
some seryiceable souvenir of his purchase
1t is boon and JOY to the bargain
hunter. She parades from store to store,
gathering together her little purchases in
her arms and being compelled to send
home by express the trophies Of her cam
paign.
A free shave given with every shampoo
and hair cut Is the LOrelei song Of one
establishment. Down a few doors we are
confronted with a gaudy, insolent sign
which says: You need a bath Soap
given away free. - That sign is delusive
A good many people have come away dis
appointed because they could not get a free
bath. Oh, the boUndless magnitude of
human greed. We're the government to
undertake to support all the so called
needy suddenly an awful state of affairs
would come to light. The government
would discover that there We're none on
earth except the needy.
You buyee tea, l give teapot free, "
said Chinaman.
"Oh, go long, " said the customer. Il
don't want any more OF those old tcaDots
I've got more Of them now than III ever
make tea with in a thousand years. Are
you a See Yup highbinder."
mo, Street
Then, l don't want the tea. either.
I'm an anarchist, and l buy only from
highbinders. Not the slightest shade Of
expression passed over the Celestial S face.
No mind reader could have OWNED his
thought Finally he said
You like highbinder You takee tea
free' And she did
Hats are given free with every suit of
clothes; Innings are given away with every
purchase Of a dress; exquisite roses are
given TO patrons Of the matinee; sheet
music is given free with every purchase of
a spool OF thread, and advice is given free
for the asking, except in cases Of mediums
or clairyoyants. Even they have free days.
Doctors have free days for consultation.
But the prescription has to be taken to
certain druggists The street car company
furnishes free sunshine with every ride,
and the ocean furnishes free rheumatism
with every wind.
There are free picniCs and free rides for
the children, free soup and fruit for the
INDECENT and poverty stricken and free
reading for everybody. In fact, freedom
has set up her throne in Los Angeles and
is gathering about her begging herd.
Foreigners especially admire her smiling,
frank countenance, and they fall PROSTATE
before her.
Il wonder if we can't get the freedom
of the city, said one tourist TO another in
d hotel corridor
why, yes, down in Kit Carson lane
Pete Doolan promises that with every
drink "-Lucie France Pierce in Chicago
Times Herald
--~-~ ------
STATE OF ONO, CITY OF TOLEDO, SIS