The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1901-01-12


left the sun at Chicago those clos
ing days of November-and did not bu
little more than catch aglimpse OF Il
until l rolled in there again one pretty
night ten days or two weeks later. Il
was the first time l had been in Ohio
in the late fall or early winter since
coming west to live, and it seemed that
l could never get used to that dampecul
lar climate in the winter season. Not 8
day but what heavy overcoat was
necessary outside and l had to hug 8
radiator or register inside. In spite oi
that, took cold. My! but the sun seemed
good when l got west again. A good
portion Of the big iron mills are on the
lake shore at Cleveland and the north.
west winds sweep the sooty smoke con
stant;y over Cleveland's business center
and the greater part OF its world-reDown
ed residence streets. II tho wind hap.
pens to blow from the south they get II
Just the same from Rockefelle,'s oil re.
fineries, all told covering Ohio's metro.
polls with heavy pail that, to the win.
ter visitor, seemingly never lifts.
The visitor in Cleveland will see let
tering on the big trolloy cars, designat-
ing towns as the terminus thilty miles
away, for the whole country FOR that dis.
tance is connected with the seventh big
gest city in the United States with the
most perfect trolley system operating
between the two oceans. The lines reach
some of the finest smaller cities of the
state, towns from two to ten thousand
people. Oncs out of the city limits, the
cars speed at the rate of 80 and 40 miles
an hour. They make the trip in nearly
the same time as the steam cars. and as
they reach the business portion Of all
towns and cities, are much more conven-
lent. The fare is about half. The cars
are models of comfort and the ROAD bed
as solid AMI level as any steam railway.
1t gives the residents Of the outlying
towns and country districts almost all
the conyeniences of a big city with their
own advantages added.
The natural supposition is that this
system has tendency to sap the trade
OF the smaller cities, but did not find i.
so from conversation with The business
men. The merchants of the small
towns say that their trade is not mater
iallv affected, while there is a constant
stream Of visitors from Cleveland who
leave more or less money which sooner
or later finds itself In the regular chan
nels OF trade. The merchants, too, are
in these smaller cities adopting the big
city mans style OF doing business. Do
ing lots Of advertising for one thing;
carrying the same line of goods so far as
their capital will permit-that is. "spec-
ial drives" alleged bargains and all
and the people are finding it out. ga
miliarity breeds contempt" in a hundred
different ways. As the country people
are afforded easier and less expensive
trips to large city, the glamor OF cheap
shopping opportunities wears off. They
soon discover that they can buy what
they want as cheap at their home stores
as in the big institutions Of the cities.
For their part, as stated. the business
men Of these small eastern towns and
cities are becoming constant and heavy
Notwithstanding the people with
what they have in goods and prices, and
to an extent never before done prior to
the advent OF the big department stores.
These latter concerns owe their success
wholly to advertising. This is apparent
to anyone who has ever given the mat
ter thought.
I can state positively from my own ex-
perience that can buy in any small
city anv article worn or used in my
home fully as cheap as In any big de-
partment store-wi:h the possible excep-
tion of some small things of no great
cost anywhere--providiDg Of course that
the article is to be had. IT is true that
1t is positive pleasure is visit occasion.
ally great shopping center to see the
display, which during the weeks in ad.
vance Of the holidays equals an expo
sition; but when it comes to purchasing
necessities or luxuries, I'll take the store
OF the modern up-to.date dealer in the
small town.--and save money. 10 get
the advantage OF the so.called bargains
one must be resident and be prepared
to take in the special sales when they
come. The occasional visitor won't fint
these opportunities once in ten times.
The expense Of the. big department
store is tremendous. A sixteen foo
front on Madison street was leased ii
Chicago one day that I was there TO
$4,000 a year for 80 years. This wa
for the bare ground. Some of the larg
retail stores have 1000 employees; sales
men and saleswomen stand elbow to ell
bow at some counters; the braintest mel
that money can buy lead the depart
ments, no expense is spared to displa
goods in the most attractive manner
and hundreds Of thousands OF dollars ar
spent in advertising. The show win
dows are dreams Of beauty; the pric
tags hint bargain unheard Of; the buy
or enters in the glare OF an almost blind
ing electric light; there is constan
whirl and coming and going of count
less people, among whom are scores {
the prettiest and most attractiyelY dres
sed women in the world; the killingl
attired floorwalker, the suaye and after
tive clerkand before you know it 70
have separated yourself from 9S cent
for shirt which. exposed in your ow
modest quarters scares the hired girl ii
to ct and comes out Of the first was
less like shirt than dish rag resem
bles the Declaration OF Independence.
Il Uhnr + noo& ernv, Nh;oo nvn IT f,l,