Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-12-12
ABOUT HOME TRADE.
Christmas Shoppers Can Do AS Well If
Not Better at Home than Abroad.

1t is quite possible that the Herald
will touch some sore spots in what
follows. but we hope not. Just at
this time, however, it occurs TO us
that little sermon from the text
"Spend your money at home," will
not be out of place. AS the Christ
mas season is approaching doubtless
good many people will do as they
have done in the past, go to Milwau-
kee or Chicago to look for presents.
Ia some instances this is wholly ex-
cusable, for there are things that are
sometimes desired that cannot be
found in our business houses. But
in ninety cases out of every hundred
we venture the statement that the
buyer could do as well or better at
home. Lancaster has made a very
marked advance in recent years in
the quantity, quality and assortment
of stocks kept by its dealers. To
warrant the keeping of such stocks
they have right to expect the loyal
support of every home buyer. espec-
tally as long as they meet the compe-
tition of cities in prices. As an ac-
tual fact our home merchants are and
have been underselling city establish
ments in the same goods. But to
some there seems TO be sort of halo
surrounding the big city department
stores and they will pay little extra
for the privilege of being artistically
robbed by them. We fail to see why
an article is any better because one
buys it himself at a Milwaukee or
Chicago store and takes the trouble to
bring it home in the car with him
than the same kind of an article that
comes here from the same establish
ment with the freight of some local
dealer. Then there is another thing
that calls for some attention, and
that is the Email order" evil. Every
fall the country is flooded with bulky
catalogues in which almost every
imaginable thing is listed and fabu-
lous claims are made for their low
prices. We have taken the trouble
to investigate these claims in the
case of one of the great Chicago con-
Germs, and find that without an ex-
ception the patrons of that house pay
Just little more for goods, some
times a good deal more, than the
same could be had for in Lancaster.
Not long since one of our jewellers
was asked to show prospective GUS
toner a watch of certain make and
number. He did it and the customer
appeared to be pleased with it. but
was about to walk out without buy
ing when the jeweler. know
ing that his price was exceptionally
low, asked him the reason. His re-
ply was that he could buy 1t for less
money, he thought, from N.
Va Co. The dealer CHANGED
to have enc of their latest catalogues
and turning to it found that the iden-
tical watch was listed there but at
$500 more than he had asked The
watch the buyer had in mind was
pictured to look like it, but was an
inferior one, of a less number of
jewels, and was only fifteen cents I'M
der the price asked by the home deal
er for the better one That is about
the way the facts develop in nearly
every case Now is it not time peo-
pie realized that the Lancaster mer-
chants who help to support the gov
eminent, pay the taxes. buy the
farmers produce and make our hand
some little city better every year for
being in it are entitled to their loyal
support? To that end let everyone
buy his Christmas gifts at home when
ever possible.