Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-06-26
THE L TRADE.
An Enterprising Groceryman's Way
of Increasing His Sales of
Candy and Pickles.

In the neighborhood of a fashion
able school for girls within the lines
of the district, there is a small grocery
store where the girls have been wont
to wander almost daily for the pur-
chase of cucumber pickles, crackers
and little tid-bits that all crave and
are not included in the regular menu
of the school table. Recently the pro-
prietor of the grocery store decided
to sell out and return to his home in
another city, says the Washington
Star.
After some advertising he met up
with a probable purchaser. At first
the prospective buyer was not par
ticularly struck with the possibilities
of the location as a grocery mart Of
profitable proportions. He was just
a little doubtful, when the proprietor
with the desire to sell brought out his
trump card.
"My good man. he said, there is
the college trade you have not counted
upon in your calculations"
What is the college trader" in
quired the ewcom
SIT is lively at all times" assured
the proprietor, "and you will find it
So"
The college trade" slogan carried
the day. and the store was sold forth
with. The newcomer vas to pay half
the purchase price down and the other
half within two weeks, during which
time he was to have the privilege of
withdrawing from the bargain if the
college trade" did not prove all that
was predicted of it.
The new proprietor began business
at the old stand in a very good sort of
way, but during the first few days the
college trade" did not ma~terialize,
and he was beginning to grow I'M
easy. Occasionally girls came to the
store and looked around, but did not
seem anxious to make. purchases.
One bright morning there was a mis-
sive in the mail that brought joy to
the groceryman. His face beamed with
newborn knowledge, and he under
stood for the first time the signifi-
canoe of the term which had induced
him to take the business-"college
trade"
The missive was a letter addressed to
a girl at the college, in care of the
grocer. In the MONDAY mail two other
letters came. They, too, were adj
dressed to college girls and the writing
was of the bold, brave sort usually at
tributed to men.
Fol the next two weeks the college
trade fourished magnificently, and
whenever the mail was heavy the pur-
chases by the girls were corresponding
ly large. The grocer was delighted to
pay the final installment of the pur-
chase money. He adopted the system
of placing the letters in the show case
where candied and sweet nothings were
kept. Here the letters not only were
easily seen by the girls, but the same
time attracted their attention to
dainty commodities with which the
proprietor could be induced to part
upon a slight consideration of SO much
per quarter pound.
Things were progressing boomingly
and the embryo post office was gaining
in popularity daily. Things were COM
ing too easy to last, however, and a day
or two ago the crash came.
AS bad luck would have it, the daily
run of visitors brought to the grocery
store a member of the college faculty.
The member had been a girl herself not
so many years ago, and while in the
store her fancies led her to inquire
whether or not candy was to be had
there. The proprietor delightedly
pointed the way to the candy showcase.
But the beauty of the bonbons faded
from the teachers view as her eyes
caught sight of a little package of let