The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-09
A LOYAL CHURCH.
Copy righted, 19O3-1904,
by George S. Scales.
All rights reserved.)
A rlankato Story With
Real Home Characters.

The ladies-God bless 'em-had held
entertainments, and worked and saved
and secured the funds, and now the male
members of the congregation who had
stood by and looked wise, while their
better halves were digging tooth and nail
to accumulate the shekels, were called
together to direct them where to spend
the money.
Parson Goodman called the meeting to
order and asked Hon. Thomas Jones to
take the chair.
81 move," hurriedly said Deacon lite
fist, that we send to Chicago and get
the carpets of Catchem & Doom, the
great catalogue house."
DR.. Cureem's wife seconded the mo-
ton.
Hon. Thomas Jones rose in protest.
brothers and sisters" said he, 'you
are making a mistake. No community
can prosper that divides its forces. Its
buyers and sellers must work together"
''Huh!" said Deacon Titefst, 81 believe
in buyin' where 1 can get things the
cheapest"
$50 do l." answered the Hon. Thomas.
"That is one reason why l am Johnny
on the-spot man, for I've learned that
the home man gives better goods for the
money than the catalogue man. He can't
afford to sell shoddy goods to his neigh
bors. And competition keeps his prices
down."
Its my privilege to go where please
with my money" persisted the deacon.
"Just so. And strike your home man
when you want credit" retorted Mr..
Jones. '1'm not built that way. The
home man gives employment to my boys
and girls. He buys my products and
employs other people who consume my
products. He spends his profits in build
ing up the community in which l live.
He is entitled to my support"
''He's got no strings on me-" growled
the deacon.
''He has, if you are a fair man, de-
clared the former Nebraska legislator.
''He is a target every time you fire a
contribution gun. When the church was
built, you were the busiest man in town,
deacon, striking business men for dona-
lions. l never heard that Catchem &
Doom gave penny"
"But these here carpets again began
the deacon.
'You can bank on their being low
grade" broke in Mr.. Jones; "made to
sell cheap. All this Catchem & Doom
catalogue stuff is. We have reliable, re-
sponsible houses in town. Why not buy
of them? We all know that they handle
the best carpets made. What more do
you want? And houses as enterprising
as these that carry full and complete
lines of carpets, rugs, linoleums, mat
tings, curtains, draperies, ETC., are en-
titled to local support"
"You can get groceries cheaper by
clubbing" declared DIR. Cureem's wife.
'What kind?" snapped Hon. Thomas
Jones. Bogus spices, imitation coffee,
sloppy canned goods, refuse stuff of all
sorts! The clubbing grocery solicitor is
one of the worst evils we have and when
you compare his prices with Draper &
De-
(both phones, 36) for pure, fresh and
wholesome food articles you'll find Drap-
er & Pettersen's the lowest anyhow.
That's not all. This popular grocery of
fers you clean, big, complete stock that
comprises the best of every possible
thing in staple and fancy groceries and
fresh fruits and vegetables. They call
especial attention to carefully selected
stock of fancy groceries and fruits for
the holiday season."
81 see one o. them range fellers hitch
ed down to your house t'other day." the
deacon broke in, rather insinuatingly.
eyes, and he slimbered up in short
ORDER" declared Mr.. Jones. "Swindlers,
most of 'em. Sell you an imitation con-
traption, and hang you up with note
at the bank. Why, you can get Quick
Meal or one of the famous South Bend
Malleable steel ranges, or Bucks hot
blast or a Bucks Radiant base burner
or your choice from many other grades
of heaters, of Moore & Tobin, 1923 South
Front street, for less money, and keep
the profit all at home. There's no sense
in being bothered by travelling range
peddlers. I fire 'em mighty quick. /
find everything housekeeper can want
in the stove, tinware and kitchen supply
lines in splendid stock at Moore &
Tobin's, and l have confidence in the
goods because 1 know the men behind
ihem."
''One of the rankest swindles of the
day is in the Catchem & Deem cata.
logue house furniture" continued the
Hon. Thomas, warming to his subject
at is shoddy, from the cheap, imitation
wood it is made of, and the paint that
conceals its imperfections, to the tawdry
trimmings that set it off. 1t is simply q
cinch that you're sold when you buy il
land serves you right, if you are. Fol
-.