Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-02
'LOOKER.0N In IOWA:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Cherokee. Jan. An investigation
into the Christmas trade OF last week.
brings out the fact that the smaller
towns had less trade than during pre-
vious years while the larger towns had
as large a trade as usual CAUTIOUSLY
enough reports go TO show that the ex-
press and mail Christmas presents
business was about in the same ratio,
in other words the people in the larger
towns and cities gave and received
more presents according to the popu-
lation than the smaller towns. OF
course some OF this can be explained
by the poor crops around some OF
the smaller towns. but in many little
towns where good crops and prices
We're in order, merchants were COM
planning our Christmas trade is way
Off" And here's thing not plain to
the writer. Why Is 1t that the peo-
pie of the city make so many substan-
tial presents, and in the little burg
the snowy. almost tiimsy, present pre-
dominates. The city man does not
hesitate 10 send some nice article OF
clothing or a good solid rocking chair
TO his friend. In the smaller town the
present IS frequently more pretentIous,
but Will be worn out, sent TO the rag
bag, or the garnet. many years before
that rocking chair il played out"
Here's another study for the moralist
Our wives and daughters are all very
much opposed TO our bad habit OF
smoking. and yet never before III small
or larger towns have the tobacco deal
ers been better patronized by the
"wimmen folks They've been ridi-
culed so much on their presents of
box of cigars that now they select the
brand. the husband. brother or friend
habtually uses. Same way on pipes.
They know, In fact have made 1t their
business to find out, whether he"
likes a merschaum, or English briar.
and with 1t. comes a package of his
particular brand of smoking tobacco.
How can a man swear off, January
ls;. with all this unsmoked stock on
hand lis almost as bad as refusing
Christmas present.
In one of our county seats the other
day, a merchant explained the dull
times season. He says that the specu-
lators OF that part of the state loaded
up on Minnesota and Dakota lands.
They doomed prices, but their SAILS
We're NOT equal to their expectations,
hence they had to use their own mon
ey to make coming due payments. That
lessened the deposits of their banks,
who began to get cautious. raise the
rate of interest and refuse customary
loans Then the boom on land near
by his town, has dropped out of
.,iy 10 lr NJ in that tn1av
can be bought for $40 an acre less than
asked for price last year. Admits
that prices. asking and in some cases
selling prices, We're much too high. that
two years of rain and consequent poor
crops. have made 1t difficult for rent
ers 10 live, much less to pay their two
and half to three dollars an acre rent.
SO trade is dull. banks cautious. deal
ers buying small bills. and once more
the voice of the croaker is heard In the
land. When the Looker-On tells such
a man of the big crops we have the state
over, of the counties with big crops,
he at once has a doubling Thomas look.
and says that 1t may be so down your
way, but up here some of 'em will eat
snow balls before spring"
Primghar has tame crow that is
fast acquiring statewide reputation.
In addition to being fine specimen for
the taxidarmist, he has ackuired the
faculty of talk. He has the freedom
of the city, spending most of his time
loaf!ng around the court house yard.
Worse than all he Is accused of muir
der, though 1t Is only circumstsntlal
evidence, but the pet tame squirrel of
the court house was found dead one
morning recently, and the hole in the