West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-02-22
DONSER AND THE DRUGGIST.
4 Communication From the Family
Pharmacist Tells Of His
Undolus.
SOME ADVICE FROM Mr.. BOWSER.
Thinks Hs Knows All About Ger
tain Line Of Business But Es
Gets Tripped Up.

Mention is made In the papers
now and then of Mr. Bowers fami-
ly druggist. am the man. He
has been one of my .acquaintances
and customers for the last six years.
/ was looking around for a place
to establish drug store when l ran
across the presen: site. l ran across
Mr.. Bowser at the same time. When
he saw me inspecting the empty
store and learned the nature of my
business he observed:
"My friend, let me tell you some.
thing. Don't take this store unless
you know your business. This is
no location for a man who has just
quit working in a sswmill, We
want druggist here who oAn tell
quinine from morphine without hav.
ing to hunt up some cobbler to
help him."
al think / know my business"
replied, with considerable fligid.
ity.
"Well, l hope you do. If it
turns out that you don't shall head
a mob to lynch you. We have had
enough of druggists mistakes on
this corner. The first time you
posion anyone, off you go to lamp
post"
AS | was moving the goods in
Mr.. Bowser came around and start
ed into boss the job. l stood 1t for
half an hour and then limited that /
could get along without his advice
He flew mad in moment and re-
piled:
"Then you go ahead and mix
your poisons and tooth powder all
together and see what will happen
to you"
/ had been settled week before
he came IN again. He was good
natured, and his bearing was pater-
nal. He at once made himself at
home, and he jotted down a few
rules for my future guidance, as
follows.
"Keep your strychnine in one
place and your quinine in another.
Do not sell carbolIc acid to any
one you may suspect meditates tax.
ing his or her own life.
"Be courteous and respectful to
all customers.
eff customer asks your candid
opinion about consumption cures
and liver pads give him straight talk.
"Give child just as much lico-
rice for nickel as you would an
adult.
'In making up a prescription
ever bear in mind the fact that the
former occupant of this store poi
soned off a fat woman by getting in
the wrong ingredient"
In addition to the above, he in .
formed me that he would drop in
occasionally to encourage me with
his presence, aud that if he saw
knew my business he would in time
become a patron. l didn't give
him any encouragement, but he
began dropping in soon after that
and scattering fatherly advice all
over the place. II he happened to
find me putting up a prescription
for woman in waiting he would
loudly observe:
Prescription, eh ? Now, doc,
remember what have told you.
Don't make any mistake in the in
gradients. We had a woman poi
soned here last year, and the people
won't stand any further nonsense. "
The woman would become frigh.
tened, Of course. and four times out
five would ask for the return Of the
prescription and take It elsewhere.
IF a man with a discouraged look
on his face entered the store and
asked for cresote for toothache the
chances we're that Mr.. Bowser would
step forward and say to him.
"My man, abandon the idea.
There is hope as long as there is
life, and who can tell how luck will
change with you within a week ?"
"What dye mean ?" the man
would growl.
"Go home and make It up with
your wife and start all over again.
You are too good a man to commit
suicide"
Then there would be lively ten
minutes and would miss sale,
and after the man had departed Mr..
Bowser would felicitate himself on
having saved a human life. If he
happened to be in the store when q