Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-02
A TALE WITH A MORAL
Why a Drummer Cut a Town OH
His Visiting List.
EYE OPENER FOR A FARMER.

by Buying From Mail Order House.
The Drummer Gave Him Something
to Think About.
Half a dozen men sat in the once
of the hotel in a town of the middle
west Any discerning eye that is ac-
customed to the observation of persons
in the average town could have picked
out the local merchant, the editor, the
doctor and the farmer The hotel clerk,
who sat around the big stove with the
others, was identified by the pen be
hind his ear. The other man, as any
body could see, was drummer for
city house.
YES. it's pretty tough" the drum
mer was saying as he glanced at the
farmer Times are good: and vel
trade seems to be falling off in some
places, and land around here, for in
stance. is not worth SO much as II
might be- Your town is running down
at the heel, you might say. You all
know I've been making this place for
ten years, but I've got to cut it out.
This is my last trip. Nothing doing
any more
Il reckon Bob right, boys" said the
merchant, looking blue. We're GER
tainly sorry he's going to quit making
this town, but business is business.
Eight or ten years ago l used to buy
bill of goods every time he came
round that made him happy enough
to dance iig-eh, Bob?'
you sure did JIM replied the
drummer; but this time my order
book shows just $3.50. The other
two fellows didn't order a blooming
thing. That's not worth the stop over,
I you see.'
whats the matter with you fellows,
Mr.. Wilson, the farmer inquired, with
glance at the merchant. As he spoke
he took from his pockets a pipe,
package Of tobacco and a box Of
matches He proceeded to fill and light
his pipe. putting away comfortably.
Gimme light, Mr. Hines, will
you?" the merchant requested. MY
pipes gone out; that's what's the mat
ter with me just now"
He took the prOffered box of matches.
Extracting match. he struck it on the
prepared surface of the box.
very handy Matches he remarked.
''Where do you buy emp
The farmer looked a little shame
faced.
why. II bought that box in Chi
cago"
"Ah. didn't know you'd made a trip
to the city" said the merchant, putting
placidly.
"Well, to tell the truth, 1 haven't"
admitted the farmer. You see, it was
this way: My women folks are great
hands for reading these here catalogues
and things l happened to run across
match bargain in a catalogue, and so
1 sent to Chicago and got six boxes
a whole package-for dime
every NICE" said the merchant calm
~, while Bob, the drummer, winked sly
" at him. Yes, very nice matches,
but happen to have the same kind in
stock, six boxes for u cents. Your
stamp cost you cents, and then there
We're the stationery and the trouble o.
writing. SO you didn't get much of a
bargain after all, Mr. Hines"
Il reckon l didn't, Mr.. Wilson," ad-
mitted the farmer, ''but 1 didn't know
you kept 'em"
mo, because you don't come around
to the store like you used to. l hap
pen to order these matches from Bob
Rhodes here
You mean you used to order 'em.
corrected the drummer but you told
me today you still had ten dozen OF
the last order on hand, you remember.
/ think I'll smoke a little myself. Mr.
Hines, if you'll kindly stake me for
pipeful of the weed"
The farmer handed over his tobacco.
The drummer read the label as he
opened the package.
Buy this by mail, too?' he asked
quietly.
well, yes" said the farmer. Won
see
yes, l see. Cost you cents Il pack
age besides the postage, the stationery
and the trouble Mr.. Wilson keeps this
same brand for 10 cents. say be
keeps it, He doesn't sell il to any
y
live here and hereabOuts send your
money off to Chicago or some other
big city to those large mail order
houses, and Mr.. Wilson and your other
merchants have such light trade that
poor old Bob Rhodes has got to cut this
town off his visiting list. Another re
sult-town quits growing, your land
doesn't increase in value, and they're
growing a fine crop Of grass in the
streets. They ought to NOW it and
compete with your alfalfa or clover
hey? Now, amt that just about the
size of it, Brother Hines?'
Mr.. Hines coughed. The tobacco was
middling strong.
'And. say. Brother Hines, III just
bet you a dollar that you bought that
pipe by mail, too; continued the drum
mer
I'm no betting man, Mr.. Rhodes,
returned the farmer defensively.