Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-03-22
Why a Drummer Cut a Town OF
His Visiting List.
EYE OPENER FOR A FARMER.

Thought he had Been Ostt'n9 o@' yam"
by Buying From Mail Order House.
The Drummer Gave Him Something
TO Think About.
Half a dozen men sat in the Office
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 Tor
city house.
"Yes, it's pretty tough" the drum
mcr was saying as he glanced at the
farmer. "Times are good, and yet
trade seems to be falling of In some
places. and land around here, for In
stance, is not worth 50 much as 1t
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 1t out.
This is my last trip. Nothing doing
any more"
81 reckon Bob right, boys" said the
merchant. looking blue. We're GER
talnly sorry he's going to quit making
this town, but business Is business.
Eight or ten years ago ! used to buy
bill Of goods every time he came
round that made him happy enough
to dance jig-eh, BobT
"You sure did, jim" replied the
drummer; "but this time my order
book shows Just S27JO The other
two fellows didn't order blooming
thing. That's not worth the stop over.
you zee"
whats the matter with you fellows,
Mr. Wilson," the farmer inquired. with
a glance at the merchant AS he spoke
he took from his pockets pipe,
package OF tobacco and box OF
matches He proceeded TO I'll and light
his pipe, putting away comfortably.
Gimme light, Mr Hines, will
your the merchant requested. my
pipes gone out; that's what's the mat
ter with me just now"
He took the protfered box OF matches
Extracting match no struck It on the
prepared surface OF the box.
Every handy matches" he remarked.
"where do you buy 'emr'
The farmer looked a little shame
faced
why, II bought that box In Chi
cago."
"Ah, didn't know you'd made trip
10 the CITY," said the merchant puffing
placldly.
"Well. to tell the truth. | haven't"
admitted the farmer. you see, II was
this way: My women folks are great
hands for reading these here catalogues
aud things | happened TO run across
a match bargain In IL catalogue, and SO
! sent TO Chicago and got six boxes
whole package dime"
Every nice" said the merchant calm
! ly, while Bob, the drummer winksd sly
| ly at him Yes. very nice matches.
but | happen TO have the same kind in
stock. six boxes for 10 cents Your
stamp cost you cents, and then there
were the stationery and the trouble OF
writing So you didn't get much OF n
bargain after all, Mr.. Hines"
81 reckon didn't Mr. Wilson, ad-
mtted the farmer. "but didn't know
you kept 'cm."
"No. because you don't come around
10 thc store Ike you used to, hap
pen TO order these matches from Bob
Rhodes here"
You mean you used TO orier 'em,
corrected the drummer but you told
me today YOU stll had ten dozen OF
the last order on hand. you remember
l think III smoke u little myself Mr.
Hines, II youu kindly stake me for a
piperul " the weed"
The farmer handed over his tobacco
The drummer read the label as h,
opened the package
BUY this 10y mail toor he asked
quietly.
We'll yes" said the farmer You
see
"YeS. see. cost YOU = cents pack
age besides the postage the stationery
aud the trouble Mr. Wilson Keeps this
same brand for lp cents say hc
keeps 10 lie doesn't soil .t % any
great extent because you people who
| live here and hcraopus send your