Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-04-08
A TALE WITH A MORAL
Why a Drummer Cut a Town OFF
His Visiting List.
EYE OPENER FOR A farmer.

Tho Drummer Gave Him Something
to Think About.
Half Il dozen men sat in the Office
Of the hotel in 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.
others. was identified by the pen be-
hind his ear. The other man, as any.
body could see. was a drummer for q
city house.
"Yes, It's pretty tough" the drum
mer was saying US 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 so much US 1t
might lie. 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"
Il reckon Bob right boys" said the
merchant. looking blue. Were GER
tainly sorry he's going to quit making
this town. but business is business.
Eight or ten years ago l used to buy
a bill Of goods every time he came
round that made him happy enough
to dance jig-eh, Bob?"
"You sure did. Jim," replied the
drummer; "but this time my order
book shows just $27.5O. The other
two fellows didn't order blooming
thing. That's not worth the stop over.
you see."
"What's the matter with you fellows,
Mr.. Wilson," the farmer inquired, with
q glance at the merchant. AS he spoke
he took from his pockets a pire, q
package of tobacco and q box Of
matches. He proceeded to ill 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 a match. he struck 1t on the
prepared surface Of the box.
every handy Matches" he remarked.
"Where do you buy 'em?"
The farmer looked little shame
faced.
"why, IL bought that box in Chi
cago."
"Ah, l didn't know you'd made trip
to the city," said the merchant. putting
placidly.
"Well, to tell the truth. haven't"
admitted the farmer. you see. it was
this way: My women folks are great
hands for reading these here catalogues
and things. happened to run across
a match bargain in catalogue, and so
l sent to Chicago and got six boxes
whole package-for dime"
every nice" said the merchant calm
ly. while Bob, the drummer. winked sly
ly at him. Yes, very nice matches,
but happen to have the same kind In
stock, six boxes for IL cents. Your
STAMP cost you 2 cents, and then there
were the stationery and the trouble of
writing. So you didn't get much of a
bargain after all, Mr.. Hines"
Il reckon didn't, Mr.. Wilson," ad-
mitted the farmer, "but l didn't know
you kept EN-"
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 EN-
corrected the drummer, "but you told
me today you still had ten dozen OF
the last order on hand, you remember.
l think III smoke little myself, Mr..
Hines. If you'll kindly stake me for Il
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.
"Wel, yes" said the farmer. "You
see".-
eyes, 1 see. Cost you 8 cents pack
age besides the postage. the stationery
and the trouble. Mr. Wilson keeps this
same brand for 10 cents. l say he
keeps 1t. He doesn't sell 1t to any
great extent. because you people who
live here and hereabouts send your
money off to Chicago or some other
big city to those large mail order
houses. anC 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 Il fine crop Of grass In the
streets. They ought to NOV 1t and
compete with your alfalfa or clover
hey? Now. amt that just about the
size Of 1t, Brother Hines?"
Mr.. Hines coughed. The tobacco was
middllng strong.
"And, say, Brother Hines. III Just
bet you a dollar that you bought thai
pipe by mail. too" continued the drum
mer.
I'm no betting man, Mr. Rhodes
returned the farmer defensively.
but you are a thinking man." sug
gested the drummer, land think I've
given you little food for thought
Thanks for the tobacco, Mr.. Hines"
BURR JOYCE.