Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-06-12
ATALE WITH A MORAL
Why a Drummer Cut a Town OH
His Visiting List.
EYE OPENER FOR A FARMER.

Thought He Had Been Getting Bargains
by Buying From Mail Order House.
The Drummer Gave Him Something
to Think About.
Half n dozen men sat In the Office
Of the hotel In q town OF the middie
west Any discerning eye that Is ac-
customed to the observation Of persons
In the average town could have picked
ont the local merchant, the editor, the
doctor and the farmer. The hotel clerk,
who sat around the big stove with ths
Others. was identified by the pen be-
hind his ear. The other man, as any
body could zee, was a drummer ior
city house.
eyes, It's pretty tough" the drum
mer was saying as he glanced at the
farmer. "Times are good, ana yet
trade seems to be falling off In some
nlaees. and land around here, for IN
stance. is not worth so much as II
might be. Your town Is running down
ot the heel you might say You all
know I'VE been making this place for
ten years, but I've got to cut IL out
This is my last trip. Nothing doing
any more"
81 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 a jlg-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
you see."
"What's the matter with you fellows,
Mr. Wilson," the farmer inquired, WIFI
a glance at the merchant. AS he spoke
he took from his pockets q pipe,
nackage of tobacco and a box OF
matches. He proceeded to fill and iigh'
his pipe, putting away comfortably.
Gimme light, Mr.. Hines, VIII
vouYo the merchant requested. MY
mines gone out; that's what's the mat
ter with me just now"
He took the proffered box OF matches.
Extracting match he struck 1t on the
prepared surface of the box.
every handy matches" he remarked
"Where do you buy 'em"
The farmer looked d little shame
faced.
"Wby. II bought that box in Chi
cago."
"Ab. I didn't know you'd made trip
TO the city," said the merchant, pufnng
placidly.
"Well, to tell the truth, haven't"
admitted the farmer. "You see, 1t 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, ana SO
I sent to Chicago and got six boxes
whole package-for dime"
every NICE" said the merchant calm
Nv. while Bob, the drummer, winkedsiy'
" at him. eyes, very nice matches
but l happen to have the same kind In
stock. six boxes for II cents. Your
stamp cost you cents, and then there
were the stationery and the trouble OF
writing. So you didn't get much OF
bargain after all, Mr.. Hines"
81 reckon | didn't, Mr.. Wilson," ad
, mitted the farmer, "but didn't know
you kept EN-"
mo, because you don't come arouno
to the store like you used to. nap
men to order these matches from Bct
t Rhodes here"
"You mean you used to order 'em,
corrected the drummer, "but you TOLD
( me today you still had ten dozen O
I the last order on hand, you remember
| I think III smoke little myself, Mr.
! Hines, if you'll kindly stake me for
D pipeful Of the weed"
/. The farmer handed over his tobacco
D The drummer read the label as D.
opened the package.
q buy this by mail, too" he asKe'
!. quietly.
l. "Well yes" said the farmer. "Yo'
e see
II ayes. see. Cost you g cents pack
O age besides the postage, the stationer
d and the trouble. Mr.. Wilson keeps tn
f same brand for 10 cents. say Ii
d keeps 1t. He doesn't sell 1t TO az
y great extent, because you people WI.
e live here and hereabOuts seEd you
1, money off to Chicago or some othe
,r big CITY to those large mail ordC
d houses. and Mr.. Wilson and your otht
v merchants have such light trade tn;
IS poor old Bob Rhodes has got to cut IN
5; town off his visiting list. Another II
If sult-town quits growing, your Ian
4, doesn't Increase in value, and they
<, growing fine crop of grass In Il
streets. They ought to NOV 1t al
l. compete with your alfalfa or clover
st hey? Now. amt that just about Il
b size of it, Brother Hines"
th Mr.. Hines coughed. The tobacco WI
IN middling strong.
" "And. say. Brother Hines, III ju
es bet you dollar that you bought til
as pipe by mail too" continued the drui
SO mer.
OF I'm no betting man, Mr.. Rhodes
b. returned the farmer defensiyely.
n but you are thinking man su
q. rested the drummer, "and l think
re given you a little food for thoug'
at Thanks for the tobacco, Mr.. Hines.
". BURR JOYCE