Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-29
Looker-On In Iona

Vail, April 29.-Traveling men still
continue to talk of the hotel mems
gathering some weeks ago. AS some
things We're proposed a that time, con-
siderably different from present ar
rangements naturally the boys" have
strong opinions to express. The Amer
lean plan still is the favorite. And 50
day outside the largest Iowa cities is all
the knights of the grip propose to pay.
OF course there are exceptions but the
big army of travelling men, those that
make all towns, large and small
claim all expense account over 81 day
for hotels, gets them into trouble with
the firm Such men do not object to
$3.50 or even SO a day when in cities
where such prices are common or reg
ular for first class accom- odations. but
they will not stand for over 50 in the
ordinary sized towns in Iowa. Men
that travel on commission and pay
their own expenses are on the Increase
and with such men, the restaurant
trade is increasing. "Seventy-five cents
for bed without meals" Is a common
sign everywhere now, and such price
has been forced by the travelling men
that figure close.
to spend money for luxuries and style,
ie in good times Not to say word
just now about automo biles, there is
apparent a fad for brass buttons on
harnesses, that is simply style" and
adds nothing to the wear and tear of
the farm harness. This brass button
about the size of a silver dime is
stuck on in rows, and adds about S. to
the cost of set of harnesses. And it
does look nice. Even the horses seem
to appreciate the looks of the thing.
But to hear some well-to-do farmer,
with money lying idle in the local bank
kicking because the last tariff bill does
not make harnesses cheaper. and then
add IS unnecessary expense to a set
of harnesses "just for looks" seems a
trifle inconsistent
Stories of the late freight blockade
are still in order. One grain dealer at
Manson had a. loaded car stand in the
yard sixty days before wheel was
turned. And at Primghar grain
man loaded a car of oats and billed it
out with bill of lading attached.
Weeks passed and no returns Were re-
ceived. Finally he wrote the commits
sion firm in regard to it and in reply
received an answer that they had not
received such a car, and suggested
starting a tracer" The grain man at
Prinl CHAR did so, and found the car of
oats on side track not 800 feet from
his elevator.
Iowa cigar manufacturers and prob
ably all over the country are kicking
because of the government label on the
Philippine cigars. They claim it I'M
just for the government to certify to
anything made in the Philippines, that
they will not give la bel for if manu-
featured here. Say the smoker accepts
such a statement as a guarantee for
Philippine manufacture, that implies
the Iowa manufacturer does not equal.
Returning land seekers and land
owners in northwestern Canada are
kicking because of the cigars and
smoking tobacco up there costing
double what they do here in Iowa. Say
our well known brands Of five cent
cigars cost double and smoking tobacco
the same.
And for some reason here in iowa
pipe smoking is on the increase. 1t is
no uncommon sight in our best hotel
Hobbies to notice we'll dressed men
openly smoking briar or meerschaum
pipe. The same is till more common in
the smoking car. It is not because
of an economical fit, for the same pipe
smokers generally buy ten cent cigars,
when at home or abroad Another fad
seems to be the increased sale Of
"stogies' at all cigar stands. In Penn
sylvania Everybody" smokes Wheeling
stogies. Out here the panatella shape
cigar seems to have started afresh the
desire for stogies. Still cigar dealers
say it's only a fad. The cigar smoker
soon gets tired of stogies and returns to
his favorite brand Of cigars.
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