Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
Unique Ways of Drawing
Crowds through Advertising

THE desire to get something for
comparatively nothing has been
amusingly illustrated in many
ways during the past several days by a
sign displayed in a certain shop on +
street.
Just above a small collection of old
coins-some American, several foreign
and a few listed-was an inconspicuous
sign reading: I'VE pay SO for 1910 five
cent pieces That about every third
pedestrian along that crowded way read
it and about every sixth went inside to
make trade or crafty his or her curl
osity is proven by an interview with
the young man responsible for the
scheme. One would naturally suppose
there was some catch" and that only
the more ignorant or credulous would
even bother about it. but after talking
with the clerks therein and noting the
class or men-nO women entered, strange
to say-who wandered in looking sheep
ish or inquiring or very shrewd it be-
came evident that the majority were
the kind of citizens presumably able 10
see through a stone wall with hole in
1t. Many believed that for some un-
explained reason the proprietor really
had penchant for collecting half dimes
oA t'S NibtoSC VI IclV anu lIey ulQ not
expect more than value received But
they pronered the nicaels and asked just
why they were wanted. Il know YOU
won't give bat $40 for $40 worth OF
nickels, but why advertise for them at
all? a middle-aged business man asked
suspiciously. If there was any profit IN
cornering that especial coin he did not
intend to be left stranded on the wrong
side OF the market when, by a few ju-
dicious Inquiries he might cover his
Very automatically the clerk ex-
planned to him that it was just a
legitimate trade ruse. He could not
appreciate any humor in it at all, and
An old eolored man limped in, turned
out handful Of pennies from a pocket
of his discolored trousers, and said,
Boss, deed en- All ain got no nickuls,
but won't deze coppuhs do?" Assured
that only scent pieces were being
asked, he shuffied his. feet and COM
planned, as if to an absent one, 'Ah
dun sayed twan no use tryin' coppuhs
But l suttinly needs dat ten dollahs"
And there was no question of his neces-
sity. Evidently he thought the firm
had gone completely mad.
very knowing youth came in jauntly
and said, Here's where 1 bite. WHAT'S
the joker But all the same he had
about five nickels Of 1910 in his hand
To use his sporty vernacular, he wasn't
passing up any chances" And an
elderly man who looked more like "a
reputable physician than gambler of
fortune, admitted he had been an hour
going around. getting sufficient 1910
nickelS to make a respectable showing
before he entered. The clerk said some
people took the matter good naturally,
some were indignant, some eXpectant OF
being fooled. but all disappointed when
told that $40 would be given for nine
teen hundred and ten-by actual count
nickels.
II guess it would" red-faced man
snorted. That's a fine scheme. That's
robbery. Why, that would be about
S90.
''Ninety-five dollars and a half" the
clerk blandly corrected.
But, you see, we didn't ask you to
come in and be robbed 1t is just an
You don't necessarily
have to stop, look and listen: every
time you read that ad, do you?'
The man admitted he didn't. but in
sisted he thought the very small line in
the upper corner of the placard eX-
planned the desire for such money. 1t
read: Owing to Recall" and. of course,
implied the Treasury, but did not state
So
Fer days men have been reading that.
and invariably they would hesitate, read
it again. fish gingerly through change
pockets or purse for q fve-cent piece of
the required date and then hesitate again,