Catoctin clarion., 1911-06-08
MARKET DAY.
A TRADE cETIER
Town Merchants Offer Big Bar
gain Days to Farmers.
GET THEM III CROWDS.
Hold Old Time Auction Also and
Please tho Younger Set With Balloon
Asesnsion--May Lose on Bargains
but Make Up on General Trade.

Please tho Younger Set WIN Os''o~"
Asesn.ion-May Lose on Bargains,
but Make Up on General Trade.
All through the middle west an ex'
cellent plan has been devised by the
merchants Of the smaller towns to
bring back to themselves the trade OF
their former patrons who III these days
of the automobile. the rural delivery
and the catalogue advertisers have
been spending most Of their money In
the big cities.
They have revived the old fashioned
market day." with improvements
that fit into the new conditions. 1t Is
the outgrowth of many long discus
sions in commercial clubs, boards OF
trade and business mems Organiza-
tions formed to unite merchants In an
effort to build up the towns.
These organizations differ from those
Of early days when the chief OBJECT
of their being was to devise ways to
vote bonds as bonus for boom col
lege or carriage factory or some other
institutions. which usually collapsed
after the bonus had been spent. They
are mutual business getting associa-
tions. with paid secretary and strict
rules con, erning advertising outside
the newspapers. Sometimes they have
a blacklist annex to curb the dead
beats Of the community.
Market day is frankly trade win
ner. 1t begins with a solicitation
among the merchants for special oner-
ings. each firm being limited to one
particular bargain. Then page ad-
yertisement Is placed III the weekly
papers which circulate among the
farmers setting forth the various bar
gains given OH the particular Satur-
day selected A checkerboard display
tells what the firms will give. each
being supposed to make remarkably
low prices. For instance:
The restaurant patronized by the
farmers makes Its full dinner. from
, soup to pie. that day 20 cents instead
Of ~ cents.
A barber shop announces that 1t will
give Il cigar equality not stated free
with every shave.
A shoe store will give bottle OF
shoe polish free with every pair OF
shoes sold.
A bakery gives seven loaves Of bread
for % cents instead Of six.
A garage offers automobile oil at 25
per cent discount.
The newspapers reduce the price OF
subscription for that day only.
When fifty or more firms offer such
opportunities there is certain to he
good deal Of talk out through the c0un-
try.
Guess we'll have to 20 to town bar
gain day" declares the farmer. and he
plans accordingly. The younger gener-
alton Is enthusiastic for another rea-
sOn-at 4 O'Clock is to he IL free bal
loon ascension. This has also been
paid for by the merchants as an added
attraction.
On the appointed Saturday the me!.
chants have everything In readiness.
No particular effort has been made to
inform the town folks. The advertis.
Ting has not been placed in the daily
newspapers-th day Is for the farm
ers. But the townspeople have found
out. and early the thrifty housewife
hurries downtown to obtain two pack
ages of oatmeal for IL cents at one
store and few yards Of gingham ut
half price at another.
The big event Of the day IN the public
auction. This Is made feature OF
the advertising and IL about the only
real touch Of the old market day of
our fOrefathers. Many farmers have
some articles which they wish to SELL
but not enough to have II sale at the
farm. They are invited to bring these
to town. and the business men furnish
the auctioneer. who will Mt 2 o'clock
hold public sale In the square. Clerks
are also furnished. and the owners Of
the articles pay II small per cent On the
amount received. Hundreds Of farmers
surround the Heterogeneous collection
OF old rakes. plows. waShstands. gaso-
line stoves. buggies and few head OF
stock. This IN to many OF the farmers
the chief attraction OF the day. and
through most Of the afternoon the
sales continue IN good old public ven
due style. The townspeopla look on
with wonder at the bidding. surprised
that anything could be secured In cash
for some Of the articles Offered. But
the cash is not much In some In
stances.
"Going. going. gone--for Is cents"
cries the auctioneer oyer an antedilu-
Wan corn cultiyatOr that was evidently
brought west III the seventies. and the
farmer who takes II home thinks he
has bargain.
For the younger generation IL offered
the balloon ascension. This comes late
in the afte aeon. and the exci: ement Of
helping hold the canvas hot air bag
while II IL inflated attracts every hoy
of town and country.
Taking account of the days work.
the merchants find that while they
have made M money on the special
bargains and have wrapped many
packages for which they received only
cost. they have along with these scld
vast amount Of goods that gave
satisfactory returns
An Easv Task