The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-30
GHOSTS AND GOATS.

O11OO1O AlND oO114o.
Among the exact sciences it
might be we'll to classify the knack
of reading inteIligently and accurate
iy the bargain" listings that we see
these days in the catalogs of mai |
order houses and in the ADVERTISE
ments of certain big city depart
ment and chain stores. 1t looks
simple enough to pick out a sure
enough bargain, but by the time
we have read the "ad,'' visited the
store Cor received d response TO our
mail ordeD, and finally put the
goods away in the old bureau draw
er, we are apt TO think deeply of
the adventure of Joe Dupree, the
French-Canadian who was impelled
by curiosity one night to ldrop in at
a meeting of a society of Spiritists.
At fist joe was inclined to be
bored He had never heard any
mysterious night rappings and, in
his excitabIe Gallo way, was anxi-
Gus not to. But at a certain point
in the proceedings he suddenly be-
trayeu tue liveliest interest in the
chairman's remarks
AL the conclusion of the meet
ing" that functionary was saying in
none too clear a voice, L shall be
glad to hear the report of any mem
Der If the ETY. who has been in
t3rrupted in his sluinbers by the
ghost of any of his family or neigh
Dors.
And from the back of the hall
Joe clamored to be heard.
Am to understand" asked the
chairman, that YOU have lately BEN
visited by ghost?''
"A what?" queried Joe.
"A ghost-a spirit.
"O!'' EXCLAIMED ice, much abash-
ed, i t'ink you say goat"
In much the same manner we
lose our goat" to the versatile big
city advertising man who informs
us that his store is selling bath robes
at $1.35 instead of $685. Who
would have the courage to resist an
appeal of this nature? And, while
the salesman is wrapping up the
garment of luxury, we ask him how
long ago it was on sale at $685. And
(sometimes) with commemorate
frankness the knight of the counter
explains that the robes never have
actually sold at $685., but that in
the opinion of the department buy
er, they are well worth that figure
The fact that this particular brand
of bath robe has never before COM
manded a greater price than SIPS
or so should not lead US to suppose
that it is not worth more, should
it?
Of course it is simpler for the adj
vertising mau TO state that the robe
is selling for $1.35 instead of $685."
than to 60 through the Formally of
pointing out that the regular price
of 81 Is is altogether too low in his
estimation or to infom the public
that he store is ffe:ing the robe
for $1.55 rather than accept a peck
of peanuts in exchange for it.
And when the same clever" adj
vertis;ng man, with the same COM
mendable obscurity of verbiaga, in
forms us that we may procure at
his sore the famous "A. B. C. style"
shirt for SIP, we can hardly be ex-
pected to reason out 10 advance
that he has in mind the less famous
*. Y. T. shirt, which in a general
way is constructed On the style" of
A. B.. c." $500 shirt On that it has
tail aad a collar and buttons up
the front rather than sidewise), but
which, through a freak of the mar
ket, has never III the world sold for
more than a dollar fiat.
Universities are outdoing one an
other these days, introducing new
courses and hitherto undreamed of
departments of learning. Why, then,
not a course for the minute study
and microscopic dissection of the
catalog and big city department
store advertisement" Perhaps such
a venture would save many a Joe
Dupree of a coming generation the
losing of his goat"
SPEND YOUR MONEY WHERE