The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-29
town DESTITUTE
OF MERCHANTS
Causes Great Loss TO the
Local Community.
INCONVENIENCE SOON SEEN.

"A Fireside Discussion Of "lfs' In Case
There Was a Simultaneous Misra-
tion of tho Local Merchants and
pealers-Rishts Eneroaohed Upon BY
q Dangerous Outside System.
copyrighted. 1914. by Thomas ]. su1ltvan.1
Napoleon said that Imagination rules
the world. IT is the divine attribute Of
the imagination that when the real
world is shut out it can create a world
for itself and with a necromantic
power can con1ure up glorious shapes
and forms and brilliant visions to
make solitude populous and eradicate
the gloom Of dungeons.
Just Surprising.
To better exemplify the range and
possibilities Of the human Imagination
we will give a little Imaginary" con-
versat1on which took place in the cozy
cottage Of William and Alice Spencer
on a recent evening.
civilian. you asked me what I
would do II the butcher, the baker, the
grocer, the druggist, the shoe dealer,
the lumberman, the coal merchant, the
hardware dealer and dry goods mer'
chant should pack up and leave town
on an everlasting vacation" said Alice.
"Why, that's easy. l would get my
goods from the mail order houses, Of.
course"
No Catalogue House Credit.
"But," persisted william, suppose
you were broke, as usual?"
"Oh," said Alice, that's SO. I could
not get credit from the catalogue
houses; neither could l inspect the
stock and select the best, nor could
take anything back and exchange it
as in most cases, and II there was any
thing broken l would have to file a
claim with the railroad company, and
it would take the better part OF a
year to settle It, IL at all"
"And supposlng You wanted some
thing in a hurry" suggested William.
"That's So" said Alice. II would
have to stock up like a lumber camp.
as it takes from two weeks to the
end Of time to get anything from those
mail order concerns. And, william, |
would not want to buy meat by mail;
/ want to see what kind l am getting.
Wen, we would just. have to live with
out meat, that's all.
No Garden Truck by Mail.
"Garden stuft-yes, We would wantit
fresh; no, not by mail, thank you. And
bread-your mother could make that,
as you always said your mother could
make better bread than ]. Ny, but !
hope the baker won't go, thought"
Alice cheered up when William
srnilingly reminded her this was but
an Imaginary absence OF the town mer-
chants.
But the CHEEKY smile on Alice's face
lasted only a moment, as William tan
talizingly inquired how about getting
shoes for her. dainty little Chicago
feet.
"Shoesg" cried Alice. whoever heard
OF any one With pride or corns buying
shoes without first trying them on
yes. trying on mostly everything inthe
store? And the what ABOUT geCans
soled while you wait? oh, no; we must
have a shoe dealer anyway" answered
Alice.
William Becomes Excited Teo.
Then William took the Hoor and
bodied forth the following words OF
wisdom:
EYES, hardware; sure might borrow
a!pound OF nails or q couple OF screws
from Brother Charles, tf,he had them,
but have you any idea, Alice. how
heavy nails and screws and hardware.
are? No? Well ] have, and freight
bIls on that class Of stun are rulnonsss
No, Aice;sa town without aIhardwarel
sstoreSisS bum own.Sandatso our hard
ware mans Il gotng Is move ! an too
And. besidess We want q lumber yard
ana .enalsyath i dnnstMantto buy