Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-07-09
Entered at Thurmout Postoff1ce as Second
Glass Matter.
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1914.
Where Do You Buy?
Are You Helping Those Who
Have Helped You?

The following article taken from
the Farm Journal has been handed us
for publication by a reader Of the
Clarion, and by one who has had ex-
perience with those who patronize the
mail order houses and at the same
time owe their home merchant. Wake
up, and see that you do not find your.
self in the same position as the writer
of the article.
"We farmers need awakening to
the fact that we have Enthusiastically
reached the period where we must
think and plan. | am one OF the
slow German farmers that had to be
shown, and | am now giving my ex-
pericnce that Others may profit, for
knowledge at the school of experience
is more expensive now than ten years
ago.
Twenty nine years ago ! began
my farm career. | had an old team
and $50. Our furniture was mostly
home made-chairs, lounge and cup
boards made from drygoods boxes,
neatly covered with ten-crnt crctonne
by my girl wife. We rented eighty
acres. Being boy Of good habits
got all needed machinery and grocer
les of our home merchants on credit,
until fall crops were sold. The first
wear was wet season and | didn't
make enough to pay creditors. |
went to each on date of promise and
explained conditions, paying as much
to each as possible, and they all car
ricd the balance over another year.
They continued to accommodate me
until ] was able to buy forty acre
piece Of my own,
As soon as | owned these few acres
the mail-order houses began sending
me catalogues, and gradually began
sending my loose change to them,
letting my accounts stand in my
home town, where had gotten my
accommodation when | needed it.
I'VE then had one of the thriftiest
little villages in the state-good line
of business in all branches, merchants
who were willing to help an honest
fellow over bad year, and town
full of people who came twice week
to trade and visit. Our little coun-
try town supported a library, high
school, band, ball team, and we had
big celebrations every year. A farm
near live town soon doubles in
value. | sold my forty acres at big
advance and bought an eighty, grad
ually adding to it until | had POO
acres of the best land in Iowa. ]
then felt no need of asking favors,
and found it easy to patronize the
mail order agents that came almost
weekly to our door. regret to say
that | was the first in the county to
make up a neighborhood bill and
send it to mail order house. Though
we got bit every once in "a while, we
got in the habit of sending away for
stuff.
Gradually our merchants lessened
their stock of goods-for lack of pa
tronage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed a bolt quickly
for machinery, or clothing for sick
ness or death, we had to wait and
send away for it, which wasn't SO
pleasant. One by one our merchants
moved to places where they were ap-
preciated, and men of less energy
moved in. Gradually our town has
gone down; our business houses are
"tacky" in appearance, number
are empty, our schools, churches and
walks are going down, we have no
band, no library nor ball team, and
therefore no taxes to keep things up.
Hotel is closed, for lack of travel. Go
down to the depot when the freight
pulls in and you see the sequel in
mail order packages.
Nine years ago my farm was
worth $195 an acre; today I'd have