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 Firesidc Discussion Of "lfs" in Case
There Was a Simultaneous Misra.
tion Of tho Local Merchants and
pealers-Rishts Eneroaohed Upon by
a Dangerous Outside System.
rcopyrighted. 1914. by Thomas J. sulllvan.l
Napoleon said that Imagination rules
the world. II 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 conjure up glorious shapes
and forms and brilliant visions to
make solitude ~populous and eradicate
the gloom of dungeons.
Just supPesina.
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 !
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 mall order houses. of
course"
No Catalogue House Credit.
"But," persisted William, suppose
o were broke, as usual?"
"Oh," said Alice, that's so. I could
not get credit from the catalogue
houses; neither could inspect the
stock and select the best, nor could
take anything back and exchange 1t,
MS in most cases, and II there was any
thing broken / would have to file a
claim with the railroad company, and
it would take the better part Of a
yea to settle it, IL at all"
"And supposIng you wanted some
thing in a hurry" suggested William.
.'That's So" said Alice. ." 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 mall;
1 want to see what kind l am getting.
Well, we would just have to live with
out meat, that's all.
No Garden Truck by Mail.
"Garden stum-yes, We would want It
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 ]. My, but !
hope the baker won't go, thoughF'
Alice cheered up when William
smiiingly 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.
taIizingly inquired how about getting
shoes for her dainty little Chicago
feet
"shoesr' cried Alice. Whoever heard
of any one with pride or corns buying
shoes without first trying them on-
yes, trying on mostly everything in the
store? And then what about getting
soled while you wait? oh, ne; we must
have a shoe dealer anyway" answered
Alice.
William Becomes Excited Toe.
Then William took the floor and
bodied forth the following words of
wisdom:
Eyes, hardware; sure might borrow
q pound Of nails or q couple Of screws
from Brother Charles. Il he had them,
but have yon any idea. Alice. how
heavy nails and screws and hardware
ARE? NOT Well. ] have, and freight
IEbillst on that class OF stun are rulnous,
mo Ance;Ia StownSw without aihardware
store % a3bum town andifSonr hard
ware manl @ going % move ! nm too
And, bealdess We want d lumber yard
md .~cnalsTard. u sdnntMaut 10 buy