The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-07
Realized Tina. She Wa. Doing linus.
tiee to Family and Friends by Send.
ing Husbands Earnings 10 Out Of
Town competitors-Now Boosts
Home Trade.

prosperous city.
The big mail order houses have
found 1t necessary in order to win the
confidence OF their. patrons to offer bur-
gain baits and therefore scatter here
and there through their catalogues a
list of certain goods. with which the
public is familiar, with prices attached
that will serve to convince the pro-
spective purchaser that the bargains
are real and not fictitious.
Without license to do so they seem
to be able to prove to their prospec-
tive patron that they are advertising
items in their catalogues that are Of
'fcred at prices the local dealer, who
sells the same goods, cannot duplicate,
and the chances are the patron will be
convinced that every article advertised
in the book Is sold Mt a bargain.
Catalogue Houses Alert
But the mail order house knows It's
business. 1t bet on the weakness OF
human nature and won, as a personal
investigation of the town a few weeks
later revealed.
I checked up the money sending fa-
cilities of the town and was surprised
and amazed to learn that In the few
days that had elapsed since the cata-
logues were distributed no less than
21s money orders had been Issued In
favor OF the catalogue house, aggregat-
ing a total Of several thousand dollars,
Why City Does Not Prosper.
Can any one imagine anything SO
ridtculous-a manufacturing city where
all residents are wage earners, who
live modestly and without luxury,
where cash sales with the home mer-
chant are the exception, not the. rule,
sending 21s money orders to an out
side concern for household and person.
al necessities which could be bought as
cheaply and delivered more promptly
right at home?
.
And those same people wonder why
their city does not thrive and prosper.
One woman with whom I had talked
bought shoes for her children. She
said TINT she had to pay only s1.45 a
pair, while they would have cost her
SLIGO at home.
Yes; she always bought on credit at
home, but usually paid in two or
three months. No; she had never asked
the retail mail order. house for credit.
She Was Not Taxpayer.
No; she was not taxpayer, but she
sent her children to school. They have
good schools too. Yes; they have sew
ers. water and street lights. and the
city is patrolled and protected by an
ample police force.
Who pays for 1t all? Why, the bust
ness mem and taxpayers, OF course.
No; the Chicago mail order houses do
not pay anything toward the educa.
ton of her children or the comfort Of
her family.
z =
Sure, she was a church member, and
the church often gave fairs and so.
ciables and things. No; the Chicago
mail order house never bought any
tickets, but the home business men
did and paid cash for them too.
Yes; her husband was employed In
the suburb, and his employer depend.
ed upon and must have local business
In order to provide work and money
for his help. a
Admitted She Did Wrong.
Yes, she now, for the first time. real
lied that she was doing herself, her
children, her husband and, above all,
the home merchant a grave wrong
by sending her husbands earnings to
an out Of town competitor. but she
would never do It again.
p y
The world Is full Of Just such wo-
men as described above. They do not
think or understand, but when they
do no power on earth viii swervei them
from their sense Of right and duty.
Then let us change all this and get
together. lids only right and ihonora-
BILE and Just To, ourselves and high time
to reform-to adopt the buying ut home
system Of everything we need.
q q y
Even II some Of the Ineighbors have
not yet learned that they owe a duty.
70 their town It cannot be said that
their case Is hopeless, for we can set
them a good example.
We can show by action that we Will
never be q party to putting the local
merchant out Of business through lack
Of patronage. Y. 4
Do you know Of one single mail or.
der house that has ever spent a dollar
10 your community?
IT.. .s.x,. --..,,, = 4