Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-07-31
OLD MERCHANT
OF EDINBURG
Adyertises His Wares In Herald
Rio Coffee, 10c a Pound

In the Shenandoah Herald o.
1S44l45, Mr.. A. Miley in {
large advertisement closely set in
small type tells of practically ever,
article in his store with prices
Pledges himself not to be undersold
by any establishment in the country
Among the articles mentioned are
merino. French erepes, bandana and
silk handkerehiefs. Victoria travelling
baskets, Prussian shawls. imported
silks and laces. boots, hats. bonnets,
hardware, queensware, tinware, gro
ceries, dyestuffs and medicines
First rate Rio coffee is offered at
10 cents per pound and sugar at the
same price. All country produce was
taken in exchange, at market prices.
The ad ran for nearly two years
without single change.
Mr. Miley was one of the leading
merchants of the Valley and contin-
ued prosperous for a number of
years.
An amusing incident in connection
with Mr.. Miley's business is by ira
dition handed down. as follows:
One awfully hot day Mr. Miley
was sitting in front of his store,
which was located on Main Street,
Edinburg, on the site where Mr. B.
F. Hisey's residence now stands. A
well dressed gentleman of pleasing
appearance, riding horseback (the
mode of travel of that day., riding
up in front of the store. inquired of
Mr. Miley if he kept good chewing
tobacco. Mr.. Miley replied in the
affirmative, when the gentleman
handed him a dime, asked for the
best tobacco he had.
Being pleased with the gentleman's
appearance, Mr. Miley gave him a
little more than that amount would
buy. He wrapped the tobacco in a
neat package and carried it out to
the gentleman. The purchaser took
the tobacco and inquired. do l get
all this for ten cents?" The mer-I
chant replied, Yes; l sell good goods
cheap" The stranger look at the
package in his hand and remarked.
Too much tobacco for ten cents; it
can't be good and would kill horse. ;"
Saying this, he threw the package
across the road and rode off. Thun-
derstruck, Mr.. Miley looked after the
man and exclaimed, LOOK at that;
did anybody ever see the beat?"
Recovering from his surprise, he
sat down and resumed his interrupt
ed conversation with a friend The
friend with whom he was talking
gave publicity to the occurrence, and
it was many a long day before Mr.
Miley heard the end of his unappre-
ciated kindness.
Unfortunately, like many other
people throughout the South, the
War Between the States ruined Mr.
Miley financially.
In later years, he moved to The
Cove, in West Virginia, and re-
engaged in the mercantile business,
starting in small way and was sue
cessful, continuing in the business
until the infrmities of age compelled
him to retire. When stricken with
what proved to be his last illness.
he expressed great desire to have DR..
d. w. Prescott, who for years in
Mr.. Miley's prosperous day had been
his family physician So insistent
was he in this that his wife finally
wrote to the local physician. explain
ed the situation and requested him to
pay Mr.. Miley visit AS soon as
the doctor could make arrangements
to leave his practice, he saddled his
horse and made the 30-mile ride
through the mountains.
He spent a day with Mr.. Miley,
diagnosed his case. gave the proper
remedies and started on his return
journey. The sun was shining with
full force and the physician suffered
greatly from the heat. When he
reached the home of Mr.. Albert Foltz
he remarked, Il am awfully hot and
thirsty and l am going to stop at
your spring and get drink of cold
water" Mr.. Foltz insisted that he
stop at his house and rest, but the
doctor replied he must get on home.
About an hour afterward, Mr.. Foltz
noticed the doctors horse hitched at
the spring-house. He FASTENED down
to see why he was staying so long.
AS he came to the spring, he was
Mortified to see his lifelong friend
and family physician. DR.. Prescott.
lying on the stairs of his spring
mouse, dead. From the position of
the body it was thought that as he
stopped to get the water he was
stricken with apoplexy, dying in
stantly. The cup from which he had
expected to drink was held tight In
his hand stiffened by death.
The patient for whom he had given
his life lived months longer.