Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1907 — NO VALID REASONS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NO VALID REASONS

PATRONIZING MAIL ORDER HOUSES IS WITHOUT EXCUSE. GOODS NOT EVEN CHEAPER With Freight -Charges Added and Quality Considered the Home Merchant Does (Copyrighted, 1906, by Alfred C. Clark! The reasons why people should trade at home are numerous, but so far as we are able to learn but one reason is advanced for purchasing goods of mail order houses. That one reason—a saving of money—is often no reason at all, for in many instances the express charges or freight and cartage will bring the cost of an article that as quoted in the price list seemed a wonderful bargain, almost or quite up to the price charged by the local dealer. But even were one able to save a few Cents on the purchase price by buying away from home, it appears to.'us that the loss is infinitely more than the gain,- fdr he who sends the money which he earns in the. home town out to swell the coffers of wealthy dealers in distant cities cannot fail to-forfeit in a considerable decree the respect of. those around him, nor can he under these conditions preserve his selfrespect intact. The-man who patronizes mail order houses must have a sneaking feeling

that everybody in town knows that he is a hindrance rather than a help to the community. He is not wanted in public positions, and when questions of local interest and Importance are discussed, his opinion carries far less weight than the man who contributes his share to the prosperity of the community by spending his money where he earns it. In addition to losing in a large degree the respect of others and his own self-respect, the man who does nothing to build up the town In which he lives falls to find the contentment which Is necessary to happiness. Having done nothing to make the town better, he is unable to see the many advantages It possesses, and is continually talking and thinking of Its deficiencies. He does not move out, however, but stays on year after year, a discontented parasite, getting all he can and giving as little as possible In return. There is an unwritten law of nature that makes It impossible for one to really taken an Interest in a place until he has done something for it, and it is only when we have done our share toward building up the town in which we live that it becomes a real home to us. • Perhaps the local dealers in country towns do not always have in stock Just the articles you desire, but they are usually willing to order whatever their customers want, and under ordinary circumstances can supply you as quickly as you can procure the ; goods from a mail order house. When you buy of the home merchant, ths goods are before you and.„you see what you are getting. In buying by mall there is always a chance that when the goods arrive they will not prove to be Just what you expected and desired. In that case you are put j to the Inconvenience of sending them back for exchange, or if the need Is immediate and pressing, you are f obliged to accept that which is not entirely satlsfactoi'y. Trade at home in order that your home town may have stores at which to trade. There are many times when you are in a hurry for some article, Chicago, or elsewhere. Your need is immediate and Imperative. You are under such circumstances to

trade with the home merchant, yet It other people followed your example and patronized, mail order houses, there would be no home merchant to trade with. If others bought of him only when they wanted things in a hurry, and sent out of town for the, greater part of -their—supplies, h» would have left for more promising fields long ago, or if he had stayed In those circumstances, the sheriff would finally have closed his doors. You wouldn’t like to live in a place without stores, and yet it may be that you prefer to reside in a country town rather than in a city. Do your share, then, toward making it possible for the country merchant to carry on business. You must remember, too, that when you send your money to some big concern in a city, you lessen the amount of money In circulation 1 In your own residence town, If you had spent it at the home store, some of It at least would have been paid out by the proprietor in the form of Wages to his employes, they in turn, would have expended it for the necessities of life, and it would have passed from one to another of the home dealers, proving an important factor in the prosperity of the community. Having sent it to the mail order house* the probabilities are that it will never again benefit anyone in your home town. You should trade with the home merchant because he is the one from whom you ask and receive favors. Perhaps you have had a run of ill luck —you have lost your position, had long-continued illness in the family, or have experienced difficulty in collectlng money due you. You are la

straitened circumstances. Would ■ letter to the mall order house, stating all these circumstances, secure for you a supply of the necessaries of life on liberal credit terms? Most aftBuredly not. An appeal to the proprietors for aid in your extremity would be barren of results. It is the home merchant who stands ready to extend the credit neecssary to tide you over an emergency, and for this reason, If for no other, he should have your loyal support In your times of pros- | perity. Perhaps you are financially independent, and have never known the necessity of asking for credit. Ersa then you are indebted to the home merchant for many of the advantage# you enjoy. The proprietors of a mail order house would laugh you to scora were you to ask them to subscribe ward the building of your new church, the improvement of your school building, or the expenses of maintaining your fire department. The home merchant contributes liberally to the sufport of these institutions so essential to the public comfort and well-being; and you cannot afford to withheld from him your patronage. You know your local dealers. haps they have grown from childhood to manhood in your home town; yea were boys together, they have watched by you in sickness, and comforted yoe in sorrow, they take a kindly Intarset in your welfare. Do you not prefer that your trade should increase their small profits rather than add its quota to the millions of dollars annaally sent to the mail order houses? If the home merchants prosper ths tow* will be a better place in which te live. Their prosperity will be menfc fested by improvements In the appearance of their own property, and hy their increased liberality in contributing toward public improvements, and by helping them by your patronage you will also be helping yourself and the entire community. FRANCES A. HARRIS. • Provocation Enough. Maud (before the laughing hyena*! cage)—How provoking! Hero wo’ve been 20 minutes, and the hyena hasa’l laughed once. Ella —Strange, and he’s been eyeing your new spring hat. too.

The mail-order fiend is encroaching upon our town like a devastating prairie fire, and we should turn to with a will, and by the aid of the home* trade plow run a protecting furrow around the community that will save us and our institutions from destruction. Such is the duty of every loyal resl» dent.