Re RES 2 SHOVES, Oy wy oy ORG. SP ees ole lL VS ; | LAY ; WE CTI. 2 EY : wAY 2 Me P (6S GSS acre Ar ‘ Xe PA Coen a Ee EO a eae eS XO EA Ss & @ (BE Gwe oe AC, CSN) Ss Ap a Wy ; iS SIE KO (GN ER (US ee A IO RON, I Sh NESSES SSRI GS SNE AY LLL SANS PN Maca ee PUBLISHED WEEKLY (GNC TRADESMAN COMPANY, PUBLISHERS AGS $l PER YEAR ‘fe SOIC SBOE MCL ICR ESS SRS NE DFAS ESLER Volume XV. GRAND RAPIDS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1898. Number 753 WETLAND ADEE AEN nA i DED bE ib ae 5 ue (Elgin System of Creameries a Ihe (ick eS rm she is investigate our —— and visit our factories, if you are con- ae + | es Cops ae an 0 ClCUlUC Cee Bs | nd ey Se E = QN00S| Special Notice Ses ee If you wish the ser- | te aa . tee oa Rete VETS vices of the oldest, most Prompt 1S ma reliable and best Com- te a ae : ee > ee | mission House in Phil- REIS iS aa a : XE a adelphia in handling we ae i ee Bi your Butter and Eggs me er Bil ey mark your next ship- (| te ea ments up to we ———— Ash i| XE a ant W. R. Brice & Co. il we A MODEL ee OF THE TRUE SYSTEM a ES True Dairy Supply Company, ex ee x2 | 303 to 309 Lock Street, Syracuse, New York. a ie Contractors and Builders of Butter and Cheese Factories, Manufacturers 5 ys i i le) and Dealers in Supplies. Or write Bs (05 Write Mr. Stowe of (I f iG R. E. STURGIS, General Manager of Western Office, Allegan, [lich. om | iG a the Tradesman what || eS Sy : / | we WHY NOT TRY THEM NOW? | ex i kind of people we are. Values S : aS XE a S| (ae 9 a Th * ute aD) 0) YW ; 2 FOOT ICONIC se © Wo KU SORA AFAR ARIA RAAB ARIA PAPA ARATE AR AE ABARAT AAR AR ARATE: ANN NNN GN NNN ON GN GN CN GLON GN GN NGA ANNES Sc CIGARS | CANNED FRUITS CANNED VEGETABLES EARS Ten cen cn pt On aes Go ie hale Cee A ee $ o shortage of fruit in our State e > last season, we are having an unprecedented sale on all kinds 3 of Canned Goods. ; q $ Musselman Grocer Company ; ; Grand Rapids, Mich. $ $ Don’t let your stock get low. 3 @ Look out for higher prices on Tomatoes. Ask our salesmen about 3 those Nunley, Hines & Co.’s eo | ee Peaches, ee CANNED FISH ~—-GANNED MENTS 3 POOOOOOSLOOOO10S 00900000 HOO00O0S H0000000 000060000006 SB OHOROHOHOROHOROROHOHOROROHORORORODOROROROHOROROHS s Four Kinds of Coupon Books : e are mauufactured by us and all sold on the same basis, irrespective a : of size, shape or denomination. Free samples on application. S 7 TRADESMAN COMPANY, Grand Rapids. e BOROROTOCHOROROROHOTCOHOHOCHOUOHOC ROROROROROHONOHOEOHOZO SOLD BY ALL JOBBERS. G. J JOHNSON CIGAR CO., Mfrs., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. eeLracessrarecerarersesree Schoolhouse Ffeating This class of work, involving Special attention in venti- lation and circulation, 1s a distinctive feature in the heat- ing business. We have attained special distinction in such construction. We invite enquiry from school boards. WEATHERLY & PULTE ¢ GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. CO 2/e 2a Ga 2/aFa®a2/o2aVa2e?s FLOWERS, MAY & MOLONEY, Counsel J. A. MURPHY, General Manager. THe WMlchigan jlercantile Agency Special Reports. Law and Collections. Represented in every city and county in the United States and Canada. Main Office: Room 1102 Majestic Building, Detroit, Mich. Personal service given all claims. Judgments obtained without expense to subscribers 2 ~A®-~B.-BQ QB. BW .@ QB A > > > > => zz > > => =>: What Success Will Do Diamond Crystal Salt has made a name for itself—fame for — itselfi—wherever good butter is used. The demand for it increased beyond precedent; ordinary methods of production were not ILLUMINATING AND LUBRICATING W sufficient to supply the requisite quantity. Increase in capacity brought decrease in cost. The benefit of this saving rightfully belongs to the thousands of butter makers who recognize the superior merits of “7he Sult that’s All Salt,’ and the price is therefore reduced as shown below: Old Price List. New Price List. BUTTER SALT. BUTTER SALT. BamkKeELS, 250 1bs,, Bulk. ..._..__ fa so AnrEES, 2$0 Ibs., Bulk =... be os 2014 1h. Baps........ - 3 Ge ' 20 14 1b Baers. os So SAGnS. to tes sok. 30 PACKS 25 0RS 20s es 25 s6 ibs Sent eee mer foreniertere 55 Pee ts eee ih... ee NAPHTHA AND GASOLINES Office and Works, BUTTERWORTH AVE., Wy GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Bulk works’at Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Manistee, Cadillac, Big Rap- = Sample Bags of Butter Salt § will be packed in each barrel of twenty fourteens, IT PAYS TO USE DIAMOND CRYSTAL SALT If you would know more about it, send your address. DIAMOND CRYSTAL SALT CO., st. ccain, micn. During the Spring, ids, Grand Haven, Traverse City, Ludington, Allegan, WW Howard City, Petoskey, Reed City, Fremont, Hart, W Whitehall, Holland and Fennville ; Highest Price Paid for Empty Carbon and Gasoline Barrels. Vv Ao See PVSPSPSPSEPPEPPSSSSESSEST=E The ‘*‘EUREKA”’ for 1858. With Improved Tube and THE EUREKA \ AQCKING xf THE PINGREE “Stud” Lock. As the tube is largest at the bottom, perfectly — Sx ; D3 iL ! 1 \ Ea VE Par A* 4 ao sgh round all the way down, and free from obstructing bolt or iy ys rivet heads, it cannot clog, and as the “Stud” Lock relieves all tension on the front jaw, it cannot pick up the seed. AP = AN NTER TERS The “EUREKA” is 20 per cent. faster in light or mel- | low soil than any Stick Handle Planter made. The ‘*PINGREE,’’ with “Stud” lock. The handiest best finished and most durable Stick Handle Planter on the market. re 2BO HILLS IN = crea S00 GROUND. MED IU | Ce 0 9 \LLS IN | HOUR bg went SOIL 4 —_ IN 9 RD: 2 S; aeNtom Pg Pts ners No EAvy 6 GRo WV! A a WL “noe The “EUREKA” and the “PINGREE” are the only Hand Potato Planters with Self-Locking jaws or adjustable depth gauge. As the jaws lock automatically the instant the Planter is raised free from the ground, the potato cannot drop through, nor can it force the jaws apart so as to permit the earth to enter between them and thus crowd the seed to the surface as the beak enters the ground. Every tool warranted to work perfectly. GREENVILLE PLANTER CO., Sole Mfrs., Greenville, Mich. LIST PRICE: Os “EUREKA PLANTER, —— poz ““ DINGREE pce, 12, “ “EUREKASack, 7,00" « DISCOUNT SEED AND FRUIT SACK TERMS For Sale by Jobbers. Liberal Discount to Dealers. SS” you know that the sale of ENAMELINE in America is more Sites ————— than Double that of any other Stove Polish on Earth? 7 ua Na atelt eta 4 Do you know that the sale of vel. PRESCOTT & oe NEW YORK,N.YULS.A be | sc bdih abe basil Reid 2s : | “! SPP rs Sone OR BRUSH, ats A) bare 3 3 3 BAS q f Derren ers TheModen STOVE POLISH in Europe is more than the entire output of any other Brand of Stove Polish in America? Such is A FACT! Why? Because the consumers and the trade demand ENAMELINE. port A DESMAN Volume XV. ¥ a Ovpesr, most reliable wholesale cloth- = 2 ing manufacturers in Rochester, N. Y., are KOLB & SON Our Spring Line ready— Winter Line still complete. Best $5.50 all wool Kersey Over- coat, and best $5.50 Ulster in market. See balance of our Fall Line, and our entire Spring Line. Write our Michigan Agent, WILLIAM Connor, Box 346, Marshall, Mich., to call on you. Mr. Connor will be at Sweet’s Hotel, Grand Rapids, on Thursday, Feb. 24th, and will remain until Tuesday, March tst. PREFERRED BANKERS LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN. Commenced Business September 1, 1893. Eremrance in force. ._-_.-.._....- $2, 946,000.00 Net tncrease during 18907'....... -. .-... 104,000.00 eh Maser oe 32,738.49 Losses Adjusted and Unpaid.......... None Other Liabilities .. call None Total Death Losses Paid to Date...... 40.0061 .00 Total Guarantee Deposits Paid to Ben- eficiaries, oe 812.00 Death Losses Paid During gz 1897. . ele dade 17,000.00 Dede Rate for tog7 6.31 Cost per 1,000 at age 30 during 1897.... 8.25 FRANK E. ROBSON, Pres. TRUMAN B. GOODSPEED, SEc’y. GOO S9090069 0900 95606909606 lf You Hire Help. ~~—and Pay Roll. Made to hold from 27 to 60 names and sell for 75 cents to $2. Send for sample leaf. BARLOW BROS., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. einen enanieul SSO 9OOOG0GO9O0066 ° e @ You should use our Perfect Time Book COMMERCIAL CREDIT 60., Lid. Commercial Reports. Prompt and vigorous attention to collections. L. J. STEVENSON, Manager, R. J. CLELAND, Attorney, 411-412-413 Widdicomb Building, Grand Kapids, Mich. LO? a Rap Qy is "INS. Prompt, Conservative, Safe. J.W.CHAMPLIN, Pres. W. FRED McBam, See. 00000000000900. RAPALA IVETE ANNAN NZ Fancy Calendars The Tradesman Company has a large line of Fancy Calendars pSeTeorryy hihi bb for 1898, to which it invites the inspection of the trade. The Company is also equipped to prepare and execute anything in the line of specially designed calendars, either engraved or printed. GRAND ani lewis once aaa 23, 1898. Evolution of the Caster in the Man- ufacture of Furniture. Furniture that is not equipped with casters, and with casters that will not drop out, 1s so rarely seen now that it can hardly be said to be in the market. This, of course, refers to such furniture for the bedroom, diningroom and _ office as requires casters and not to the fancy bits of the cabinetmakers’ ware that can be shifted from one corner to another by a child or a light-weight housemaid. Yet the furniture dealer of ten years’ experience can remember a time when goods came from the factory without casters, and it is also probable that if he would he could recall the tribulations and profanity that came with the open- ing of the fall and spring seasons, when new goods arrived and had to be cas- tered before being sold. Furniture used to be shipped from the factory with legs or posts’of solid wood, and, especially in the case of bedsteads, when the goods reached the dealer who was to sell them at retail, each piece had to be taken into the basement or some cther convenient place and holes had to be bored with an auger for the casters. If the pieces were heavy, and often they were, this in itself was a big undertaking, consuming time and patience, and with hazard of scratch- ing the surface in the handling and the further hazard that the auger would de- velop a hidden flaw in the wood and result in a big splinter coming off the post in a manner to mar its beauty be- yond repair. After the hole had been bored and the furniture righted, two bits of cast iron, which together formed a sort of tube, were inserted to serve as a socket, and then the caster was put in. The socket and the caster were loose in the hole, and if the furniture was lifted a couple of inches from the floor, the whole arrangement dropped out, and this was the occasion for more tribulations and more profanity, both at the store and in the home of the man who finally purchased the goods. The easter was, in fact, as aggravating as any stovepipe, and dread of its antics was one of the detriments to house clean- ing and moving. Not the least unpleas- ant feature about the old plan was the habit the caster and the pieces that formed the socket had of becoming sep- arated and lost, and even if they were kept together and properly assembled there was never any assurance that the combination would work smootbly. Furniture is now castered at the fac- tory before it is shipped. The holes are bored during the construction and, before the goods are sent out, into the holes are pressed little metal tubes which fit so snugly that there is no dan- ger of their dropping out.. At the outer end of the tube is a flange or flare which serves to protect the end of the post from splitting and at the same time to afford a polished plate to make the caster move easily. Into the tube or socket is inserted the caster, and the caster is held in place by a spring. The caster revolves easily and smoothly in its socket and when the furniture is lifted from the floor it will not drop out, nor can it be shaken out, yet a direct - pull will remove is and a little pressure will return it to its place. The caster, with its spring, socket and track plate, forms one of those lit- tle domestic improvements which the world was able to get along without for many a long year, but without which it would scarely consent to keep house now. The device is a Grand Rapids invention. Simple as it is, it was not perfected until several years of experi- menting and study by a man named Fox. He showed his invention to Wild- er D, Stevens, Julius Berkey, George G. Whitworth and others, and its merits were so apparent that the Grand Rapids Caster Association was organized t» push it. The pushing was easier under- taken than accomplished. Furniture manufacturers conceded that it wasa good thing and, if adopted, would save much time and trouble, but the trade had always taken goods unbored and uncastered and there was no_ particular demand for a change. The Caster As- sociation needed a Columbus or Pizarro who would boldly leave the beaten track and strike out for new discoveries, and they found him in John Widdi- comb, then manager of the Widdicomb Furniture Co. Mr. Widdicomb came to the conclusion that the new idea, if introduced, would be generally adopted, and in the spring of 1886, flying in the face of Providence and all the tradi- tions of the craft, he sent out a circular letter to the trade that thereafter all goods from the Widdicomb factory would be castered in the new way before leav- ing the factory, and that there would be no exceptions to this rule, not even to the most favored customers. The casters were furnished with the goods and a small extra charge was made for them. This departure created a furore in furniture circles and at first met with much opposition, although it is not re- lated that it cost the company any or- ders. The opposition quickly died away, however, and in its place sprang up an imperative demand that all cas- tering should be done at the factory. The other manufacturers were forced to fall into line with the Widdicomb style. They did it slowly and reluct- antly at first, but had to come to it at last, and factory castering has become universal. Goods could scarcely be sold now if offered in the old way, to be bored after reaching the retail dealer and fitted with casters that dropped out. The cost of the casters is now figured in with the other expenses of production, instead of having an extra charge tacked on. a Wearing Heavy Shoes. A number of New York girls who were continually trying different walk- ing shoes, with the hope of getting something which was just right, think they have succeeded at last. Lhe idea they hit upon is this: Instead of pur- chasing ladies’ shoes, they got boys’ stout calf shoes. While New York women are striving after the practical in walking boots, shoes for indoor wear have higher heels than ever. Black slippers are worn adorned with silver buckles. Whenever possible, these buckles bear the monogram of the owner. Number 753 Americanizing Our Neighbors. The news appears to be confirmed that John Jacob Astor, Dr. Webb, Mr. Depew and a few other millionaires have about purchased the Republic of Honduras, and we may therefore look for some interesting developments in that quarter before any great length of time has transpired. To render the capital safe which these men are putting into schemes in that country, a large American population will be necessary. Revolutions are common down that way and some bold chief might at any time overturn the government and gither confiscate or jeopardize the American investments. The presence of an American popula- tion capable of holding its own against the uative element would insure order and security. This is probably the im- pelling motive, therefore, in the prepa- rations for great colonization schemes which the syndicate is perfecting. Hav- ing contro! of the revenues, the railroads and telegraphs and backed up by ten or twenty thousand Americans, the Amer- ican investors would be able to do as they pleased. It looks like the actual purchase of a country—a somewhat more genteel plan of buccaneering than that adopted at Hawaii. But we shall likely hear of annexation soon if the syndicate’s pur- poses are realized. Are we gradually moving on to the accomplishment of our manifest destiny, which is to plant the American flag over all the territory of North America? Cuba is coming, Mexico is being American- ized, now Honduras is being bought, the Nicaragua canal would eventually mean Nicaragua as United States ter- ritory and Canada is among the prob- abilities as a part of the Great Republic! What a nation it would be, embracing British America, the present United States, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies! All under the Ameri- can flag, with law and order and devel- opment in all parts of it, deepened and strongly fortified harbors, a large navy to protect its commerce, and the English language, laws and literature every- where overwhelmingly in the ascendant! And who can say that this is a mere dream of the imagination? Who can say that the tendencies and events of the hour do not portend the consumma- tion of such a destiny within the life- time of those now living? 8 Our foreign fertilizer trade is worth $5,000,000 a year, and it has grown very rapidly within comparatively few years. The largest buyers of American ferti- lizers are Germany, $2,000,000 annually ; United Kingdom, $1,000,000; other European countries, $1,300,000. Some is sent to Australia, Asia, Canada and the West Indies. ee Exports of American carpets did not increase in quantity last year, although the value of the shipments was _ slightly higher than in 1896. This would indi- cate that a better grade of carpets is being shipped abroad. o-oo <> Does the advertiser make a slip of the tongue, when he talks about having a lot of shoes, odd sizes; “on his hands?”’ A sa geal woo mattis Eon Bn Rl Scr ee Rg age eG Rin Slee a : MICHIGAN TRADESMAN ¢ | “ x Dig : ¥ iploved, \ le others 2 doing é | Stas 7 JOA i Dr (jo0ds employed, while others are doing comi- | (GSS IS EES 4 y . paratively littl [hose produc ing the ij : low prade poods apparently show the I . ’ a grade | Mp y ( Dealers don’t keep our goods; they SELL them. } tiie ry Goods Markel best results and in sonie instances the ‘Si ‘ S| j Cart ii ral i ‘ { low pvrade manufacturers are forced to epi le oilons ik Bev i ii é : ii ket } ti it i ae j Piidi =GiVOLibiie GQ meet Matuiing con iG Hla he jas sticiigiheiic ind ane « £ i i i i — ftea. due | REIS (jie of the most gratifying tea ? Wo wdvatices have heen report ili £ i bai) tat; Lisace ta tl biives of the situation is the improved 2 4s © tee hea idea ‘ Peicdtie Ceeaei ahitd t ‘ : ‘ .; i of tt i ' j ij ‘istiibiition among consumers Hoth e 8694 Wy ca dt taeae ‘ st a teicalee i a tect ' j ted is in| obbers aid retailers are able to report 5 Rita ao seeapets vyeoset-d) sis a} paeetceal is i ' i i i i i jvijis, |Heed Fesults, and it is only a question 3 iiad iva ; planed shectiiips, Aillis, i is ha ‘ ca af timie when this will retleet upon the a . ' i 3 at tang 2 ‘ ‘ re ae ad a da ee aw an | Primary market Prices realized, how All grades cut at wholesale. re ae iI eatil i clesired impraved demand and the same is re lever, are not all that till bye Ie ne \ You Carry Only Samples i luck ii re at iit } hut as the deniands tram the chief dis preieben vi aliitghs iS biiesia ia ihe ry “Penns i a a. a : i ; aa a a liributing centers show an expansion, We carry the stock. When you make a At THE ENG ft THIS WHEN AHN THe HFar OF la} i) } iii rected A aod sale, send us the pattern number, size {{ } BY ibe aspect t ote ad j wood ! { Hest will shaw more change in prices, [UU . ricoh da : ‘ | of room or — wanted and we will # 1 «] nad far lines 0 a ricer i | Sad i : : and balders showing a stull Hrmer trons, | TeMane for all ines ot low: price ar ship your order the same day as received Piitits ahh tyihehaiiis ft is Bari | petite fias Keet iti progiess, but prices — 11 , . i { further | WETe B ach lower than the expectations OVER 3,000 DEALERS are now han- WhiGagdiialile is aieihs ‘ ii i ik : : ce : it it ‘ velo indulged in by manufacturers at the] dling our seedltoniint rl Let us start wi 2S 8 Qe tatese tt ms tet ee al t 1 & teetiis } ce ne — i : i Bepi i Of the season the present | you to success. Ue ehtae S Seen tS} aatue aan Stet ae i Cok ai tiie | i ‘ it Weakhens is Chictlhy dic to manufactures For One Dollar ! , ‘ rtete ‘ } 4 : : ahiliiy af any ads ‘ 2 ‘ wi ’ sii lide, || adhiin | lal ol raw We will send you a book of Carpet Sam- i" \ tibial t Va &, Hasine ice Oni ples ¢ ontaluin about 50 patterns size ) ithe Final cast and hot on their cur x18 inches. “These samples are cut & sl si ii nt value Until these stocks are trom the roll, so you can guar ntee every We ee ' mer bial i Sabian aoa 4 carpet as represented—in style, colorand fj i ai [ i 5 ' _ —e oe { quality. No picture S¢ hem = Misrep- ik : { « A i i N t \ Liiis ' ' ' tn the resentation Ex very sa mple \ three-quatte yoorl those ys : hie “ ics ifc i I iriy ft . , = how the heat re { Ta si \ 4 i wera veivet attract = = = ‘ S ‘ ‘ ‘ pro ce i ‘ c Mike, at tt branct vit Wost Active the bette L, > “ > ” l + \ et I uM jal ih = i) > y ¥ Se = . t ess tha Wr rs wi ad PAY 4424 | niplee a. WV , ( ate, But mast af the rn S are still \\ t epresent us Ad > S trait A= “itd SiAW iS : ‘ : 7A) ? t oS wireless, Buyers ot Maple gine o) vedtucedd ta . HENRY NOEE & CO., - sly , BBPRATES Win BBY OH The Man Who Succeeds Ny SOUTHEAST CORNER MARKET & MONROE STS., CHICAGO. 4 ‘ " ‘ i Z . : oo we UW aN : t a a cy | “ every ¢ i 2 Wh t . war era ‘ ox \ \ * ul Ae Wed j : : \y a1 Fy ‘ ‘ " aN “ : ¥ ’ wt t ~ 2 \ kw 5 SC " \ ‘ el . ~ ¥ "“ " \ WLTTN Werses 5 c weit —_ xO , ~ “ ~ - Pk si, ~ > ~ + ~~ : , =) Pb. STRINE TEE & SONS. ¢ . ; C7 iP A NID RA PIT. ALICE. Ne Pe ‘ . . . ce © V< PO F tise t Ow : ik self is met the fellow whx YTOVTTTTVoyyyyvyoennveny ee Pee Os seeecerenenenoceceeconesescesenseeoeeeeneeseseenes: ™ ~~; nen ¢ : > Anew Ps W ¢ : > vO to look ever our a >¢ nder r wing al $ . . $ e wea spring business We a > 7 . i. ” ‘ é W : e e assortment of bot fat and ° 2 NC 3 e ts : ae SP OOKTS c “men S Lire s> & ; > z < adv é ~ “ S t . ‘ _ +» ~ * i ~ € : . - : ee Misses’ and ¢ MAC SS Wee Stites ® 3 é ; , ; “anh i ie « < ; e ” : . é ‘ € c ea e 4 ~ . e © L.Ce Rr 9 . AG SS ° ¢ 7 a t Sd ‘ 2 é : . Mad wh . = ¥ 3 7 Voigt, Herpolsheimer & C wd . oigt, Nerpolsheimer & Co.. : . F é z ' * Pte . SN Z @ IMPORTERS AND Jo ? : j 7 ich. @ ' ; . ced A wab-| $= SAND JOBREES. Grand Rapids. Mich. ¢ WA Ls ? . " 3 3 & OF POSS SO 0000000000000 eee SeSeseeSSeSSSSO Seer? ? oe Woman’s World The Man We Didn’t Marry That the mind of woman moves in a mysterious way its wonders to perform has long been recognized by the think- ing few who have attempted to foilow it in its flight, but the fact has recently had a curious illustration in a divorce case that has come up in a Texas court. A woman who had been married to a man for thirty-eight years, and whe had, as far as her husband or friends knew, been reasonably happy and_ con- tent, suddenly left him. Sbe gave as her reason for going that before she was married she had been in love witha young man who had died and that the longer she lived with her husband the more convinced she became that she preferred the man she didn’t marry, and so she packed up her things and left. It is not to be supposed that a mere man can follow the intricate chain of this kind of unreasoning, but every married woman will know just how it is. For no matter how good and kind a husband we may have, there are still times and seasons of domestic stress when we all secretly regret the man we didn’t marry. There may be many good reasons why we didn’t marry him. Sometimes he didn’t ask us to; some- times there wasn’t any other man at all; sometimes we had a hard-headed father who used good, old-fashioned coercion to keep us from wrecking our lives by making an idiotic match; occasionally we had a gleam of common sense _ our- selves in time to prevent our making a fool of ourselves by marrying the other fellow. It doesn't matter. In the mel- low haze of distance he looms up with charms he never possessed, and _ attrac- tions that were not his due. He is the Carcassonne of human beings. In all good truth, the man we didn’t marry isn't a man atall. He is a dream, a figurehead, that stands for a woman’s ideal of what a perfect hus- band ought to be and generally isn’t. He is the John we married with a_ halo and withoct ‘‘ways,’’ a masculine angel in a dress suit, with a temper that is never rufflled when dinner is late or the bills beyond reason. He is always and invariably unparalleled perfection, the man we didn't marry. Of course, we are not saying a word against the man we did marry. Dear John is the best fellow on earth, and if it were to come dowr to a plain busi- ness proposition we wouldn’t trade him off for any man alive Still there’s no denying that he is trying at times and it is then that we take a melancholy satis- faction in thinking how different life might have been had we only married the man we didn’t. For one thing we are sure the other one would have understood us. He would have known we were a profound and inscrutable mystery. John didn't. It has never occurred to him that we have vague yearnings after the whatness of the what and the intangible general- ly, that we memorize poetry and in the secrecy of our own apartments have re. cited scenes from Macbeth that made the cat howl and run under the bed. John is strictly practical and absorbed in business and there wouldn’t be the slightest use in trying to exp!ain a yearn tohim. He would look up from his paper and say, ‘‘Eh, what? Heavens and earth. Mary, can’t you let a man read the market report in peace? Say, I made a good deal to-day; if you want a new frock, go down and get it.’’ And we sigh patiently and smile a sweet, sad smile, as one who must endure these things and think that the man we didn’t marry would have understood our soul longings. Then we reflect that better 1s a good income and plenty than poverty and comprehension, and there isn’t a bit of disloyalty to John in our hearts as we go down to get the new frock. Another advantage that the man we didn't marry has is that we can always picture him as being wildly, frantically in love with us. Not in the prosaic fashion of John, who, having once de- clared his unalterable affection for us, and having married us to preve it, has never felt it necessary to mention the temperature of his devotion since. Per- haps he thinks in his dull, blundering man fashion that his patient. unremit- toil, day after ting day, to make us comfortable is a good deal better evi- dence of bis love than any flowery speeches, but that does't satisfy a wom- an. Her idea of a perfectly undying love 1s somebody who will pay her com- pliments at the breakfast table when her hair is done up in curl papers. Leta man do tbat and she will let him starve her, and negiect her, and still congrat- ulate herself upon having made a good match. Words are always thing with her. the main Of course, the man we didn’t marry never would have gone out at nights. He would never have wearied of our companionship and longed for the so- ciety of his own sex. On the he would have adored pink teas and parties, and there would never have been any struggle to get him into his dress suit and out to receptions, where he stood around with the expression of an early Christian martyr, like John does when we drag him out into soci- ety, and that makes us wish to goodness that we had left him at home to drowse over pipe and paper in his own library. The man we didn t marry would have shown in society. He had the happy knack of saying the right thing in the right place and of paying the loveliest compliments. We stili recall regretful- ly the things he said about our eyes. Yes, but he said the same things to other women, too, and, um, perahps it is just as comfortable in the long run to be married to a man whose tongue is contrary, not too adept and who has not had too much experience in fine speeches. Not so exciting, but safer and more peace- able. The man we didn’t marry would have been very considerate. Of course, John has his worries and bothers and we sympathize with him, but sometimes we like to think that that imaginary other man would have occasionally re- membered that we have troubles of out own, too, and that it is a bit unfair for him to make home a dumping ground for all his vexations. If he snaps us up the minute we try to make a remark, if he scolds the children, or kicks the cat, we know that something has gone wrong at the store or office and that in vulgar parlance he is taking it out on his defenseiess family. Now and then it strikes us as being a distinctly cow- ardly thing to do, and we wonder if the man we didn’t marry would have done at. Then the man we didn’t marry wouldn't have believed that there is one financial policy for a woman, and an- other fora man. He would know that no woman can work the miracle busi- ness now and keep house and buy food MICHIGAN TRADESMAN | |money and that she had a keen and clothing for him and his children without money. He wouldn't think that she enjoyed asking anybody for enough sense of wit castic references to her bargains. Some- times he would try to put himself in her | place, and try to realize how he should like to have to cajole and scheme and | beg for every cent he had or how he} would enjoy working for an employer to | whom he gave long, weary days of labor | and nights of anxiety and who never | even gave him a word of praise or thanks. Many a beart-hungry woman has thought that the man she didn't marry would have made the thorny path of life sweet with blossoming roses of love and appreciation. Just what the man we didn’t marry | would have done, only goodness knows. We don't, but we know what he wouldn't | have done. He wouldn't have smoked in the par- lor after we had spent hours fixing him up a Snuggery, just like the ones de scribed in the papers, and had spent our | money buying him cigar that we pic ed out ourselves. He wouldn't be an amateur cook and broiled a steak when he was camp- ing. He wouldn't always be he had the same clerks and book-keep- ers year after year. He wouldn’t say woman,’’ when anything went wrong. He would reflect that even the line mind occasionally falls into mascu- we have to keep him waiting five min-| utes to start to the opera. He would re- | call that if he had had to tind his own | clothes and collar and cuffs and tie, and | handkerchief he never would get there | at all. He would you so,"’ bargain ache. He wouldn’t think never needs anv ment, and if it occasionally stay at home with a colicy baby and give her a theater. never, never say, Monday with a nervous head- that In short, the man we didn’t marry is | the ideal of our domestic dreams. We know there is no such person. We are not looking for him, and probably wouldn't like him if we had him, as well as we do our faulty, human John | that we love because we have so much} to forgive him. The man we didn't to be amused by his sar- | and | always be telling us how he mace coffee | wondering why we couldn't keep a servant, while! ‘that’s just like a| error. | He wouldn’t wonder why a woman | never can be on time for anything when | ' T told when we appear at dinner on| a woman | relaxation or amuse- | is necessary he would | ulght off at the | half | | | marry 1s merely a consoling romance, a mirage in the desert of life. Nothing ;more, but even so, a comfort and a stay. And nobody but a woman need try to understand that, either. DorotHy Drx. > o> The demand for better grades of goods in many lines is the forerunner of more satisfactory prices. >> Very many men who know how to | make money do rot know how to spend it. MERCHANTS who have lost money trying to | carry a stock of clothing should | read this. Teale Pils orichenscd brand of Ready-to-Wear Men’s and Boys’ Clothing te and territory by our furnish the desir issoldin every sta agents W ed sizes from warehouses ourgrent We want ood agents in towns and cities whe e not now represented, Men’s sui $4.00 to $15.00; Boys’ suits $4.00 to $10.00 Me pants The to S4 00. Complete outfit free, Write for par- ticulars. WHITE CITY TAILORS, 213 to 217 Adams Street, Chicago. J ERSEY CREAM 6 Oz. | . i | . Incase 85c 06 doz 9 OZ. 1 doz. in case $1.25 1 lb. 2 doz . In case $2.00 0. A. TURNEY , Migr., aera A good many 1 TR nicne 1S and last but not Want to get next to a should and particulars. our ’98 catalogue of bicycle sundries. ADAMS & HART, Grand Rapids. Selling agents for Work in Michigan. TSSST TS SS TTT TOO OTTO UHH OH dé Awaké Déalérs in Michi sale of World Bicycles for 1808. gan are going to push th i LOOK t RUN ARE BUILT 5TAY least the PRICE Good dealers who good thing write for World catalogue Drop a card for RIGHT. 1 Bicycles QAQKQALNQ LAY AYALA ALARA IAD qe MICHIGAN TRADESMAN Around the State Movements of Merchants. Eagle—H. P. French has removed his steck of drugs to Mulliken. Vassar—Lyon & Co. have sold their hardware stock to R. F. Squires. Kingston—W. M. Dixon & Co. suc- ceed Buffum & Dixon in general trade. Ann Arbor—Mrs. F. J. Richardson will open millinery parlors here March 1. Kent City—D. McInnis has sold his meat market and grocery stock to B. Van Sycle. Saginaw—H. E. Borden succeeds Borden & Neiderstadt in the wholesale fruit business. Sherwood—W. H. Barrett is closing out his hardware stock and will return to Union City. i Edmore—P. Sparks and E. Van Auken have purchased the meat market of A. E. Ackley. Lake City—J. H. Gray has sold his grocery stock to Ardis Bros., continuing the harness business. St. Louis—Mrs. M. Schuyler has _ re- moved her millinery stock from St. Charles to this place. Carson City—J. D. Van Sickle, and F. Reasoner will open a grocery store on Main street March 1. Bellaire—A. L. White has opened a jewelry and watchmaking shop in the drug store of A. B. Wooton. Sault Ste. Marie—E. J. Martyn suc- ceeds M. (Mrs. E. J.) Martyn in the clothing and boot and shoe business. Portland—A. W. Nisbet has sold his jewelry stock to John Campbell! and his furnishing goods stock to M. J. Dehn. Leonidas——Daymon & Longnecker have removed their grocery stock into the Baldwin block and added a line of dry goods. Mount Clemens—Ameis, Gerlach & Houghton succeed Armeis & Gerlach in the wagon and agricultural imple- ment business. White Cloud—H. S. Rauch continues the flour and feed mill business for- merly conducted under the style of H. S. Rauch & Bro. Schoolcraft—Frank Follmer will em- bark in the implement business March 1, also handling carriages, bicycles and sewing machines. Jackson—The hardware firm ot Tray & Fitzsimmons has been dissolved, Wm. Tray having purchased the inter- est of his partner. Bellaire—Meyer & Flanelly, of Alden, have leased a building at this place and will embark in the hardware business in about four weeks. Thompsonville—Will Tuxbury has sold his grocery stock to D. E. Slaw- son, whose store building and general stock were recently burned. Ypsilanti—George Harris will with- draw from the grocery firm of Harris Bros. & Co. May 1 and embark in the merchandise brokerage business in De- troit. Albion—Dr. I. C. Foster has been elected President of the First National Bank in place of Dr. W. O’ Donoughue. Seth Hyney has been elected Assistant Cashier. Ovid—The copartnership existing be- tween Ables & Hathaway, grocers at this place, has been dissolved. The business will be continued by W. J. Hathaway. Eaton Rapids—M. P. Bromeling has purchased the interest of Mrs. Geo. C. Pettit, in the hardware firm of Pettit, Minnie & Co. The firm name will hereafter be Minnie & Bromeling. Hoily—The grocery. stock owned by Johnson & Wheeler, of Detroit, which Sydney Dulmage has been closing out, has been sold to J. W. Mothersill and will be moved to the latter’s store. Vassar—Laura M. Gage _ continues the general merchandise business for- merly conducted by M. L. Gage. She has also purchased the dry “goods stock of Charlotte M. (Mrs. J. M.) Jones. Ionia—H. R. Bills, of Big Rapids, has purchased the furniture and equip- ment of the City hotel and bakery and will embark in the bakery, confection- ery and ice cream business March 1. Sutton’s Bay—John Walter has pur- chased the interest of Q. E. Boughey, in the firm of Boughey & Litney, agri- cultural implement dealers, and the firm will hereafter be known as Walter & Litney. Manistique—Prof. N. Larson and Gus and Axel Ekstrom have rented a store building and will embark in the musical goods and bicycle business March 1, Prof Larson having charge of the mus- ical instruments and Ekstrom Bros. the bicycles. Manon—Chas. H. Bostick, druggist, will shortly erect a brick block on the site of his present location. The build- ing will be of pressed brick and equipped with all of the modern im- provements. Fremont—The copartnership existing between P. F. Dykema and F. E. Holt, under the style of Dykema & Holt, has been dissolved. Mr. Holt will continue the general merchandise business and P. F. Dykema has taken a position as clerk for Dariing & Smith. Manufacturing Matters. Overisel—The Overisel Creamery Co. has declared a dividend of 22 per cent. Detroit—The Gem Paper Package Co. has changed its name to the Gem Fibre Package Co. Bay City—C. B. Chatfield & Co. will be succeeded March 1 by Hine & Chat- field in the flouring mill business. Quinnesec—The Quinnesec Falls Co. is succeeded by the Kimberly & Clark Co. in the manufacture of pulp wood. Detroit—The Merz Capsule Co. has amended its articles of association to allow of the increase of its capital stock from $10,000 to $50,000. Nashville—Hire & Moore, cigar man- ufacturers, have dissolved, Wm. Hire retiring. Wesley Moore will continue the business in his own name. Cheboygan—The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Cheboygan River Boom Company was held last week and a dividend of $2 a share was declared. Owosso—The Johnson Baking Co.’s plant has passed into the hands of the National Biscuit Company and will probably be dismantled in the near fu- ture. Sault Ste. Marie—Peck & Johnson have sold their entire cut of pine for the coming season to Chesbrough Bros., of Bay City, the consideration being $45, 000. Buchanan—The cutlery works at this place, which employs 75 men, is said to be dissatisfied with the taxes levied upon it and to be looking for another location. Muskegon—James Mulder has re- signed his position as head salesman for J. Riordan & Co. and taken the pcsition of traveling salesman for John Milloy, of Chicago, dealer in linings, and Geo. W. Hoyt, of Chicago, manufacturer of skirts and a dry goods commission mer- chant. Mr. Mulder will continue to make his home in Muskegon. Saginaw—It is understood that the sawmill of Green, Ring & Co., which did not turn a wheel last season, will be operated to its full capacity the com- ing summer. Cadillac—Geo. Engel is now sole owner of the Engel Lumber Co., having recently purchased the interests of his partners, David Wolf, of Grand Rapids, and Benj. Wolf, of Evart. Lewiston—Owing to the extreme cold weather recently the Michaelson & Hanson Luinber Co.’s plant suspended operations for a short time, the first in- stance of the kind since the plant was erected. Pontiac—The Pontiac Novelty Co. has been organized at this place, with a capital stock of $1,000, for the man- ufacture of a patent door mat. E. F. Pearson is President and E. M. Weath- erbead is Secretary of the new corpora- tion. Au Gres—Charies Selle, the lumber- man, absconded last week, leaving many creditors to mourn. He gave several chattel mortgages before his de- parture. He was operating a logging camp hear Twining, and left his men in the lurch without their pay. Saginaw—A plant for the manufac- ture of salt barrel heading has been established on the premises of the Brewer Lumber Co. for the purpose of supplying the United Salt Company, of Cleveland, It has a capacity for turning out 4,000 sets of heading and upward daily. Ontonagon——Joseph Simansky, of Menominee, and Louis Le Vegne, of Pori, will organize a company and erect a large shingle mill at this place, the citizens having offered them a free site for their plant. They expect to have a mill with a capacity of over 100,000 shingles a day in readiness to run this coming spring. Manistee—John C. Nessen has bought the steam barge Charles Rietz and the barge John Mark, of the North Branch Lumber Co., Chicago. These boats were employed for many years to carry the lumber from Manistee to Chicago manufactured by the Rietz Brothers, but have tallen into disuse since the Rietz pine was cut out. Ionia—The Williams Manufacturing Co., engaged in the planing mill, sash, door and blind manufacturing business, has dissolved, Gregg Williams having purchased the interest of his partner, John Robinson, and will continue the business in his own name, Mr. Robin- son remaining with the establishment in the capacity of foreman. ———_>2.___ Acetylene Gas, the New Light. Furniture City Electric Co., Agents, Michigan Trust Building, Grand Rap- ids. Telephones, electric light plants, everything electrical. ———_ 9 ____ The Tradesman is informed by Ed- ward L. Walbridge that the properties turned over to him by the United States Court in satisfaction of the claims of the creditors of Frank J. Lamb and Chester A. Lamb have passed out of his hands entrely, all the real estate having been lost through foreclosure, the equities therein not being sufficient to warrant him in making any effort to stay foreclosure proceedings. —_—_—_2-___ A. Grinkema will shortly embark in the grocery business at the corner of East and Thomas streets. The Ball- Barnbart-Putman Co. has the order for the stock, ——s>t4>____ The A. J. Brown Seed Co. has issued a handsome seed catalogue with a beau- tiful pale green cover in olive green and gold bronze. Port Huron Grocers and Butchers in Line. Port Huron, Feb. 22—Forty-three re- tail grocers met at the common council reoms Monday evening and organized the Port Huron Grocers and Butchers’ Association. A. H. Nern was called upon to pre- side and L. W. Hudson was chosen Sec- retary of the meeting. Charles Wellman made a motion that an Association be organized in Port Huron fo: the mutual protection of its members against fraud and imposition in the purchase and sale of yoods, and other matters incident thereto, and the giving of credit to customers. The motion was adopted. It was voted that the butchers of the city be invited to join the Association. The following permanent officers were elected : President —Chas. Wellman. Vice-President—A. H. Nern. Secretary—J. T. Percival. Treasurer—W. D. Smith. Executive Committee—Albert Dixon, Henry McMorran, G. E., Parker, W. D. Smith, Robert Cannally, Wm. Can- ham, Ernest Akers. Chas. Wellman, D. C. McNutt and W. D. Brown were appointed a com- mittee to urge the formation of a clerks’ and salesmen's association in the city to co-operate with the work of the As- sociation. It was voted that an assessment of $1 be collected from every member of the Association. About thirty of the firms represented at the meeting paid the required mem- bership fee. H. T. PERCIVAL, Sec’y. Final Outcome of the Stimson Estate. From the Northwestern Lumberman. The people of Los Angeles, Cal., were somewhat surprised when they dis- covered that the estate of the late T. D. Stimson figured up only $1, 300,000. They had supposed his wealth amounted to from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. The estates of the majority of rich people are usually overestimated. Properties are put together and a value placed on them that could not possibly be realized if an attempt were made to convert them into cash. The disappointment of the Los Angeles people about Mr. Stimson’s property would be duplicated in nearly every case in which actual valuation of a rich man's estate should be compared with the popular estimation of it. In the case of Mr. Stimson’s estate it is explained that he, from time to time, and in varying sums, gave away, dur- ing several yearsyprevious to his death, $2,700,000 He Z.. his wife the fine family residence in Los Angeles, and otherwise provided for her support. He fitted out his sons in a business way. Part of his estate went to purchase 40,000 acres of Washington and Oregon timber land, and part to build the mills at Seattle run by his sons. He provided liberally for a daughter in Chicago. It is claimed that a tew years ago his es- tate was worth at least $4,000,000. Hav- ing provided for the different members of his family, in advance, if he had $1,300,000 left, he did very well. Be- sides, it should be taken into account that property has greatly shrunken in value within a few years. ———_>2>___ Injuring the Reputation of Michigan. Carson City, Feb. 23—I note that the Eastern markets are getting to be more particular every year as to the size of eggs and that many of the largest buy- ers frequently complain about Michigan eggs being stale and not holding up to the standard. Our eggs once took the lead in the New York market, but in the past few years we have lost our prestige, all because everybody wants to specu- late. The farmer says, I will hold my eggs a week or two and see if the mar- ket won’t go up a little; the merchant holds them a week or two; the shipper holds them a week or two,and it takes a week to get them to the market; so they are from four to six weeks old before they get to the consumer and they have lost their fine fresh flavor and must go for 1@2c less per dozen and sometimes 5c less, E. B. HuNnTOON. j / MICHIGAN i\RAUVDCSOMAN 5 Grand Rapids Gossip The Grocery Market. Sugar—The market is strong anda higher range of values is confidently anticipated. The demand for refined sugar is only fair, but from this time on it will continue to improve. January and February are the two dullest months of the year for the sugar trade. The European raw market and the domestic raw market have both been well main- tained during the week. Tea—Holders are still very firm in their ideas and it is impossible to se- cure any concessions whatever. No ad- vance is expected in the near future. There is some evidence of the develop- ment of a speculative tendency, and if this is genuine, undoubtedly it will have the effect of advancing prices, probably along the whole line. Coffee—The general condition of the market is about as hitherto reported, the supply of Brazils being so great as io forbid much strength in the market. The outlook for the coming crop is that the supply will be as great during the coming crop year as it was during the year past. Rice—Foreign Japan is holding up exceedingly well to its high prices, and some domestic Japan rice is coming in to take its place at lower figures. The movement of rice is normal, and prices are above the average. Canned Goods—-Interest seems to be centering around tomatoes again and prices on tbese have advanced about 2'%c per dozen. This is due entirely to the much better demand which has de- veloped during the last few days. The market seems likely to advance a little further. Corn is very dull and there is very little enquiry for it. Prices are still held firm. Peas are dull at un- changed prices. Peaches are also very quiet, with no changes to report, and none likely. Dried Fruits—Dates are in better sup- ply and for this reason the market is easier. This is about the only item in dried fruits that is easy, except it be second crop raisins. These are in good supply, but are not moving well. Re- ports from the Coast show that rain- damaged goods are the only stocks there that are dragging. Figs are a trifle firmer, but are very cheap still. Re- ports from Eastern ports show that thus far this season the receipts of Smyrna figs have aggregated 30,000 bags and 13,600 Cases, aS against 27,000 bags and 18,000 cases a year ago. The cost of figs is 4c per pound more than a year ago, because of the Dingley tariff. Re- ports from - the Pacific Coast show that the prune market is very strong, and that the movement of this crop has been unusually good. Not only have prunes been exported in unusually large quan- tities, but other fruits also have been in good demand from across the sea. Fish—The pre-Lenten demand for mackerel has not yet set in, and dealers are not expecting much of a boom. If anything, buyers seem more anxious for concessions than they have been, al- though it is probable that none have been secured as yet. Cod is not very active, although better than it has been. Prices are unchanged. Lake fish is in good demand at an advance of 25c per half barrel. Sardines have reached $3 in first hands, as prophesied, and the demand is quiet. Salmon are in better enquiry, but have not advanced, and are not expected to soon. Syrups_and Molasses—Medium grades of syrups are stiffer, as the supply of these is all cleaned up in first hands. Molasses is in good demand, and al- though the market is up from 2@4c_ in New Orleans this has not yet reached this city. Provisions—The export trade seems to be preventing any dulness in the mar- ket and any lower prices. Lard is es- pecially active, and prices have been advanced on pure during the week %c, and on compound %c. The latter has advanced purely out of sympathy with the pure product. ————_ -9- The Produce Market. Apples—Home grown Northern Spys are about the only thing in the market, commanding $3.75@4.50 per bbl. They range from choice to fancy, but run mostly to choice. Bananas—The weather now permit- ting of a larger movement of bananas the market is easier, and quotations on fancy fruit are 25c lower than last fig- ures given. Beets—25c per bu. Butter—Factory creamery is steady at I9@2oc. Dairy is scarcer and higer, on account of the stormy weather, which has prevented the movement of stock from the producer to the consumer. Fancy dairy is held to-day at 15c and choice at 13@14c. Cabbage—The market is change, choice stock being in demand at $3 per 1oo, Carrots—3oc per bu. Celery—Choice stock per bunch. Eggs—Receipts have dropped off to that extent that there is a temporary scarcity, in consequence of which the price has advanced to !5c per doz. The price is likely to go down rapidly as soon as a few sunshiny day aid the farmers to break the roads, so as to get their supplies to market. Honey—ric for white comb and 8@ toc for dark. Lemons—There is but a light move- ment, yet a normal one for this season of the year. The Messina lemons prom- ise to form a small part of the stock handled here this season. California stock is of fine quality, and is given the preference. Lettuce—Grand Rapids held at 12%c per lb. Onions—The market is unchanged, both yellow and red varieties being held at 75c. Spanish are practically out of market. Oranges—The market is well sup- plied with California fruit, this point getting its share of the receipts from the Coast. The movement is good, but the market on seedlings and Mexicans is off about 25c per box. Naveis hold their strength. Potatoes—The market is still stronger and higher than a week ago, due to the increased demand from consuming and distributing markets and also to the temporary interruption to marketing the crop by the storms. Local dealers pay 6oc and as high as 63c has been paid at some of the buying points north of the city. Michigan is compelled to find an outlet almost altogether in the East --especially in New England—on ac- count of the discrimination against Michigan shippers to Southern points in favor of Western shippers. Sweet Potatoes—lIllinois Jerseys com- mand $3.75 per bbl. a Geo. Morse (Morse department store) packed his grip a couple of weeks ago and started for Florida. His departure was a sudden one, being precipitated by an ‘‘incident’’ which happened in the store one day between Mrs. Morse and an employe of the millinery depart- ment, who is no longer behind the coun- ter of that establishment. without small is held at 25¢ Forcing is —-—~> 2. Grocers, look up your numbers in the Gilites New York spice contest and attend the raffle to be conducted by Secretary Klap at the meeting of the Retail Gro- cers’ Association Tuesday evening, March 1. . P. VISNER. BANK NOTES. Compensation of Directors—Salaries ot Some Officers. The banks in this city are becoming metropolitan in one respect, although the metropolitan air has not yet become general. They are beginning to allow compensation to the directors for at- tending board meetings. In the larger cities, when the directors of a bank as- semble, each finds on the table at the place assigned him from $2 to $5, as the rate may be. Promptly at the ap- pointed hour for holding the meeting, a clerk comes into the room and gathers up all the unclaimed money left on the table. If a member of the board comes in late or does not come at all, he gets no compensation. This system insures promptness in attending the meetings and also goes far toward eliminating the difficulty of getting quorums. In this city bank directors have given their time and services and assumed the re- sponsibilities of their offices chiefly for the glory there has been in it, buta more rational and just system is de- veloping and, in time,it is probable the directors of banks will not be asked to work for ncthing, any more than free service would be expected from the bank clerks and cashiers. The directors of the Kent Savings Bank each tre- ceive $5 for attending meetings of the board, but the per diem, of course, does not extend to those of the board who serve in an executive capacity at reg- ular annual salaries. The Fourth Na- tional allows each director $2 for at- tending board meetings, and one mem- ber of the board, acting with Cashier Anderson as the discount committee, receives a per diem of $2 for his serv- ices. The three members of the dis- count committee of the Grand Rapids National Bank receive $2 each for each committee meeting they attend, usually twice a week, but the other members of the board serve for glory. The same system prevails in the Old National Bank. The Michigan Trust Company pays the members of its executive com- mittee $2 each for the meetings they attend. The directors of the other banks receive no compensation, al- though it is obviously unjust to expect men of affairs and men whose time is valuable to give their time and services and best judgment to the management of a business in which their personal interest is but a small proportion of the whole. That the directors are not paid is a Survival of the early day when the town was smaller, with banks fewer in number and the distinction of being a bank director greater than at the present time. In most corporations, manufacturing and commercial, the directors either have large financial interests in the en- terprise or are engaged with it in an executive capacity and receive regular salaries. Comparatively few corpora- tions in tbe city pay their directors for attending meetings, but some of them do. The Grand Rapids Fire Insurance Co. pays its directors for attending the monthly meetings, and the Grand Rap- ids Gaslight Co. gives up $15 to each director who is present at the board meetings. It is related of the insurance company that, before the system of pay- ing the directors was adopted, it was difficult to get a quorum together to attend the meetings and that the tele- phone, personal persuasion and special messengers had to be resorted to at times to get the members in. It is also related that this difficulty does not now exist and that, although the compensa- tion is only $5 a meeting, the members are as prompt as the clock in gathering, even the out-of-town members showing up with great regularity and on time. The banks in this city do not pay high salaries to their executive officers and cashiers. The highest salary paid is said to be $6,000 a year, two of the city bankers receiving this amount. One of the cashiers receives a salary of $5,000 a year, an increase from $4,000 last year. The other salaries run from $3,500 to $2,500, and some of the cash- iers are paid even less. Outside of banking circles, high salaries are ex- ceptional rather than the rule, and even a $5,000 a year man is not eften met with. Men with incomes of $5,000 are not scarce, but salaries of that fig- ure are far from common. The ex- treme salary limit in this city is said to be $10,000 and a railroad man is un- derstood to be this happy man. The $25,000 and $50,000 a year man is not known in Grand Rapids. so The Peoples Savings Bank has dur- ing the past year been getting out of the commercial business as much as pos- sible and is confining itself to a purely investment business, putting its money into mortgages and bonds. The Bank’s last statement, published in December, showed that its loans and discounts were $234, 361.40 and its bonds and mortgages $554,792.46, and its next statement will, it 1s understood, show a still greater preponderance of securities over loans and discounts. In doing a purely in- vestment business the officers of the bank are on ‘‘easy street.’’ They do not have to worry about ground floor preferences in trust mortgages and past due paper does not cause them anxiety or loss of sleep. Their hardest work is to clip coupons, and they hire a clerk to do that for them. The interest rates are not so high on bonds and mortgages as on commercial paper, but the wear and tear on the nerves is less and the risks of loss are reduced to aminimum. —_—_—_~> 2 > Hides, Pelts, Furs, Tallow and Wool. While the home hide market is so small in value, it cuts no figure in any changes. The general market shows a weakness and slight decline, with a continuous demand fully up to the sup- ply. Prices are still too high for the tanners and they are purchasing only as their necessities require. Pelts are extremely scarce in Michigan and Ohio and pullers cannot procure a sufficient quantity to run their works. This scarcity keeps prices above those warranted by the wool market. Furs have moved off with some vim, on account of their being put on the market for the March sales in London. As it is now too late to ship, they will be dull until sales are reported. Prices at these sales will govern for the balance of the season. Heavy storms have stopped receipts. Tallow is dull, mand. Wool is slow of sale, while prices hold firm as yet. Lower prices are looked for unless trade has some stim- ulus. Prices have not advanced at any time beyond 6c of the ric duty and above the lowest point reached on free trade, and while they are higher in London, where a large shortage is re- ported, they are also 4c below importing point. Wm. T. HEss. " oe Om . Robt. B. Hanna has gone on the road for the N. K. Fairbank Co. with moderate de- MICHIGAN iRADESMAN BiILLIPS’ MONOPOLY. Series of Events Which Did Away With h. Written for the TRapEsMAN. When first Flap Corners arrived at the dignity of sufficient inhabitants to proudly call itself a town, Mr. Billips supplied a crying necessity in the shape of a grocery store. Other merchants came about the same time and estab- lished themselves in other lines of trade, but Billips was the only grozeryman. This state of affairs continued for such a length of time that Billips was firmly convinced that no one else had any sort of claim on the grocery business ot Flap Corners. Billips’ trade was good, al- though, as time passed, his prices raised in proportion as the quality of his goods lowered. Billips was not well liked among tbe other merchants. He was too autocratic; besides, they did not like the idea of his monopoly. In the other lines most of the pioneers had competitors. Privately, fur Billips held a number of mortgages, the citizens of Flap Corners agitated the question of grocery competition. As the result oi their efforts, a rival grocery establish- ment became one of the features of Flap Corners’ mercantile life. didn’t it, but said nothing, and close observers noticed a peculiar smile on his face as he gazed on the ‘*Lemon, Grocer.’ Billips like sign of Affairs progressed smoothiy for two or three months, on the surface. Billips and Lemon spoke to each other when they met, and Lemon would have gone even farther in friendly recognition 1f Billips had given him the slightest op- portunity. One day, Billips and Lemon had a long private conversation back of Bil- lips’ store. Lemon was heard to say, afterwards, that he wished he had _ sold out to Billips when he offered to buy his stock at current market prices. Then Fate stepped in and took a hand in the grocery affairs of Flap Corners. Lemon’s horse was taken with colic and died in the barn during the night. Bil- lips was sorry, and offered tc lend Lemon one of his own animals. This was very considerate in a rival. A real estate man suddenly estab- lished his office in Flap Corners, Then a number of Lemon’s best customers, men of good property but short of ready cash, had mortgages foreclosed on their farms and homes. Billips had owned the most of these mortgages, but, in some way, the new real estate man had secured possession of them, When the sold-out citizens asked Bil- lips about it he told them that, as_ his grocery trade was cut in two, he was compelled to relinquish his real estate holdings and the real estate man had given him opportunity. He hated to be hard on old neighbors, and was Sorry the mortgages had been closed, as the real estate man promised to hold them over on paymen: of interest. Through the whole proceedings Billips wore an air of injured philanthropy. The foreclosure of these mortgages injuarea Lemon seriously. He had trusted the majority of them, to a great- er or less extent. They were unable to pay, and Lemon couid not save his dis- counts, and in numerous instances was compelled to ask extensions. Lemon’s custom, which had_ been, hitherto, larger than Billips, dwindled to almost nothing; it was, in fact, con- nned to those who were independent of Billips and the real estate man, and they were few in Flap Corners. Lemon’s wholesalers closed him up and divided the stock among themselves in parcels. Billips bought what he needed, at fifty cents on the dollar. When Lemon moved away Billips ex- pressed regret. But the tone of his voice indicated that his regret was far from genuine. Thus ended the first attempt at com- petition for the grocery trade at Flap Corners. Nothing daunted, several other rash capitalists tried the experiment. In one way and another they all went the road which Lemon had blazed for them. One of the rival grocery buildings even joined Billips’ forces to the extent of burning to the ground, with no insur- ance, With each successive failure Billips’ arrogance increased. Evidently, Flap Corners needed but one man in the gro- cery trade, and he was the man. Bil- lips conducted his business to suit his own convenience. That of his custom- was not considered for a moment. Writhe as they might, the majority of Flap Comerites were compelled to trade with Billips. But the worm will turn at. last. Twenty of Flap Corners’ reputable mer- chants and dealers held a secret meet- ing in Roper’s hardware store. It was publicly given out that the meeting was in the interest of an addition to the fire department, by private subscription. About two weeks after this secret con- ference a_ brisk, well-dressed stranger stepped off the train at Flap Corners’ hostelry. His manner was energetic and cheerful. You would know, the minute you saw him, that he was a thorough business man and was accustomed to bave his own way. The register of the hotel bore evidence to the fact that his name was Bright—a fitting appellation. bright secured acquaintance with Flap Corrers’ business men and others and his genial manner won friends from the first. Billips, although shy at first, finally acknowledged Bright's attractive- ness and they became friends. One day, Bright told Billips he had a notion to buy out the real estate man’s crs business. He said he had capital enough and believed that, with the addition of insurance, and Billips friendliness, he could do a good busi- ness. Buillips had had some difficulty in getting his dues from the real estate man, and, being under the influence of Bright’s pleasant manners, agreed to assist in the transfer. Thus Bright became the real estate and insurance man of Flap Corners and, incidentally, the holder of the mortgages the real estate man had se cured, together with those of which Billips bad retained the ownership. Billips trusted Bright implicitly, and said that ‘‘us two will make a great team to pull together for the interests of Flap Corners.’’ (Billips meant, of course, his own interests, but it sounded better the other way. Bright devoted himself to his real estate business assiduously for a time, hand in glove with Billips. It seemed that Bright could not content himself with handling other people’s real es- tate—he must have some of his own. So be prevailed on Billips to sell him one ot his choicest lots—the one adjoining his grocery store, Flap Corners’ buildings were soon eclipsed by the splendor of a three-story brick block, located on Bright's pur- chase from Billips. When Billips asked him who were to occupy it, Bright told him he had tenants for the third story —a family; that he should occupy the second as an office and residence, but had not leased the store room below. Billips could bardly believe the evi- dence of his eyes when he saw a stock of groceries—a choice stock—being rapidly put in order in Bright’s new store building. As soon as_ he could control his anger, he remonstrated with Bright—argued, urged and _ entreated, pleading their former friendly business relations as the reason of reasons why Bright should not do this grievous thing. But Bright was unyielding. Had he not a right, as a citizen of Flap Cor- ners, to establish any reputable business he saw fit? He rather guessed be_ had, and did not propose to be dictated to by Billips or anyone else! So Bright became Billips’ rival. Bright held the mortgages and there- fore the winning card in that game. But Billips knew how to play other games, and really made things interest- ing for Bright and such customers as | were independent of himself. When these strictures became unbear- able there was another meeting of these same business men who had discussed the question of more adequate fire pro- tection, previous to Bright's introduc- tion to Flap Corners’ society; and there | At its close, | were others present, also. Bright was heard to say that he ‘‘ would down Billips if it took every dollar he | had in the world,’’ and at the same time expressed his gratification at the trust imposed in him by retaining him at the head of their grocery company. Next day, Bright waylaid the driver of Billips’ delivery wagon, and had an earnest Conversation with him. Before I go any farther, I wish to state that ] am not an advocate of un- derhanded methods in competition, and do not approve of them. I am simply the chronicler of the events which led to the downfall of Billips’ monopvly. To tell the honest truth, however, hardly any means could be called despicable which would serve to rid any place of such an octopus. Bright returned to his store and, on the walk in front, picked a quarrel with his own delivery man and dis- charged him on the spot. Billips saw the whole affair, and it tickled him, for it was a tempestuous scene, Shortly following this episode, Bil- lips’ delivery man gave him notice that he was going to quit and would enter the service of Bright, at a nice increase in wages. This was an excellent op- |portunity for Billips, for now he could /employ Bright’s former man and, owing lto the ill-feeling with Bright, he would |not scruple to assist in his (Bright's) |ruin, by disclosing trade secrets, etc. The rivalry remained in statu quo for some time, and then Bright began to Geddes Box Lid and Display Card Holder | Sample dozen, with cards, to any ad- |dress for 50 cents. Special prices in large quantities. F. L. GEDDES & CO., KENDALLVILLE, IND. maT Ne GRAND RAPIDS PAPER YOOQDOOD®DODGH®HOGGOHHGHHOOGHHOGGHOGHOOOOOO.G0OOOQHOOOOOOOQOSGS FIRE PROOF ASPHALT PAINT AND VARNISH We are offering to the trade the genuine article, and at a price that all can reach, tities to suit purchasers. H. M. VOOOQODOOOQ OOOOOQOOO® OODHOOOCOwe) Our paints are suitable for any use where a nice raven black is required. Contains no Coal Tar, and will not crack, blister or peel. Sold in quan- REYNOLDS & SON, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. DLLLPHDOOQD®DDOQOOOQ®OOOOOOGGOQHOOODOOOOHOQOODOOOOSHOOOOOS POODOOQOOQOOCOOSO® MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 7 get a little the better of it. Slowly the names of Billips’ customers began to appear on the parcels delivered by Bright. Various reasons were assigned for this transfer of custom. One day Billips cornered Mrs. Thompson, and asked her why she had deserted him. His arrogance was becoming shaky. Mrs. Thompson had been an excellent customer, Mr. Thompson's mill inter- ests not only enabling him to live well, but to influence the trade of bis em- ployes. Mrs. Thompson at first refused to talk with Billips about it, but, upon his pressing her for-a reason for the dis- continuance of her trade, she opened her handbag and from an inner pocket produced a note. ‘“You had better ask yourself why you send us such an uncalled-for insult as you have in that note, which you sent me in the last basket of groceries you delivered at my house—and which shall remain the last!’ Billips, with wondering countenance, took the note and opened it. follows: It read as ‘‘Dear Madam: Unless I am in re- ceipt, befure next Saturday, of the bal- ance due on your last month’s bill, I shall put the claim in the hands of at- torneys for collection, Do not neglect this, as | have no sympathy for people too shiftless to pay their debts. On Biepes, Yes, there it was, in his own hand- writing ; but, alas, it had been intended to go in a peck of potatoes delivered to Mrs. Crane, who, even as Billips had said in his note, together with her grown-up sons, was too lazy to do enough work to support themselves. Protestations and apologies were use- less. Mrs. Thompson evidently did not want to, or would not, believe his ex- planations. Billips secretiy vowed never to send, hereafter, a dunning letter in any other way than by Uncle Sam’s de- livery boy; but that would not save the loss of Mrs. Thompson’s trade, and with her trade went the custom of the mil! employes. The delivery boy looked in- nocent and protested that he hadn’t touched the baskets after they were loaded in the wagon. So Billips had to blame himself, for he put up the goods that day. The finishing touch was put to Billips’ monopoly when, after an un- heard-of series of mistakes in orders and their delivery, causing great dis- satisfaction among the customers, the eye of the minister's wife, on her tak- ing a basket of groceries from the de- livery man, was attracted to the slip of paper bearing her name, attached to the package. It was folded up, and was the half of a sheet of letter paper. On the back side was her name, and on the other the fragment of an old letter. The first part was gone, but Billips’ name was signed to it. Here is what was legible: ‘‘ * * * that old fox. He preaches one thing and practices another. He lets his grocery bill run just as long as he dares, and wouldn't pay at all if he did not own property which makes him collectible. His wife is just as bad as he; and her tongue clacks so loud in the meetings of the societies that my wife says she can’t get a word in edge- ways. I will let you know as soon as | have things arranged here, and hope we may soon be able to engage the preach- er you spoke of. Yours truly, A Braes. (/ Billips’ wife never knew why the ladies, at the next meeting of the Mis- sion Aid Society, gave her the cold shoulder. Billips never knew what caused the sudden dropping off of his trade among church members. It was enough for him to kuow that his monop- oly of the grocery trade of Flap Corners was ended. He sold out a!l his inter- ests there and has not been heard of since. After he left town, the delivery clerk who had caused so many blunders in Billips’ employ returned to Mr. Bright, and some people even went so far as_ to say he was Mr. Bright’s son, and that the whole thing was a put-up job. May- be it was. NEMO. ~~ 0 > Some of the Annoyances Incident to a Business Career. Written for the TRADESMAN. The life of the average retail mer- chant is not without its full share of petty annoyances. He not destined to be ‘‘carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease.’’ Particularly is this true of the small dealer, who does much of his own work and knows every deta] of his business, vexatious or otberwise. i) The kind of annoyance varies some- what with the kind of goods handled The dry goods merchant finds some of his fabrics faded by the sunlight or ruined by the insidious attacks of moths ; a change of style lessens the value of some portion of his stock, and he and his clerks are compelled to waste much valuable time with that. pestiferous class of shoppers who always come to look and never to buy. The shoe dealer would not complain of the easy task of fitting people’s feet with stylish, com- fortable, durable shoes, were it not in- evitably coupled with the Herculean la- bor of fitting their heads as well. The hardware man can tell his tale of woe concerning the difficulties with stoves and the iniquities of pumps. The gro- cer feels that, if butter and dried beef and New Orleans molasses could be eliminated from the list of articles of common consumption, if his customers would pay their bills and his com- petitors would quit cutting prices below a living margin—in short, if he could be rid of just a few of the many troubles that are ‘‘new every morning and _ fresh every evening’’—he would likely live to a green old age, instead of fill the early grave which sometimes seems _ to yawn but a little distance before him. Then there are annoyances that are common to almost all dealers alike. Some gifted vindicator of human rights may sometime dip his pen in gall and describe fittingly and adequately the sins of transportation companies—the task transcends the power of the ordi- nary scribe. Had we not outgrown the superstitions of less enlightened ages, it might easily be supposed that the whole race of freight handlers are _ pos- sessed of demons. If not through Sa- tanic influence, how else can we account for the facility with which goods are lost, stolen, delayed or carried past their destination, bags torn, boxes smashed open, barrels racked until they leak, stoves broken, crockery and glassware smashed into fragments! For the un- fortunate dealer smarting under these wrongs there is but one recourse—the consolations, such as they are, of the claim against the railroad company are undeniably his. And, if he live long enough, and press his claim persistently enough, and if the railroad company can find no convenient loophole of es- cape, he has some likelihood of getting amend for his losses. Then the wholesale houses from whom the retail merchant must buy partake of the imperfect nature of all terrestrial institutions. They are prone to send what he doesn’t want and to omit the | very articles which he most anxiously awaits and upon which his customers have most set their hearts. The incompetency of clerks occasions the retailer many a pang and loses him} many a dollar. Generally speaking, the merchant is grateful to the people who patronize him—possibly feels that it is his delight and privilege to serve them—and yet continued contact with human nature, often in its less attractive aspects, can hardly be called an unmixed joy. There are sure to be some customers that the | proprietor wishes would never enter his store. The profits on their purchases are never sufficient to compensate for the | wear and tear of dealing with them. Whoever allows all these things to an- | noy him to the full extent of which they are capable will find himself in a state of painful perturbation the greater part of the time. The groceryman who, upon the receipt of some shipment of goods in bad railroad, and, bis incidentally, every other with which it makes connections, | is apt to become so absorbed in his mighty subject that he forgets to put in | a timely order for granulated sugar. The druggist who has just given his boy assistant a ‘‘blowing up’’ is apt to be too red of face and too ruttled in general appearance to make a good upon the fastidious customer who enters just after the perhaps well-deserved up- braiding has reached its termination. It is entirely natural to become ful over some very irritating blunder on the part of a jobbing house as to be incapable of exercising good judgment for the space of half a day. Particularly dangerous is it to allow yourself to tell people what you think of them, how- Impression so. wrath- | It order, stops to tell his} freight agent exactly what he thinks of | ever Captious or unreasonable or illbred they may be. An equanimity which not only does not show annoyance, but does not allow itself to be annoyed, is a most valuable treasure. It is like an inexhaustible bank account. This is not to be con- founded with an easy-going goud na- ture, too unobserviny to note errors and discrepancies or too lazy to right them. irely consistent with the most business discipline. The young man starting out in ness finds many competitors. Some of these have more capital than he, some have had long experience, while still others may possess greater natural abil- ity than he; but the race is not always iS ent thorough busi- |to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor the game to the oldest player. And he who never allows his temper to in- terfere with his judgment holds in his hand one strong winning card. QUILLO. OANA AM ie Sees \\ REE EES §44- cde y ee See cake ch ef chograp ap gio ae este 2 om K (2 — FST So Vek = Are ge ——— e — 2 = > Zz = * > 5 4 e x m S wy or DIK BSP. THE C.BLOM, ur§ |; CANDY CO., § TEEte ee RtR + Feccrtter es 7 Ao teh i ie POP Gap he AP HOLLAND,~ MICH ae 3 . == PSA eS eS eSE SASS SOAS SASS Shake off the Sawn) \ é ‘ j NS soe » Near Dragging Chai ns ZEISS ae SAS SAS fA ME SY gif A \\ if Ul AR is y De g AC Dy By abandoning the pass book and other out-of-date methods of keeping De } : i : L Hl K i | AG track of the credit transactions of a retail store and adopting in their ‘AY De stead the modern method of handling credit accounts, the a | bt 4; = SES Be = Ne SN wt eS 2} profit. cheerfully send samples Lh ZS GRAND Qys : placed on a cash basis and annoyance and loss supplanted by peace and We make four different kinds of Coupon Books, all of which are XQ sold on the same basis, irrespective of grade or denomination. 9 of any or all of our books on application, confi- DY dent that our prices are lower than those of any other house in our line, G quality of work and accuracy of workmanship considered. TRADESMAN COMPANY, COUPON BOOK SYSTEM x& By means of which the credit transactions of a retail business can be We ( RAPIDS. ad a OK SSIS SS SSSSs SSIS SSwSwWS oS CIaEASASS ISS EZTV SST ABES i Pg RAM a sadn ime Satie Seinen, tan ma Si bchaa Ba x vias poi taf beh Die SRE EES MBA MICHIGAN : RADESMAWN Devoted to the Best Interests of Business Men Published at the New Blodgett Building, Grand Rapids, by the TRADESMAN COMPANY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR, Payable in Advance. ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. sSommunications invited from practical business men. Correspondents must give their fuli names and addresses, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Subscribers may have the m: ig address of their papers changed us often as desired. No paper discontinued, except at the option of the proprietor, until all arrearages are paid. Sample copies sent fré P= Entered at the Grand Rapi Second Class mail matter. When writing to any of our Advertisers, please say that you saw the advertisement in the Michigan Tradesman. E. A. STOWE, Eprror. WEDNESDAY, - - - FEBRUARY 23, 1898. NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY BILL. After many unsuccessful attempts, Congress has at last passed a bankruptcy bill. That is to say, such a bill has passed both houses of the National Legislature, with certain differences in form which will have to be settled in conference. It is reasonable to expect that a conference will successfully rec- oncile the differences existing between the two houses and that the measure will shortly go to the President. A bankruptcy bill has on several cc- casions within the past decade passed one or the other of the houses of Con- gress, but always failed of final passage, owing to the close of the session or other equally decisive cause. The Tor- rey bankruptcy bill was before four suc- cessive Congresses ; but the present body has very wisely abandoned that measure and taken up another bill, which prom- ises to accomplish the same purpose in a slightly different way. The present bill provides both tor voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy. In the first’ instance, honest insolvents can secure protection from their credit- ors, and, in the other, debtors are guar- anteed protection from dishonest debt- ors. The bill seems to be an honest at- tempt to provide a National law to take the place of the existing bankruptcy systems of the various states, whose very differences afford so many opportunities to the dishonest to escape the payment of their just debts, thereby weakening credit and increasing the complications of inter-state commerce. It would be premature to analyze the measure until it finally emerges from conference and becomes law by execu- tive approval, and even then it will re- quire the test of actual experience to determine whether it fully meets the necessities of commerce and fully ac- complishes what the business commu- nity expects of it. DANGEROUS POSTS OF HONOR As a general proposition this country ought not to maintain diplomatic rela- tions with a people among whom our representatives have to be constantly guarded against mob violence. We are either, in such case, stretching a point to remain friendly, or lowering our Na- tional dignity to a point that is con- temptible. Few people in the United States stop to reflect or to realize how delicate and critical and humiliating is the position of General Woodford at Madrid, or, | particularly, that of General Lee at Havana. The fermer is said to be vir- tually ostracized by the high society at the Spanish capital and at all hours of the day and night Spanish guards sur- round the ministerial residence. He cannot venture upon the streets without the fear of insult At Havana, matters are worse, for the life of General Lee is constantly in danger. Already a bomb has been found at the door of the consulate. Cries of “‘Long live Spain!’ or ‘‘Down with Americans!’ greet the Consul General on the streets, and the jeers of the rab- ble and threats of the mob are contin- ually reaching his ears. Each day's service by these distinguished American representatives in Spanish territory is but the occasion for insult from the populace. Each day is one of humilia- tion to brave men and every hour of their lives is unsafe. This ought to be an intolerable con- dition to this Governmert. Unless our representatives can be treated with the courtesy and the absence of popular demonstrations of any kind that meet the Spanish ministers and consuls here, diplomatic relations ought to be severed at once. In the meantime we cannot but ad- mire the courage and equipoise with which our Minister, and, especially, our Consul General at Havana, are Standing to their duty. The latter is surrounded by war, pestilence and star- vation—horrors multiply as his service lengthens—and yet, with cool self-pos- session, with self-assertiveness and ‘fear- lessness, he meets his duty like a_ hero. it is unfortunate that we must daily risk the life of such a man at Havana, but no other kind of mettle would do. The withdrawal of all our diplomatic officials from Spanish territory and the recognition of Cuba, however, would be the dictate of self-respect and jus- tiflable resentment in the premises. The election of Sidney F. Stevens to the position of President of the Penin- sular Trust Co., in place of the late Enos Putman, is an exceedingly ap- propriate selection. Mr. Stevens was largely instrumental in inaugurating the institution and has given the business the benefit of his best thought and most energetic effort ever since the inception of the enterprise. The fact that his election was unanimous and that the only other gentleman menticned in con- nection with the office insisted on vot- ing for Mr. Stevens on the ground that be was the most available man for the position attests his popularity as a man and the high regard his associates have for his business acumen and _ his judg- ment in financial matters. In August, 1875, Spain paid to the United States, as an indemnity for the execution of the crew of the Virginius and the detention of the passengers, the sum of $77,797.44. The crew numbered nineteen and the passengers twenty- seven. Captain and crew and three of the passengers were shot. An apology and salute to our flag were also exacted. It is thought that by next summer young Farmer Leiter will have disposed of his crop ata sufficient profit to en- able him to take a little trip to Europe and see the sights of the big towns. Ten women of Boston have won prizes for making bread. They are all married and are of no use toa bachelor, unless some of them may be keeping boarders. 3 EASIER SAID THAN DONE. Commenting on the strictures in. re- cent issues of the Tradesman on those houses which furnished goods to Paul V. Finch, the bankrupt price-cutting druggist of Grand Rapids, the Ohio Merchant remarks: If the trade press will do its duty a great amount of good will be accom- plished in this direction. But it must be done before, rather than after the horse has been stolen. Why did not our good Michigan contemporary come out before the Finch failure and tell its readers who were selling the cut-price firm? Make it so deucedly hot for those jobbers and manufacturers who cater to department stores and trade demoral- izers generally that they will be glad to confine their operations to regular re- tail merchants who are opposed to that sort of policy, and whe, by the way, are so largely in the majority, and you will have half wiped out that sort of com- petition, More easily said than done, neighbor. When Finch started out on his cru- sade of price-cutting, the local drug trade undertook to ascertain where he was getting hissupplies. Local jobbers were petitioned not to sell him goods and promptly complied with the request. Chicago and Detroit jobbers were sub- sequently appealed to and all but one house placed themselves on record as epposed to cut-throat methods and agreed not to assist Finch in the work of demoralization by keeping him sup- plied with goods. Having exhausted every resource at their command, the retail trade settled down to the convic- tion that Finch was getting his goods from John D. Park & Sons Co., of Cin- cinnati, and Lehn & Fink, of New York. The publication of the list of creditors, showing that some of the best houses in the country were impli- cated in the fiasco, was a_ revelation which surprised and stunned the trade. Heber Walsh, the veteran Holland drug- gist, was so shocked over the knowledge that a Chicago jobber with whom he had dealt for years had dipped into the deal that he sent the house the follow- ing laconic message: See you are caught $900 in the Finch failure. Wish it was $9,000 instead. The surprise and indignation of the trade over the appearance in the list of creditors of such names as Robt. Stev- enson & Co., Keasby & Mattison Co., McKesson & Robbins, Foster, Milburn & Co., Bauer & Black, Paris Medicine Co., Dodds Medicine Co., Emerson Drug Co., Dr. Kilmer & Co., Miles Medicine Co., H. E. Bucklen & Co. and Sterling Remedy Co., knew no bounds, because it revealed the fact that promises were made to be broken and that professions of loyalty to the regu- lar retail trade were mere pretense— only this and nothing more. It was then that the Tradesman stepped into the breach and undertook to voice the indignation bubbling over in the breast of every druggist who respects himself and honors bis calling. The criticism of Robert Stevenson & Co. may have been a little severe, but it was certainly justified by the circumstances, albeit the previous good reputation of the house should be taken into considera- tion in forming a final conclusion. Now, if the editor of the Ohio Mer- chant will institute a system of espion- age by means of which it can definitely determine where price cutters obtain their supplies, the Tradesman will cheerfully act on the information thus obtained and undertake to place the ban of execration on every establishment which pretends to maintain the integrity of trade and at the same time sneaks around in the dark and furnishes the cutter and department store with am- munition to bombard the legitimate dealer. GENERAL TRADE SITUATION. That the Maine disaster should pass without a decided depressing influence in stock prices would be much more than could have been expected. The first slight feeling of uncertainty and panic was enough to slacken trading and start the bearing of prices, although the slight effect demonstrated the gen- eral strength of the situation. Then, when the foreign effects became mani- fest, the depression was increased and is still continued. The decline of rail- roads was $1.51 and trusts $1 83 per share, average. But, while there are these natural speculative results, the strength of the industrial and mercantile conditions is emphasized by the agitation. The price of cereals has rapidly advanced and _ in most others lines there is an upward movement, while in none is there re- ported a decline. It is evident that if there should be a foreign war it would not diminish the demand for American products, and would, indeed, increase the demand for some ; so that the upward movement! of grain was not checked. Its advance tor the week was just 5 cents, which isa remarkable change for a single week after so great a rise as occurred in pre- vious months. But the facts render an advance easy, for the continued foreign demand surpasses all past experience, considering wheat and corn together, and has only been matched as to wheat in one year of past history. With At- lantic exports of 8,416,495 bushels in three weeks, flour included, against 5,261,971 last year, and Pacific exports of 2,476,652 bushels, against 1,474,782 last year, the known exports since July 1 already amount to 147,645,869 bushels, against 112,759,345 last year to date, and in no entire year, except five, was the quantity of wheat and flour exported as large as it will be in the first eight months of this crop year. When corn exports are added, already greater in less than eight months than in any whole year except the last, namely, 112,712,793 bushels to date, against 98,915,720 last year, the outgo of breadstuffs is far be- yond precedent. As might be expected, the feeling of “‘war scare’’ was a decided stimulant in the iron industry. In nearly all lines increasing activity is the rule and through this and other causes the gen- eral movement of prices has been up- ward. One of the prominent causes has been the agreements of combinations. The mine owners have increased the price of Bessemer 15 cents and the fact of the completion of combinations in rods, nails, etc., has strengthened the price situation in those lines. The textile situation shows little change. Cotton maintains its advance; and the strike continues in about the same lines. Woolen products are show- ing some weakness, although prices are as yet maintained. Bank clearings show the effect of a holiday in five important states, in a total aggregating $1, 356,000,000, 5 5 per cent smaller than last week, but 52 per cent. larger than last year, 24 per cent. larger than this week two years ago, 63 per cent. larger than in 1895 and 67 per cent. larger than 1894. The falling off as compared with 1892, a year of large bank clearings, was 2 per cent. MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 8 THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC. While the Tradesman is unwilling to manifest any spirit even bordering up- on ‘‘I told you so,”’ it still candidly concedes a certain complacency in stat- ing that its columns long ago de- clared what a writer in the January number of the North American Review affirms with emphasis, that the culmi- nation of the world’s civilization will be the basin of the Pacific Ocean. The history of trade itself has foreshadowed its own destiny. Centering, as it did in Grecian days, among the waterways of the archipelago, it soon found that primitive basin too contracted for the exercise of its energy and the Mediter- ranean Sea, opening its gates to traffic, became the commercial center of the civilized world. Here cities sprang in- to existence, flourished and fell, Here, in every direction, plowed the Phoeni- cian keels, carrying goods from country to country and from clime to clime, and with them the letters and the learning which have made that nation of trades- men the acknowledged civilizers of the world, In the wake of the Phoenician ships followed the Roman vessels, The re- motest countries were ransacked to sup- ply the luxurious wants of Rome. Furs were furnished from far-off Scythia: amber came from the Baltic; Babylon wove and forwarded her costliest car- pets; while India and Arabia poured into the luxurious lap of the Mistress of the World the splendid objects of Oriental traffic—all of them finding their way to the magnificent city upon the Tiber, the center of the Roman Empire and the center of that commercial activ ity which the ‘‘Great Sea’’ favored and fostered until the great empire fell. Centuries later, when commerce had struggled to its feet, the Mediterranean had ceased to be the world’s waterway. It was no longer the center of trade and no longer available. To all intents and purposes the merchant turned his back upon the commercial basin of the old Roman times. It was too small. A Genoese navigator, seeking a short cut to the orient, bad found a larger one and one worthier of the prowess of modern enterprise and endeavor. The new continent which Columbus, by the lever of his genius, had pried from the waves was teeming with ‘‘pearl and gold,’’ and at once the ocean washing its shores became the basin of com merce. For centuries it has served its purpose; but, as the center of trade, it has become too narrow, and traffic, al- ready clambering the rocky barriers of the West, is feasting its eyes, like Bal- boa, upon the boundless Pacific Sea. Let us consider that mighty expanse of water, the scene of the earth's future endeavor. Its name, like a_ benedic- tion, has already consecrated it to arts of Peace. Shut in on the north from the Arctic cold by the ice-barred doors of Behring Straits, it circles to the south through leagues of latitude of every temperature to the imaginary line which separates the Southern zones. To the east it laves a hemisphere of repub lics, the latest form of political life and the best; to the west lies Asia, the world’s greatest_.storehouse of treasures, its greatest hive of humanity, the great- est trade field unexplored and the last prize to conquer for the commerce of the West. Australia, a continent that takes tribute from the traffic going on between the great oceans between which she stands, helps, with the accompany- ing ‘‘isles of the sea,’’ to complete the great circle; and there, surrounded by an activity which the world has never before possessed, the Pacific Ocean is ready to begin its marvelous career. That the United States will have her share in that wonderful future there is little doubt. She has become already the highway between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Already the Golden Gate is, not ajax, but swung wide open to the commerce of the globe. With a rapidly increasing population producing more than they can consume, with an aggres- sive character that brocks no opposi- tion, with a coast line greater than that of any power of Europe, dotted with flourishing cities, this country will be- come a factor in the future that no apathy, no neglect can belittle. When that time comes and the tale of trade is told, they who care to trace to its source the far-off beginning of the attractive story will find it to be sim- ply a transition from water basin to water basin, commencing with the isles of the Aegean and ending with that illimitable world of waters which beats upon the coast of the Western Hemis- phere ou the east and ripples along the shores of the Eastern Hemisphere upon the west. OUR NEED OF A NAVY. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theo- dore Roosevelt, in a recent speech de- livered at a banquet in celebration of Lincoln's birthday, deprecated very strongly the growing disposition mani fested in Coagress to halt in the onward movement of navy building. He pvinted out that this country was now ahout. on a par with Germany, and, consequently, was entitled to rank fifth among the naval powers. He also pointed out, however, that, while other nations were constantly and rapidly enlarging their fleets, we have apparently come to a full stop in the way of naval develop- ment, and, instead of forging ahead, as we have cf recent years, we will soon begin to retrograde in the list. Even with the best efforts, Japan will be ahead of us in a few years, and our present closest rival, Germany, is map- ping out quite an ambitious naval _ pro- gramme. Secretary Roosevelt calls attention to the lesson to be learned in the fate of China. Her weakness at sea enabled Japan to fully expose her political rot- tenness and decay, and, asa result, the powers of Europe are seeking to dis- member her empire. A similar fate might easily befall us, he points out, were we content to live on ina fool’s paradise and make no preparations to meet the attacks of possible enemies. The more we advance in material pros- perity and in trade supremacy, the more numerous are likely to be our rivals and possible opponents, and, consequently, the greater our need to maintain a state of constant preparation against attack. A woman’s office building is to be erected in St. Louis. The offices will be rented to business women or to peo- ple having business with women. It will be the aim to attract dressmakers, milliners, hair-dressers, women mani- curers, chiropodists, newspaper women, typewriters, as well as women physi- cians and lawyers. The Sultan of Turkey is always seen attired in pale brown garments. The Emperor of Austria affects gray. The young German Emperor has what may be called a loud taste in clothes, and is never so happy as when wearing the showiest of uniforms or bunting cos- tumes. THE LACK OF PROPER DEFENSE. Now that it is realized at Washington that the Maine disaster brings the coun- try very clese to the possibility of war, it is admitted that the country is by no means in the state of preparation for defense which the military authorities would like to see. Most of the promi- nent ports are but partly defended, and some of them are utterly defenseless, It is true that we have a good navy, even if smaller than the needs of the country demand; but at the same time it must not be forgotten that Spain, our possible antagonist, has a naval force fully the equal of ours, so far as num- ber of ships and guns are concerned. Under such circumstances, one would expect that Congress would promptly take measures to increase the naval strength, and get together the arms and supplies which would be reeded to mobilize the land forces which would be at once needed should there be a sudden call to arms. The last report of the Adjutant Gen- eral of the army shows that the total militia force of the United States ag- gregates 118,000 men. This is, of Course, quite a respectable army, when added to the regular force; but the or- ganization in each state is different, and no plan of mobilization exists which would permit the organized and equipped National Guard to act asa unit in time of war. The country has no surplus supply of arms and ammuni- tion and it would be impossible, as a result, to promptly arm a_ volunteer army should circumstances demand that such a force be instantly raised. It is a serious disgrace to the Con- gress of the United States that nothing has been done to remedy these evils, which have for so long been patent to everybody. We have been on the brink of a war for a year past, yet we have continued to live ina fvol’s paradise, waiting patiently for hostilities to be- gin before we make _ preparations. While we have done nothing, Spain has been preparing as rapidly and as_ earn- estly as her depleted treasury will per- mit, and if we are to gauge Spanish fighting ability by the results of the guerilla combats in Cuba we are grossly deceiving ourselves. It certainly is time that Congress was thinking of be- stirring itself. A SCHEME OF CONQUEST. Ever since the accession of the pres- ent Emperor, Germany has constantly sought to extend her domain. Large districts have been annexed in Africa and other parts of the world and the latest venture has been in the seizure of a portion of the Chinese province of Shantung. The great object in securing most of this additional territory was not merely to acquire an additional population for Germany. The large outflow of German emigrants to the United States seriously disturbed the German government, and it was resolved to retain, if possible, these enterprising citizens by providing them with desirable opportunities for settling within German jurisdiction. Unfortunately for Germany, her plans have not proven successful. For some reason or another, German emigrants have not sought the German colonies, but have continued to go, as_ before, to the United States or to the countries of South America. During the decade ending with 1895, 956,258 Germans emi- grated. Of this number, 895,000 came to the United States, and the great bulk of the balance went to South America and Australia, leaving but a few thou- sand for the German colonies. As a colonizer, therefore, Germany has not been successful; but it can scarcely be for colonization purposes that she has seized upon Kiao Chau, in China. The population of Shantung province, of which Kiao Chau forms a part, represents a density of 557 to the square mile, as compared with Ger- many’s 248 persons to the square mile. Kiao Chau, therefore, holds out little hope ot possible German colonization. The seizure was, therefore, an out-and- out scheme of conquest, to be gradually extended. a The little town of Essex, on the Mas- sachusetts coast, is appreciating the truth of the adage that ‘‘it is an ill wind that blows nobody good.’’ It is profit- ing by the commercial war between the fish catchers of Gloucester and the fish venders of Boston. When the dealers of the latter city became convinced that the Gloucester men were in earnest in their purpose to keep for their own city the profits of the industry, and to secure the spending there of the earnings of the sailors, it became evident to them that they must have vessels of their own to take the place of those carrying their wares to the port of Gloucester. As they wanted the best, they placed their orders in Essex, where nine vessels are now on the ways, seven of them for Boston people. More orders will follow soon, and for a time Essex will resume the air and bustle of other days. ee a The United States has too many thou- sands of miles of seacoast to make pos- sible a complete defense by building torts, and keeping gunners on guard watching for the enemy that never comes. The best way is to have big guns and forts on warships, and where any country is found making unfriendly demonstrations against us, let the forts and guns go there and blow daylight through the war cloud and those who are bebind it. a The New York Herald has discovered a case of a soldier's widow who is with- out a pension that is somewhat peculiar. She has had two husbands, both soldiers in the rebellion. They are both dead, and yet she cannot get a pension, as she forfeited her right to a pension on account of her first husband by marry- ing the second, but she cannot draw one on account of the second because she was married to him subsequently to June 27, 1890. ———— France has a singular mode of re- warding the widows and orphans of pub- lic men by conferring upon them to- bacco shops. This year 261 concessions of the kind have been made, among the recipients being Mme. Jules Simon, widow of the eminent political econo- mist; Mme. Lades-Gout, mother-in-law of the ambassador at the vatican, and the relicts of several generals, admirals and deputies. a When Queen Victoria ascended the throne more than 41 per cent. of the people of the British Islands could not write their names. The proportion in that condition has now been reduced to 7 per cent En A combination has been formed at Manchester, England, of firms engaged in the fine cotton goods trade, based on the profit-earning capacity of each firm. The capital represented is $30, - 000, 000. Walking delegates get ahead of pros- perity at any time by ordering working men to quit work. aa erie dag ‘ 4 $ 3 3 3 i 3 £ i i 4 3 i jit O Nitpinciedi 30> __ Success at Home and Abroad. Hide and Leather. In colored leather American manufac- turers deserve many congratulations for the magnificent success they have achieved at home and abroad. Slowly but steadily they have learned to pro- duce batch after batch of leather of uani- form color and durability that will not crack. With the assistance of the dye- stuff men our tanners have obtained a knowledge of coloring that is truly ad- mirable. The manufacture of colored calf and side-leather is accompanied by curious results. Superintendents, foremen and helpers, who have learned one way and another to make the right kind of colored leather, speedily realized the value of their knowledge and of the field for its development. Consegently, there has been a eontinuous shifting around of skilied specialists, followed by increased quantities of good leather being put on the market. ee Blow your born in a legitimate man- ner, ’ SEEFEEEEEEREFEAESE SESE SESE ES, SSSSSSSSSTESSTSOT STINTS OES a(VJe ARE SHOW ing these in Box Calf, his4 English Calf, Kangaroo @ Calf and Vici Black or i/ Colored, every one of $i them $5 te eed mee te BUY OURS AND KEEP PROSPEROUS. 3 i: Herold-Bertsch Shoe Zo., 5 and 7 Pearl St. 3 ts ty CBKAEAADAELAALAEDAASLALALEALAL ADEA MAAK AAHOHHSH +e RPP PPP SP SSS SSS SSE FESS SPS PSPPPPPF SSS SPSS SSSSSSSFESSSESA eos bUeGUuUeeaUeueee ce 686 68 8 6 60 6 6 > We Manufacture a > tll oo Men’s Oil Grain Creoles and Credmeres in 2 S. and T. and ¥% D. S., also Men’s Oil Grain and Satin Calf in lace S and congress in 2 8. and T. and % D.S.,ali Solid—_a ¢ good western shoe at popular prices. i cua We also handle Snedicor & Hathaway Co.'s shoes in = Oil Grain and Satin. It will pay you to order sample © 5 cases as they are every one of them a money-getter. We 6 still handle our line of specialties in Men’s and Women's ag shoes. ith o We still handle the best .rubbers—Lycoming and Key- © a stone—and Felt Boots and Lumbermen’s Socks. im i. Geo. H. Reeder & Co., A 19 South lonia Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. CEVA UDEV Us Us EEE EDEN ND END NpE Une DE AIDEN Ses Se U SEEN SSE aon XE 7) e e tes 2 Rindge, Kalmbach, Logie & Co. © =, Rindge, Kalmbach, Logie & Co. @ Ze Successors to ie Bh iG Ss Rindge, Kalmbach & Co., 1 a We A Manufacturers ws mg) XE ae . . . And Jobbers of a Sy Xe = BOOTS AND SHOES’ & Z ASS es Our Spring Lines are Complete. W% = Your Business Solicited. eS By ke ext Xe #2 12, 14 and 16 PEARL ST., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 2 Be Z SISA BARBARA RAR ABER AEAPAE ARAB AEAEAE ‘ SAR RRA DEENEN GEREN ANGINA CN GNA CR CA LCRA CAA CARNES pretrreeereterrerrer eres CHILDREN’S SHOES *#¥ o- POR. . SPRING... We have the most complete line. Novelties that are Money Makers. apepay “ WB PHD oe eae nh unhah uh haba $1, HIRTH, KRAUSE & CO. PEETEEEETEE EEE EEE ET TT MEDD oh hahahah uhahuhuy ee e = 2) e = MICHIGAN TRADESMAN i3 Mr. Bostwick’s Clerk Further Dis- closes His Plans. Written for the TRADESMAN, More to hear myself talk than any- thing else—nobody has a good time un- less he has his share of it—I said to the boy, ‘‘Well, now what’s the next num- ber on the program? Of course, I’m not fool enough to believe that fitting up this room has been the end and aim of existence. It’s fine, it’s a credit to you, but it’s only the getting ready. Now what?’’ ‘‘Now, I’m going to do what Mr. Bostwick has been wanting all along— I’m going to do some studying. Away down in my heart, where I don’t let anybody look very often, I’ve always had a longing for what the schoolhouse and the college could give me. When I ought to have gone to school I couldn’t, and for a good many years—you laugh, but eight years out of a fellow’s life is a good many years of school life—I thought too much of having ‘a good time’ to think of studying by myself. So, after I got the room where I wanted it, I overhauled my trunk and got out my old schoolbooks, and I have been looking them over. That.Grand Rap- ids grocer has stirred me up consider- ably, and if he has been able by him- self to make up fora college course, after be got through with the store at night, I don’t see why I can’t. Do you?’’ ‘*T looked at the boy and hesitated. How rosy the future looked just then. How easy it seemed to him to take up the mental task night after night and after years of patient plodding to seize the precious prize at last. “When Duty whispers low, The youth replies, I can. I) said. || Its a hard read, and it’s a long one; but ‘What man has done man may do.| |” That, however, sounded altogether too solemn and I asked what he intended to begin with. ‘*O, well, I shall run over the com- mon studies first. Algebra used to stump me and I’m going inio that for all I’m worth—jump right into the mid- dle of it and creep out both ways.”’ ‘“That’s where you have the unknown quantity. I don’t think I’d do it that way. Don’t you remember enough of your algebra to know what a ticklish thing that x is? Can’t you recall how the mistake of even a sign tbrew the whole thing all out of gear? I wonder if I can’t recollect what my old teacher said to me one day when I had been especially stupid and ugly over one of those problems. ‘Dick,’ said he, ‘there is something besides algebra in this Thou must, work, You can’t make a mistake away back in anything and come out all right. Work on as fast as you may, you can’t cover it up. There it is, and the longer you work at it without going back to rectify it the harder it will be and the farther off you will be from the right—’ °’ pen t dont! To ean t stand it! [- yen"? To my utter amazement, upon the table which stood between us the young man pillowed his face upon his arm. What I had said in the hope ot getting a little fun out of a serious subject had touched a minor chord and, sudden as a thunder bolt out of a clear sky, it drew a responsive sob from ‘‘a heart unused to tears.’’ The paroxysm soon passed, and then with a voice broken now and then with the feeling he tried in vain to suppress, he told me what he, in common with manhood general- ly, had done and suffered and. been only the sting which pained most was the remorseful fact that wayward life had been the means of leading others astray. Had he stopped there, you and I, my mascu- line reader, might have sympathized with him and felt that he would soon become reconciled to that, as others have; but when he told of a sister whose loving heart he had bruised, until it had ceased to beat, and of a mother whose hair his sins had bleached, I could only place my hand upon his shoulder and hold my peace. ‘This is what I have been trying to cover up, and bitter experience has taught me indeed that the longer I work without going back to correct the mis- take the worse off lam. This has been gnawing at my heart for months, and it gave me no rest until [ solemnly vowed that I would live a better life, if I lived atall. It was just before I met you, when we took our first spin together in the park; and, while you may not care anything about it, I am _ going to tell you that you have done much, without knowing it, to help me keep this reso lution. ‘Now I am going on with this study, to give me something to think of when business is over. I shall take it grad- ually. I shall do it on the principle that, after I have spent the day in the monotonous sameness of the work at the store, the brain will be better off fora little thinking than for giving up the evening to billiards or to the intense sorry tor; him his own activity involved in a game of High Five. If you think I’m doing a great deal of talking, with altogether too much of I’m-going-to in it, forgive me and let me have my talk out. I shan’t trouble you ever again inthis way. I’ve teen thinking of these things so long that I can’t stop now until I get through. ‘‘I’m going to look out for the other fellows in the store. They are good boys and I can help keep ‘em so. I’m going to have ’em up here. I'm going to get ‘em, if I can, to try to make something better of themselves than be just clerks. I’ve been watching these things lately, and I’ve about concluded that a fellow who has no higher ambi- tion than to stand behind a counter and peddle out goods is about as near_ noth- ing as he can be. I know that is what people generally think of a clerk—that’s what Mr. Bostwick used to be all the time telling me; and, now that l’ve admitted the fact and determined to be something else, I'm going to stir up the other fellows.’’ ‘There was a the other day, clerk who asked me, what good could come of a fellow’s knowing something about grammar.’ “‘T wish he had asked me. I'd have taken him to a store on the corner of Sixteenth and Something streets, where there is a clerk whose good English and correct pronunciation have made him a marked man in that store; but you may make up your mind he won't be a clerk there any longer than he can help it; and that won’t bea great while. And that’s the way with all of us.’’ My intention was to find out, if I could, the vocation the young fellow had chosen for himself; but it was late and, feeling that, take it all in all, Will Morris had bitten off a piece much bigger than he will ever thoroughly masticate, I ‘‘hoped that he would realize all that he had planned,’’ and left him. Some of these plans he has begun to carry out already—with what success we shall in due time see. RICHARD MALCOLM STRONG. She Wanted Skating Boots. A woman’s shoemaker has his woes. ‘“The trouble with women,’’ he says, ' ‘“‘is that they don’t always know what | they want, but they know too well that they want it’’—which isa lucid way of | putting it, to say the least. ‘‘One of my customers came in at the beginning of the season, he continued, ‘‘and | said she was going to Canada and | wanted a pair of skating boots. ‘Now, make them just likea man’s,’ she said. | So I made them like a man’s. When she came into try them on I thought | she was going to faint. ‘Why, how dare you make me such a looking pair of shoes!’ she said. ‘I wouldn't wear round toes like those for anything in the | world.’ ‘But you said to make them | like a man’s, and skating boots can’t | have pointed toes,’ said I. We talked | and argued nearly all the afternoon, and then she went away and came back with her husband. The minute he looked at them he said, ‘Why, certainly, those lable. So she | upon jman's. If | boots I would have shoes are all right. They’re perfect | skating shoes and just like a man’s. If | you wore pointed shoes on the ice you and be uncomfort- took them and I thought the storm had blown over. A_ few days would look absurd ago she came in with the shoes, saying {that she had ‘a good mind to sue me for |damages.’ She said the brass hooks with which the upper part of the boots are laced had torn the silk liniz ig of her | dress to ribbor is. ‘I am not surprised,’ said I. ‘Those hooks are intended only for men’s or children’s boots and are never used for ladies, but you insisted those shoes being exactly like a they had not been skating warned you about the hooks, but when skating you ought to wear a short skirt.’ She went away jangry. But what was I to do?’ i > oO - rf * “4 t i 3 La aR Ee et MICHIGAN TRADESMAN FINCH’S FAILURE. How Robert Stevenson & Co. Were Drawn Into the Deal. Chicago, Feb, 5, 1808. Peck Bros., Grand Rapids, Mich. : Gentlemen—Your favor of the 3d inst. duly received. We thank you very much for the information given us, and also thank you for the kindly spirit evinced. Now, a word of explanation in re- gard to the Finch account: We have been selling Mr. Finch for about a year. We opened the account solely by mail, as we have no traveler or representative who calls in Grand Rapids. We opened the account simply on agency reports, which were highly satisfactory. We never knew Mr. Finch was a cutter; no one in Grand Rapids or anywhere else ever informed us. He always paid us promptly when the account was due, and the account he now owes us, part of it is not due yet, and none of it was due at the time of his failure, so you see that he kept his account in pretty fair shape. If anyone had informed us or made complaint we certainly should have taken it under advisement and acted accordingly. Mercantile reports quote him from $15,000 to $20,000 and in excellent Standing. We have never, since we have been in business, soid a cutter in Chicago nor a dry goods firm. We ad- vertise it and live up to it, and we think that the drug trade in your sec- tion, if they knew the whole, would not blameus. This is a full explanation of the whole matter. Again thanking you for your kind fa- vor and assuring you of our apprecia- tion of the same, and also of our desire at all times to take care of the interests of the retail trade, we are Very truly yours, ROBERT SIEVENSON & Co. Chicago, Feb. 14, 1898. Peck Bros., Grand Rapids, Mich. : Gentlemen—We notice an article in the Michigan Tradesman, issue of Feb. 9, in which we are very much misrep- resented. We wrote you a letter some time ago embodying the whole truth, and we wish to ask you if you have any objection to our putting this letter in print. Then, again, this paper states that we advertise not to sell to cutters and that we are ‘ two faced’’ in the matter. Our advertisement reads, ‘‘not to sell to dry goeds cutters.’ We do NOT SAY ONE WORD ABOUT DRUG CUTTERS, as a great majority of druggists are now cutting prices more or less. As we in- PO@OOOQDODODO’MO®OD®$.HOSOHOO’ OC GOD DBO®HODOGD®OD©H®OOOQOOGDHODOOOOOOE @ formed you in our former letter, we did not know this man Finch was a cutter, neither did anyone in your city ever in- form us of the fact. We had no traveler going there and were quite ignorant of the whole surroundings. Very truly yours, ROBERT STEVENSON & Co. Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 14, 1808. Robert Stevenson & Co., Chicago, Ill. : Gentlemen—Your favor of 12th inst. is received. We noticed the article re- ferred to in the Michigan Tradesman. We were very sorry to see it, because | we know that Mr. Stowe is undera mis- apprehension as to the facts. Every re- tail druggist knows that your firm stands high in the estimation of the general trade, and we have never heard your name mentioned in connection with fur- nishing supplies either to dry goods or department stores—and we wish we could say this of all the Chicago job- bers. We have no objection whatever to your printing the letter referred to. We presume that you have a copy of it. The original was mailed to Mr. Heber Walsb, Holland, Mich., almost as_ soon as received, with the request that he set your house right with the retail trade of his neighborhood. We yesterday wrote bim to return the letter and will mail it to you when received, although we pre- sume you have a copy. As soon as this letter reaches us, the writer, i 8, Peck, will call upon Mr. Stowe and sub- mit it to him, together with yours of the 12th, received this morning. We will also show the Tradesman people your list, and have no doubt that the matter will be rightly construed and explained through its columns in a subsequent issue. This man Finch has been an espe- cially offensive cutter, in consequence of his plan of selling medicines at cost and paying his clerks a commission, in- dependent of salary, to sell substitute (bis own) goods when advertised medi- cines were called for. These uncommercial methods have stirred the retail trade throughout this portion of the State to lay the blame on the houses supplying him, and the average dealer does not discriminate between John D. Parks & Sons Co. and others and a house of the general stand- ing of yours, Parke, Davis & Co. and others. We will do all we can to adjust this misconception and time will certainly do away with any momentary false im- pression. Very truly, PECK Bros. HOODDOOOQOOQOGQOQOODODOOQDOOOQODOODOOQODOQOOOOOGHOOGOOOQOOQOQOOO®D DOODHE DO LD. HEOGDODOQOOQOQOOO®QOOOO © The Retailer’s Position. From Shoe and Leather Facts. There is a good deal said and written from time to time about the position of the retail merchant. Occasionally you wiil hear some manufacturer or whoie- saler deplore the fact that the retailers’ lines should have fallen into such un- pleasant places. There are even a few retailers engaged in the various lines of industry who look on the dark side and claim that they can see no ray of sun- light in the clouds of difficulty which overhang the pathway of those who come in direct contact with the buying pub- lic—the consumers. A good many re- tailers have had a pretty hard time of it the past three or four years, but it is noticeable that they have stood up un- der the trial fully as well as those en- gaged in any other calling. The retail merchant stands between the manufacturer and the consumer. He represents the largest class of business men in existence, and it should not be forgotten that he makes up the backbone ! of every community.- When panics as- sail the retail merchant they are also to be reflected, in, if anything, an aug- mented degree, upon the wholesalers and manufacturers. When a retailer is calied on to give credit to his customers in times of depression he either has to be strong enough financially to carry the augmented burden or ask those, in turn, from whom he buys goods to be lenient with him. Then, when suffering exists, the retail merchant is the first man ap- pealed to for charity. In times of pub- Sea Srat an baMin ha Dn tin Mr Mr te Ln db ty tp te te te lic festivity he, above all others, is ex- pected to contribute liberally. A city or town is judged almost solely by the reputation gf its retail merchants. For these reasons, and many others, retailers should be the most enterprising of all business men. They should have a thorough understanding of human na- ture, and they have to be tactful tc suc- ceed. As their sales are usually made in small quantities, and as they have to come in contact with a large number of people, there is the highest reason why they should have perfect’ system in conducting their business and why their salesrooms should be as attractive as possible. We know that the vast majority of retailers recognize these as axiomatic facts, but if we are instrumental in call- ing them to the attention of even a few who may have become neglectful the article will not have been written in vain. > ¢>- Schoo! Your Clerks. Never engage a new clerk without first of all instructing him in his duties and informing him fuily of your policy of doing business, so that he will be able to afterward work in harmony with that policy. Many a good clerk at heart has been spoiled in the end by reason of a lack of knowledge of the proprie- tor’s system «f doing business, who would otherwise, if schooled a little at the start, have made, perhaps, a good salesman and helped to lay a strong foundation for the business of his em- ployer. | | | Pury Manufacturers of Chicory Yellow Rolls (imitation ot Sellig’s). Pink Rolls. Red Rolls. Also Granulated Chic- ory and Essence of Coffee in bulk or tin foi! constantly on hand. Malt Coffee Gereals Kotiee Aid Ard ebeaPraeDaDadcs babble addadPadatadad vate tds de tee dy inst ee ee ee Manitowoc Lakeside Peas Those who are familiar with Lakeside Peas fully appreciate them and know their value. We have made the canning of peas a scien- tific study and feel amply repaid by the re- They Ask for them. THE ABLERT LANDRETH G0., Manitowoc, Wis. Worden Grocer Co., Wholesale Agents. sults obtained. grocers. are for sale by all eoge 4: TF FOO VEO EG ST OCC OS Detroit COMMISSION and Mig. 60. 27 Farmer Street, Detroit, Mich. Telephone, New 1312. PP PPPEPIPPPPEPIPPPPPPPAPEBPPE ACE PBL PPAPAAPARPDADPAPRAPPADAIO Bo dindin nm he be el Speciaities in Grocers Sundries Produce and Fruit of all kinds. Flour, Feed, Baled Hay and Straw. Butter and Eggs a Specialty Pata Baba badra bata nha dr tr tr dr Le br jn be br dnb bn dn bn bn de eee TD POD NO IG FEF OVE OVNI ¥ E will send our Machine on 10 days’ trial to interested parties, as we know that it will give satisfaction. culars, Prices and a Machine if you wish. MILLER BROS., Mnfrs of Foot and Power Bean Picking Machinery. A card will bring Cir- ROCHESTER, MICH. @OOO POOOOE MICHIGAN TRADESMAN i7 Commercial Travelers Michigan Knights of the Grip. President, Joun A. Horrman, Kalamazoo: Secre- tary, J. C. SAUNDERs, Lansing; Treasurer, Cuas McNotry, Jackson. Michigan Commercial Travelers’ Association. President, S. H. Harr, Detroit; Secretary and Treasurer, D. Morris, Detroit. United Commercial Travelers of Michigan. Grand Counselor, fF. L. Day. Jackson: Grand Secretary, G. S. Vatmorg, Detroit; Grand Treas urer, GEO. A. REYNOLDs, Saginaw. Michigan Commercial Travelers’ Mutual Acci- dent Association. President, J. Boyp Pantiinp, Grand Rapids: Secretary and Treasurer, Geo. F. Owen, Grand Rapids. Lake Superior Commercial Travelers’ Club. President, W. C. Brown, Marquette; Secretary and Treasurer, A. F. Wrxson, Marquette. Gripsack Brigade. A commercial traveler received an order for thirteen dozen shirts at Battle Creek last week. He refused to accept it unless it was either increased or de- creased. A compromise was reached, Geo. F. Owen has finally received a permit to place his acetylene gas ma- chine anywhere in the country, without invalidating the insurance policies of the presons using the generator, and _ is naturally very much elated over his suc- cess. ‘“‘Why am I discriminating against the Heald system in the shipment of freight?’’ repeated a Grand Rapids gro- cery salesman, ‘’I will tell you why and I think you will agree with me in the statement that I have ample grounds for taking the position. My Kiondike mileage book was used up a few days before Feb. 1 and I did not wish to invest $30 in interchangeable mileage until I could get the new book, which, by the way,! consider an excellent book in every respect—which would be good on the trains. The last day of January I drove from Ithaca to St. Louis and tendered the agent a $20 bill in pay- ment of a ticket from St. Louis to Ed- more. He was unable to change the bill and I had no other money with me but the $20 bill. I told the agent I could not afford to miss the train, because | had an imperative engagement that afternoon to sell a new stock a hundred miles away. The agent assured me that he would satisfy the gate-tender, so that I could ride on the train as far as Alma, where I could probably get the bill changed and obtain the desired ticket ; but the gate-man was obdurate and refused to permit me to board the train without a ticket. I appealed to the conductor, without result, and had the satisfaction of seeing the train pull out without me. I undertook to make a new engagement by wire, but the man at the other erd was quite as ob- durate as the gate-man on the train, and before I could get to him on the evening train, he had purchased his stock of a competitor. Do you wonder that | discriminiate in every way pos- sible against a railway system which throws as many restrictions as_ possible in the pathway of the commercial trav- eler?’” +» 2 Yonie Yonson Wants a Yob by Mr. Gran Haven. Travarca Caity, Feb. 20, 1898. Sae, maistar, ale skal ask yo for du mae favor. Fallar bane talang mae about das fallar wat owns das C. & W. M. R. R. Aie tank hae sae has nam bane Gran Haven. Uae sae Mr. Gran Haven skal vant gude mans baie has gate on car. Aie skal lake mae das racomand bae_ yo, kos yo no das fallar pretty gude, an hae tank yo skal got mae das yob. Hae sae das mans tank hae bane pretty smart, but at bane all dalusion, an aie skal lat ham tank hae bane baggar mans das Old Grant. Aie tank aie skal bane gattang long all rite. Aie bane vorkag couble veeks bae das asalam. Bane lot fallar har skal tank da bane smart, an doctor sae hae got vhels bae dar heads. Yo skal tal ham aie bane bully gude mans. Aie drank alcohale an chaw Peerlass, an aie bat mae Tan Dollar aie skal lick stuffang out any drumer fallar as skal swar or usang profane langage whan hae bane standang in Rain Storm an Wattar runnang down ham, neck vaitang for ham traine to come bae das gate. An any vomans hoe skal have baby not tan yar old_ skal not rode bae das cars. Den har skal pay fare sam as drumer an lend Co. Tan Dollar. Drumer fallar tal mae das one tang, of aie skal gattang das yob, aie skal bane carefull an kapang das gate shut avery taime Mr. Gran Haven bane on car. Hae tal mae Kattal run- nang loose on plains bae Baldwin bane atang avrytang Green da kal sae. Yos skal tal ham aie got Brodar bae Oakla- oma bane runnang Kattal Ranche, an aie skal wrote ham lattar an gattang lasso, an aie bat bae Yerusalam some Kattal gattang bae has car bane gat- tang planty troble bae me. Yo kan tal das faliar aie skal sat bae all dose vomans on dose cars, so das_ condoctor skal hav planty taime to tand to has busnas. Tal ham aie bane vorkang von fall bae hog Drover, an aie tand tham gate bae das schute, an loadang hogs bae car. So aie tank aie skal kno mae busnas, an bane abal hold mae yob. Aie had gude oxperance. Aie tank das skal bane battar yob dan vorkang bae lumber voods. Wrote mae lattar. Aie skal lake pratty gude to har bae yo if aie bane gattang das yob. YONIE YONSON. SE ongressmen on the Ger- man Fruit Decree. Representative Barlow, who repre- sents the Sixth California District, in which is located the fertile San Joaquin Valley, one of the greatest fruit districts of the State, says that so far as Califor- nia fruit is concerned the German de- cree prohibiting the importation of American fruit is a mere pretext. ‘*California fruits,’’ he said, ‘‘are sin- gularly free from vermin or diseases of any kind. Our apples have no worms, the citrons, fruits, oranges and lemons are without fungus. So jealous are our people in their desire to keep our fruits free from disease that the delezation from the State is now advocating the passage of a bill, which was introduced in the House by Mr. Castle some time ago providing for an inspection of all California fruits, plants, cuttings, shrubs, etc., imported into this country. oe Good Time in Prospect at Detroit. Detroit, Feb. 19 ~The regular busi- ness session of this Post is on Saturday evening, February 26, at 8 o’clock, city time, at Bamlet hail, and open to our ladies as spectators. The orators of the Post can always outdo themselves when they face an audience of ladies. Make a point of this and bring them along. It is urgently requested that every member put in an appearance. After the business meeting some sort of an entertainment will follow, so bring your talent with you and be prepared to use it. You cannot escape as easily as you did the last time. We will have dancing (ladies’ choice), and card playing for those who indulge. H. Y. Kenyon, Sec’y. + 2 The footpad and his operations are disturbing the serenity of citizens in all parts of the country at this time. The majority of our smaller cities are un- questionably short on police protection. It would pay to increase the strength and efficiency of that arm of the serv- ice at almost any cost. The police, fire and santiary departments of a city ought to be made as perfect as they can be made, even if other departments are yob. Aie not bane quanted bae Mr. Gran Haven. Aie drumer fallar tal mae, aie skal wrote yo lattar gattang Good Things Said by Up-to-Date Shoe Dealers. We presume the absolute perfect and complete shoe store is an impossibility. We do not claim to perform impossibil- ities, but we do claim that our shoe Store is as perfect as time, money and expert knowledge can make one.—John Wanamaker, N. Y. The ‘‘ Harvard’’ shoe prevents colds, grippe, pneumonia and the other dire results of wet and cold feet. It’s the shoe to wear in winter, when storms come up without warning. It’s the shoe for wet pavements, muddy crossings, bogy fields and damp woods—and yet looks well on bright days anywhere. -—A. J. Cammeyer, N. Y Our shoe man has such a multitude of excellent values in his department that it quite puzzled him to pick out a very particular one for Friday. He managed to do it, however, as you ladies who understand shoe values will understand and oe Those who are not well versed in shoe lore might take the de- scription to a manufacturer and ask him how much he would charge to dup- licate it. There would come an awak- ening to our low price.—Hahne & Co., Newark, N. J. Corns and bunions need not be en- dured. Instant relief and permanent cure are effected by wearing shoes made on modern lasts and constructed on scientific principles. The W. L. Doug- las shoes are easy to the feet and fit per- fectly. It required many years of ex- perimenting and practical shoemaking to bring the Douglas shoes to the posi- tion they occupy to-day—the very best that can be made at any price.—W. L. Douglas, Brockton, Mass. When we counted the shoe stocks at the first of the month there were 246,000 pairs—a trifle above the normal. Too many means loss—interest loss on cost at least; means less chance to fitly show the new shoes coming. So we chose 38,000 pairs for immediate selling at first, best, quickest loss. Yesterday we decided to right the stock of oxfords as well. No need to wait until May— so this morning you may choose from 1,968 pairs of $2 and $3 oxfords at $1.— John Wanamaker, Phila. ————————e Hypnotizing a Hen. From the Toledo Blade. Did you ever hypnotize a chicken?’’ asked Police Commissioner Kind the other night It’s dead easy. Just catch your hen, place it on the floor in front of you with its tail toward you. Takea piece of chalk and draw a straight line, beginning ata point just under the hen’s head and extending a foot and a half or more. The bird will fasten its eyes on the chalk, and in a_ twinkling almost she is unconscious of anything but that line. You can cuff and kick her about as much as you please, but her gaze will immediately return to the chalk line. When I was sailing before the mast it was not an unusual thing, on a calm day, when there was no work in sight, to seea dozen or more sailors, each with a hen in his hands, drawing chalk marks. It is the most perfect case of complete hypnotism I ever saw. Just try it sometime if you don’t believe 7 a Was Ruining Their Business. From the Boston Record. They were evidently cigar drummers and not a happy pair at that. For some time they sat in a Washington street car without speaking. Then one of them said: ‘‘ That makes seventeen.’’ ‘I make it one more,’’ said his com- panion, as both looked at their watches. ‘‘What makes it so hard is that Bos- ton of all places should have taken it up. It’s no use making any excuses to my firm. They'll keep on kicking at my sales.”’ ~ “Same. here,”’ was the surly rejoinder. Then they got out and a carefully dressed gentleman sitting beside me took a handsome briar pipe out of his pocket and remarked: ‘“If those fellows had gone two blocks farther | would have made the _ nine- teenth man smoking a pipe they could have counted in five minutes.’’ Then he iaughed softly and what had been a neglected. dark secret was explained. The Spaniards are bitterly resenting the imputation that there was any Span- ish agency in the destruction of the Maine. It is difficult to determine whether this is an honest exhibition of outraged feeling the simulation of virtue under a guilty conscience. - oe - English machine tools are fast josing ground in the markets of Italy, because or for several years past they failed to push the trade, allowing the United States to get a foothold with a better quality of tools. > 2 <> Nearly 32,000,000 pounds of American dried apples went abroad last year, be- sides 881,279 barrels of green or ripe apples. The total value of these ship- ments was $3, 404, 335. THE WHITNEY HOUSE Rates $1.00 to $1.2¢ per day. Complete Sanitary Improvements. Electric Lights. Good Livery in connection. State Line Telephone. Chas. E. Whitney, Prop., Plainwell, Mich. HOTEL WHITCOMB ST. JOSEPH, MICH. A. VINCENT, Prop. Hoskins & Company COMMISSION BROKERS. GRAIN, PROVISIONS and STOCK 176 Griswold Street, Detroit, Mich. Hodges Building. Private wires: New York, Chicago and St. Louis. Smoke the Famous FIFTH AVENUE GIeARRO Made Long 5 Cents) | a) foot, as Made by Pure, clean and mild. entirely of Selected Leaf, cents a yard. Standard Cigar Co., Cleveland, 0. Aaron B. Gates, Michigan State Agent. SUFFERING HUMANITY, READ! A REMARKABLE CASE Having suffered with rheumatism and constipa- tion for over twenty-five years, : ny case having been pronounced hopeless last summer by the best medical skiil, when I was given uptodie, I miracu- lously e’s Quickstep, a WwW n called to Fry am now and so many h: it on hand bottle. Nearly ligan peopl me. 3 home address is 5406 Kimbark Chicago. Grand Rapids people can obtain this remedy from my customer, John Benson, the clothier, 26 Monroe St., upstairs. Stephen T. Bowen. I will be in Chicago at the clothing factory of John G. Miller & Co., 276 and 278 Franklin St., from Feb. 20 to April 1, and hope my trade will make that establishment headquarters while in the city. I8 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN Drugs--Chemical MICHIGAN STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY. Term expires F. W. R. Perry, Detroit - - Dec. 31, 1898 A. C. ScouMacHER, Ann Arbor - Dec. 31, 1899 Gro. GunpRvUM, Ionia - - : Dec. 31, 1900 L. E. REYNOLDS, St. Joseph - - Dee. 31, 1901 HENRY Heim, Saginaw -~ - - Dec. 31, 1902 President, F. W. R. Perry, Detroit. Secretary, Geo. GunpRvM, Ionia. Treasurer, A. C. SCHUMACHER, Ann Arbor. Examination Sessions. Grand Rapids—March 1 and 2. Star Island—June 27 and 28. Marquette—A bout Sept. 1. Lansing— Nov. 1 and 2. All meetings will begin at 9 o’clock a. m. ex- cept the Star Island meeting, which begins atS o’clock p. m. MICHIGAN STATE PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. President—A. H. WEBBER, Cadillac. Secretary-—-CHas. Mann, Detroit. : Treasurer—JOHN D. Mur, Grand Rapids. How the Landlord Sized Up an Embryo Drummer. M. Quad in American Druggist. If he had been a veteran drummer for a dry goods ora grocery house—if he had been on the road a year with sam- ple shoes, cigars or crockery—it would have been all right, but to wade into a young man on his first trip with drug- gists’ sundries, as they did at Alton, was taking an unfair advantage. The embryo drummer was only 20 years old, and one had only to glance at him to realize that he had no cheek. In riding up to the hotel in the ’bus he was very quiet, and when the clerk as- signed him a back room on the fourth floor, not a word of protest fell from his lips. It was almost by accident that anybody got onto the fact that he was a drummer. When the discovery was made that such was his profession, the landlord beckoned him into the private office and began: ‘*Young man, what sort of a little game are you trying to play in this town?’’ ‘‘I—I’m not playing any game,’’ the confused reply. ‘‘T hope not, for your own sake, but things look very queer. People who came up in the ’bus with you tell me that you hadn't a word to say against the town.’”’ ‘Ne, sir.” ‘‘And when you entered this hotel you didn’t throw, your grip at a bell-bav and bang up to the office and demand a second-floor parlor at $2 per day. What was the matter with you?’’ ‘*That—that isn’t my way, sir.’ ‘Oh, it isn’t? Playing the humility dodge, eh? I understand from the clerk that you didn’t ask for violet-scented soap for your bath. You didn’t find fault with the hours for meals; you didn’t cuss around about damp sheets. What do you mean by this humility business?’’ ‘"?his is my first trip, sir,’’ the drummer in abject tones. ‘‘T hope you are speaking the truth, young man!’’ said the landlord, as he glared at him. ‘‘The man who lies to me finds me a hard man to deal with. The head-waiter says you ordered from the bill of fare and made no kick. Was that part of your little game?”’ ‘*T don’t understand you.”’ ‘*But you will before we get through! You were in the smoking-room last evening. There was a score of others there, but you worked that humility dodge to perfection. You did not put your feet on the back of a chair; you did not announce in a loud voice that you were from New York; you did not boast that your firm was the biggest in the world; you did not say that every one-horse town in the country had a bet- ter hotel than mine. Perhaps you can explain yourself in a police court, but I am far from being satisfied. There is something behind all this, and I have telegraphed your house to know whether you are all right or not.’’ ‘‘Why, of course, I am _ all right,’’ said the young man, as his face grew troubled. ‘‘I told you this;was my first was ’ replied trip, and if J have done anything out of the way—’’ ‘“That excuse don’t go down, young man! Have you found any fault with the railroads entering Alton since you came here?’’ "7 io, Sir” ‘‘Have you had one single word to Say against our river—the weather— street-car service, or the police depart- ment?’’ ‘‘IT don’t think so.’’ ‘And look here, young man!’’ con- tinued the landlord as he touched the other on the shoulder, ‘‘there were three drummers in the smoking-room all the while you sat there. You must bave known they were drummers. You heard each one of them get off a whop- ping big lie, but you never opened your mouth, "’ ‘* But what was I to do?’’ ‘‘You, a drummer, and ask such a question! Great heavens, but what is the profession coming to! You should have gone in and told a lie big enough to drop ali three of them, of course. Do you mean to tell me you can’t lie?’’ ‘*N—no, sir!’’ was the trembling answer. ‘*Jehosephat to Jerusalem ! but how did you get this far from New York without losing your clothes! You intend to sit still and let three old liars show off and get all the credit! Well, well, but I took you for a suspicious character as you got out of the ’bus! Perhaps you will next tell me you can’t tell a funny story.’ "No, sir, I can’t! ' was the contrite admission ‘‘Humph! Well, your guilt grows blacker and blacker. When you left New York didn’t you have a lot of old jokes and gags and guys stored up in your head to get off in country towns like this?’’ Ne, Sir ‘No lies--no jokes—no guys! And you—you call yourself a drummer! I can’t find words to express my astonish- ment. When you leave are you going at 2 o'clock in the morning, and wake everybody in the house banging your trunk along the halls?’’ ‘No, sir; I am going at noon to- day.” ‘“Going to tell every drummer you meet for the next month that this is the cussedest town you ever struck for busi- ness?’’ ‘No, sir. Business has been first-rate with me.’’ ‘‘And you don’t intend to ask me to take a draft on New York in payment of your bill?’’ Ne, Sir ‘Nor kick at paying $2.50 per day and say you can live cheaper at the Waldorf?’’ “Mo, sir ‘*Young man, see here!’’ said the landlord, as he bent forward and dropped his voice a peg ortwo. ‘‘ There is no doubt in my mind that you are a shover of the queer, a dealer in green goods or a spotter for bank burglars. As an honest man it is my duty to turn you over to the law, but I'll give you a chance to reform. Pay your bill, get out of the ladies’ door with your grip, and make a sneak for the depot. If you can get clear away, I won't say any- thing, but don’t you never show up in Alton again!’’ i The young man went. He madea straight line for New York, handed in his samples and resignation, and is now connected with a religious publication house. ’ —— > 0. The Man Who Succeeds. Quiet Observerin Brains. The clerk's willingness to keep ever- lastingly at it, and to do more about the store than he is paid for doing, is one type of evidence that he will get along in life successfully. His ambition to make the store the most attractive in town; his watchfulness to speak a good word for it whenever the opportunity is presented, and his earnest desire to work in harmony with the policy of his employer and to evince to customers that that policy is to please and to sat- isfy them, all count in the clerk’s favor in the end. How Robert Stevenson & Co. Came to Sell Finch. Geo. H. Stanbury, representing Rob- ert Stevenson & Co., of Chicago, was in the city last week for the purpose of attending the sale of the Finch drug stock. Incidentally, he called on the Tradesman for the purpose of entering a protest against the characterization of his house as ‘‘two-faced’’ because it was so unfortunate as to be caught by the failure to the tune of nearly a thou- sand dollars. Mr. Stanbury asserted that the Tradesman’s strictures were unjust, in his opinion, because Stevenson & Co. do not pledge themselves to refrain from selling drug cutters, the prohibi- tion applying only to dry goods cutters and department stores. They find it impossible to draw the line on any por- tion of the regular drug trade, on ac- count of the large number of druggists who cut on one or more articles in the drug line. Mr. Stanbury asserts that Stevenson & Co. have never been represented in this city by a traveling salesman, the Finch account having been started by correspondence and kept up through the mediumship of mail orders. All opin- ions as te his responsibility were based on the ratings and reports of the Brad- street Co., which appears to have been mislead by Finch into giving hima fic- titrous rating. Mr. Stanbury insists that if the retail drug trade of Grand Rapids had requested Stevenson & Co. not to sell Finch, they would have cheerfully cut him off and declined to furnish him any goods. The Tradesman gladly gives place to the above explanation, and is inclined to accept the statements made as worthy of credence, on the ground that a house of such high standing as Stevenson & Co. is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, even although in this case it did take a false step which it now has oc- casion to regret. >? > : The Drug Market. Opium-—The market is very firm and the jobbing price is less than cost of importing. An advance of $c has taken place during the week. Morphine—We have positive informa- tion that this article will be advanced within the next day or two. Quinine—Is steady, with fair season- able demand. Alcohoi—Is very firm and an advance of 2c was made on the 22d. Corn is higher and there has developed quite a Jarge export demand for our product. Quicksilver— Has advanced and may affect all mercurials. Essential Oils—Bergamot, lemon and orange are very firm at advanced prices. Lemon is being sold in this country at a price about equal to that paid in Italy. Cajiput is scarce and firm at the recent advance. Clove is firm and higher, on account of the ad- vance in spices. Seeds—Anise has been advanced, on account of higher markets abroad. Russian hemp seed, scarce and very firm, ->-eo> “A Fearless Trade Organ.” From the American Artisan. The retail trade of Michigan should congratulate themselves on having so able an exponent of their interests as the Michigan Tradesman. Some time ace Paul V. Finch & Co,; a firm ot druggists in Grand Rapids, who had been notorious as price-cutters, failed. The Tradesman publishes a list of their creditors, with the amount due each, and says: ‘“No regret will be felt for the credit- ors of Finch, however, because every house which sold him a dollar’s worth of goods did it with a realizing sense that it was thereby putting an additional weapon into the hands of an irrespon- sible individual to injure the legitimate drug trade of the city.’’ We note in the long list of firms who were ‘‘stuck’’ by the cave-in of this price.slasher such weli-known names as Armour & Co., Goodyear Rubber Co., Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, Sterling Remedy Co., Jas. J. Kirk & Co. and Colgate & Co. It is to be regret- ted that such multi-millionaire firms as these do not see the necessity of holding up rather than dragging down those engaged in retail merchandising, as they afford the only profitable outlet for the distribution of their product. If a few other trade papers would follow up their next dereliction with a good sharp rap, such as the Michigan Tradesman gave them in the Finch business, they might be brought to realize the injustice of their position. As to the smaller fry exposed in this creditors’ list, such as the Chicago drug jobbers who have been ‘‘keeping company’’ with the legitimate trade while flirting desperately with the cut-rate fellows and department stores, this straight-from-the-shoulder thrust of our contemporary will bring them all down on their knees whining and _ beg- ging for mercy, which that good-heart- ed party, the retail trade, is wont to ex- tend to erring jobbers. —___~> 0. Bound to Utilize His Purchase. Old Party—lIs the editor in? Office Boy—-Nope. Old Party—Where is he? Office Boy—Dunno; committed sui- cide last night. Old Party—Heavens?! Is it possible? What for? Office Boy—Toek a tombstone on ad- vertising and couldn’t see any other way to get the benefit of it. +0. Habits, good or bad, may be formed in an incredibly short time if they are congenial. 9 PIMPLES blackheads, boils, blotches, freck- les, eruptions caused by ingrow- ing hair, skin that is soft and wrinkly, or rough or swarthy, in fact, all complexion difficulties should be treated with SCHROUDER’S LOTION, a scientific preparation for keeping the skin 9 smooth, firm and clear—it produces and preserves q2 healthy glow to the complexion; perfectly harm- 9 le-s. At drug stores 25c per bottle; by mail 3£c. ¢ 8. Schrouder, Pharmacist, Grand Rapids, Mich. FOODS CS SSO SOBPOOSCE SESS OS® ' Carbolate Cutler's criesme Pocket Inhaler IS GUARANTEED TO CURE Ail druggists $1. TARRH W.H. SMITH & CO., Props., Buffalo, N. Y. The Cheapest Enameled Playing Card ON THE MARKET iS THE NO. market for the money. gross. 20 ROVERS Has a_handsome assortment of set designs printed in different colors—Red, Blue, Green and Brown; highly finished, enameled, and is the best card in the Each pack in a handsome enameled tuck box. in one dozen assorted designs and colors. Put up A good seller. List price $20 per We make a full line from cheapest to highest grades, and can meet your wants in every way. If you are handling playing cards for profit get our sam- pies and prices before placing your order. They may help you. THE AMERICAN PLAYING CARD CO., KALAMAZOO, MICH. WHOLESALE PRICE C Advanced—Alcohol, Opium, Oil Cloves. MICHIGAN URRENT. Declined— Acidum Aceioum.... 5.5. 8 6@8 3 Benzoicum, German 70@ % OPOCIG. oo @ Carbelieum ..... 2... 2@ 41 CIEIGOMA Fo @ 2 Hivdrochior ......... 3@ 5 IibrOeta . ..... 8@ 10 Oxalicum........ esse BQ 14 Phosphorium, dil... @ 15 Salicvlicum. ........ 61 65 Sulphuricum........ 14@ 5 Tanwienm .....:-... 1 25@ 1 40 Wartariewum. 2.0... 38G@ 40 Ammonia Agua. 16 dor........ 4@ 6 Agus, 2 dee. ....... 6@ 8 Carbonas, -:....:... 123@ 14 Cileridum .....-.... Re 4 Aniline Biack... ........... 2 he 2 Brow sc. — WOUOW: ............ 2 50@ 00 Bacce. Cubese........ po.18 13@ . SHMIDerUS...-.) oo. 64 é Xanthoxylum.. .... 2@ 30 Balsamum COON e. 55@ ~=«60 Pera: ..: al ceed elas i 2 40 Terabin, Canada.... 45@ 50 MeOratedl... oc... 50@ ~=s«60 Cortex Abies, Canadian.... 18 Casati... 12 Cinchona Flava..... 18 Euonymus atropurp 30 Myrica Cerifera, po. 20 Prunus Virgini. ... .. 12 Quillaia, gr’d....... 14 Sassafras..... -po. 18 12 Ulmus...po. 15, gr’d 15 Extractum Glycyrrhiza Glabra. 24@ 25 Glycyrrhiza, po..... 23a, 30 Biases, 15 lb box. ie 2 Heomatox.ts ........ 1@ 14 Heematox, 4%s....... 14@ 15 Heematox, \4s....... 16@ 17 Ferru Carbonate Precip... 15 Citrate and Quinia.. 2 25 Citrate Soluble...... 7D Ferrocyanidum Sol. 40 Solut. Chloride..... 15 Sulphate, com’!..... 2 Sulphate, com’l, by i DBL, per cwt....... 50 Sulphate, pure ..... 7 Flora Arca .....-.......; 122@ 14 Aynemig........... 18@ 2% Matricaria ......-... 30@ 3 Folia Barosma............. 23@ 2% Cassia Acutifol, Tin- i moyelly...... =... 18@ 2% Cassia Acutifol,Alx. 2@ 30 Salvia officinalis, 4s med 168 lc 12@ 2 Ure Ursi:;.--.. 2... .. 8@ 10 Gummi Acacia, ist picked.. @ Acacia, 2d picked.. @ Acacia, 3d picked.. @ Acacia, sifted sorts. @ Aoseia pe....... ... 60@ Aloe, Barb. po.18@20 12@ Aloe, Cape .... po. 15 @ Aloe, Socotri..po. 40 @. 30 Ammoniac.......... 55@ 60 Assafostida....po.30 25 28 Benzoinum ......... 50@ 55 (Caapenn, is...) ea tt Catechu, s......... @ i4 Catechu, 4s......... @ 16 Camphoryj.... .... 40@ 43 Euphorbium..po. 35 @ 10 Gann ee a eS @100 Gamboge po........ 56a 7 Guaiacum..... po. 25 oo » re po. 83.00 @ 3 00 Pee @ 60 Myrrh: po. 45 @ 40 Opii...po. $4.10@4.30 3 15@ 3 20 SeOrae. 2@ 35 Shellac, bleached... 40@ 45 Tragacanth ......... 50@ 80 Herba Absinthium..oz. pkg 25 Eupatorium .oz. pkg 20 Lobelia...... oz. pkg 25 Majorum ....o0z. pkg 28 Mentha Pip..oz. pkg 23 Mentha Vir..oz. pkg 25 Pee oz. pkg 39 TanacetumV oz. pkg 22 Thymus, V..oz. pkg p5) Magnesia. Caleined, Pat..... .. 5a 60 Carbonate, Pat...... 20@ 22 Carbonate, K.& M.. 20@ 25 Carbonate, Jennings 35@ 36 Oleum Absinthium....... -- 3 25@ 3 50 Amygdale, Dule.... 230 50 Amygdale, Amare . 8 00@ 8 25 i 2 25@ 2 3) Auranti Cortex..... 2 25@ 2 40 Berga 2 40@ 2 50 os a Bears : 90 ae oe % 8J Galen ee ce Sui ky 65 Chenopadii.......... @ 2% Cinnamonii. ......_. 1 80@ 1 90 Citronella .. |... 5@ 30 Contum Mac........ Bo i Caneme. Exechthitos ........ Erigeron, |: i Gauttherta |... Geranium, ounce... Gossippii, Sem. gal.. bedcoms CUNIpera,.... |... Favendiia....... .. Eamenig. Mentha Piper. ...... Mentha Verid....... Morrhuss, gal... |. Myre 6... eu ee Clive: Eicis Liquida...___. Picis Liquida, gal... Poets oe HOsMIarini.. Rose, ounce sucess Banina Naraar AGssaetAS. Sinapis, ess., ounce. Potassium BECHER. Biehromate. Bromide...... oe Car Chlorate..po. 17@19e Cyaside Ogee : Potassa, Bitart, pure Potassa, Bitart, com Potass Nitras, Opt. . . Potass Nitras........ RrUssiate 0) Siphate po Radix ACouitvn. Se AGRE Sram pO Camus 0. Gentians.._... po 15 Glychrrhiza... py. 15 Hydrastis Canaden . Hydrastis Can., po.. Hellebore, Alba, po... nis po... ipeceae, po... ints plox.__, Jalapa, pr..... Maranta, 4s. Podophyllum, po.... Rhei Meet Cae CE BV) ia. SMSeis Sanguinaria...po. 15 Serpentaria. | | Menera Similax,officinalis H Sivan Mo Bele po.35 Symplocarpus, Feeti- me... Valeriana,Eng.po.30 Valeriana, German. 4meibersa. Ampiper; 1 Semen Anssnmn....._. po. 15 Apium (graveleons) Pere Carat... |. po. 18 Cardamon,. 0: Coriandrum......__. Cannabis Sativa.... Cydouium.. |... Chenopodium ...... Dipterix Odorate. . Pomtcuiam | Foenugreek, po...... ee tiet pra... bbl. 3 opena Pharlaris Canarian. Ree Sinapis Albu... Sinapis Nigra....... Spiritus Frumenti, W. D. Co. 2 Frumenti, D. F. R.. § Frumenti ..... no Juniperis Co. 0. T.. Juniperis Co... 1 Saacharum N. E.... Spt. Vini Galli... Vint Oporto, Var Alba Sponges Florida sheeps’ wool GArrigge Nassau sheeps wool Carriage... Velvet extra sheeps’ wool, carriage. .... Extra yellow sheeps’ wool. carriage.... Grass sheeps’ wool, Sarriage,. | Hard, for slate use.. Yellow Reef, for Siate Wise Syrups ACREIA : Auranti Cortes...... Aen Ipecac i Ferri tod..... nel Arrow: 22. Smilax Officinalis. .. Senega.... vc, Scills...... se — yt Hae et teed ph pat DO ihn ee ee met BL OD 1 Soy D > OO bent pt te ne no O33 ere > oe e 09 9 DOWD 90D ee e ® sedesasas © 8&8 SSSESSSSS be | SGhe Co... ooi SOMmAn. |. Prunus yirg.._.. Tinctures Aconitum Napellis R Aconitum Napellis F OCR ae Aloes and Myrrh.... Ce Assatootida ......... Atrope Belladonna. | Auranti Cortex..... Benzein.... 6... Henze Co... DarOsaa 3. Cantharides........ Capsicum: ¢... 1. | Cardamon......._. ia Cardamon Co....... Castor... Catechr. |. Crehous. Cinehona Co....._.. Comba Cebeba. Cassia Acutifol..... Cassia AcutifolCo. Pgtestis eee Ferri Chloridum.... Gemian Gentian Cao. Gulgew Guiacaammon...... Hyoscyamus........ SOGNNG. Todine, colorless... . ine Pope Nix Vomica.. | Opt. Opii, camphorated.. Opii, deodorized.... sess RBAtany, Bee Sanguinaria . ...._. Serpeutaria peromoniun: .....__. POMMan Valerian 0 Veratrum Veride... Aingier. Miscellaneous 3 Either, Spts. Nit. 3F 4ither, Spts. Nit.4F ARB Alumen, gro’d.. po. 7 AGE Antimoni, po....... Antimoni et PotassT AMV | Seerobrn | Argenti Nitras, oz .. Arsenicum | Balm Gilead Bud __ Bismuth SN. |. Calcium Chlor., 1s.. Calcium Chlor., 4s. Calcium Chlor., 4s, Cantharides, Rus. po Capsici Fructus, af. Capsici Fructus, po. Capsici FruectusB,po | Caryophyllus..po. 15 Carmine, No. 40..... Cera Alba, S.& F . Cera Flava COGens Cassia Fructus...... Centrarta,. |. | Cetaceum. Cilereform. ||| Chloroform, squibbs Chloral Hyd Crst.... Chondras.( Cinchonidine,P.& W Cinchonidine, Germ Cocaiie 2.0 Corks, list, dis.pr.ct. Creosothm. .°), |” Crea... Bhi 26 Crea: pren,.. Creta, precip... Creta, Rubra..... Crees 2 Cuahear i |. Capri Saiph. Dextrine. Miner Suiph... Emery, all numbers merry, pO. Breote |. po. 40 Piake White: .°..| | Fama pl ais a = 1 Gompier | Gelatin, Cooper.. .. | Gelatin, French..... | Glassware, flint, box Less than box... i Glue, brown.....__. | Glue, white Glycerina |...” i Grana Paradisi .... | Romans, | ee | Hydraag Chlor Mite 5 | Hydraag Chlor Cor. Hydraag Ox Rub’m. | Hydraag Ammoniati HydraagUnguentum Hydrargyrum....... Ichthyobolla, Am... Pemiee | Iodine, Resubi...... e loGetorm | Lupulin. .. Lycopodium ........ Macis Pee ee Liquor Arse= et By- arene Pod... 1.7. LiquorPotassA rsinit Magnesia, Sulph.... Magnesia, Sulph,bb! Mannia, Soo MOM oe ©8e _ SSSSSSASSSSRALSVSuRsssyswe MGOWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGOGGOOO zz sSSSSS 89 ® e e8 aN AY ads i w © > ® — -} 3 yt Sedaddseodsddededoaeo w os oo Eeaadeodd = 8 g eadddea Sst Doe We o e6e85e a5 rw BSE wR Morphia, S.N.Y.Q.& C. Co eee es eons. 2 15@ 2 40 : 40 Moschus Canton.... Myristies, No.1. |. . Nux Vomica. ..po.20 Os Sepia Pepsin Saae, H. & P. Pe Picis Lig. N.N.% gal. a) Picis Lig., quarts.... Picis Liq., pints..... Pil Hydrarg...po. 80 Piper Nigra...po. 22 Piper Alba....po. 35 Fix Borgun |... | aumeDt Acet. | Pulvis Ipecac et Opii Pyrethrum, boxes H. a EF. DB: Co., doz. .. Pyrethrum, py...... Chisseite Quinia, 8. P. & W.. Quinia, S. German.. Quinta, N.Y... Rubia Tinctorum... SaccharumLactis py Saigetn lS Sanguis Draconis... nape, Woo Sapa Me Sapa. Goo. 8. - TRADESMAN Morphia,S.P.&W... 2 15@ 2 40 SU | Sinapis, opt......... | Snuff, Maceaboy, De Von. 80 | Snuff,Scotch,DeVo's | Soda Boras... ...... Soda Boras, po...... | Soda et Potass Tart. moan, Carh.......... Soda, Bi-Carb....... (Soda. Ash... .. | Soda, Sulphas....... | Spts. Colegne........ Spts. Ether Co...... | Spt. Myrcia Dom... | Spts. Vini Rect. bbl. | Spts. Vini Rect.%bbl Spts. Vini Rect. 10gal Spts. Vini Rect. 5gal @ | Less de gal. cash 10 days, 29 | Strychnia, Crystal... Sulphur, Sabl....... ( | Stiphur, Roll.... . ‘Temarinds.....__. _. | Terebenth Venice... so | Theebroms..... 6: Vemia | 2inel Soiph.. |... Oils Whale, winter....... bard, xtra... 1... Amara Weg 0000) QQDDOHDHDHHHHHHDD PAINT BRUSHES We shall display Sample Lines of a complete assortment of Brushes January 1, 1898, consisting of =< Whitewash Heads, Kalsomine, Wall, Oval and Round Paint and Varnish. Flat, Square and Chiseled Varnish, Sash Tools, Painters’ Dusters, Artists’ Materials. and invite your inspection and or- Quality and Prices are right. HAZELTINE é& FERKINS DRUG CO. Grand Rapids, Mich. ders. 18 | Linseed, pure raw.. Neatsfoot, winter str Spirits Turpentine. . 8 SEREE S Red Venetian... ... Ochre, yellow Mars. Ochre, yellow Ber.. Putty, commercial.. | Putty, strictly pure ] em UT w Vermilion, English STS) WMwMNM OC no Green, Peninsular... bie | Lead, white, |||. | White, Paris Amer. Whiting, Paris Eng. liff Universal Prepa red. 1 | No. 1°Turp Coach... | Dutra Varp....._... 5 ns | No. 1 Turp Furn.... 1 45 | Extra Turk Damar.. Jap. Dryer,No.1Turp at St a 58d HSSsSse 9 MNOOOOOOOOOOOGOOWO WOWWMOWLO © 6) omer 20 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN ROCERY PRICE CURRENT. The prices quoted in this list are for the trade only, in such quantities as are usually purchased by retail dealers. possible to give quotations suitable for a erage prices for average conditions of purchase. those who have poor credit. our aim to make this feature of the greatest possible use to dealers. They are prepared just before going to press and are an accurate index of the local market. 1 conditions of purchase, and those below are given as representing av- Cash buyers or those of strong credit usually buy closer than Subscribers are earnestly requested to point out any errors or omissions, as it is It is im- AXLE GREASE. doz 9 Dn mn ee 55 r 6 00 Castor C!* 7 00 Diamond.. 4 00 Frazer’s .... 9 00 IXL Golden, tin bones "5 75 9 00 Tica, tin boxes........ 7 9 00 Paragon... ... oo oO BAKING POWDER. Absolute. Mibecansdos............ 45 Sipeancdor ..........: & [ =o... ..... io Acme. if lb Cans3doz............ 6 Ri canksoos............ . tecamsitos............ 100 a ee El Purity. “ ibecans perdoz......... % .% ib Cans perdoz ........ 1 20 i ibeans per doz........ 2 00 Home. lq lb cans4dozcase...... 35 % Ib cans 4 doz case..... 55 lb cans 2 doz case ..... 90 14 1b cans, 4 doz case..... 45 ¥% 1b cans, 4 doz case... .. 5 1 Ibdecans, 2 doz case...... 1 60 Jersey Cream. 1 td. Cane, perdos.......... 2 00 9 os. Gans, per doz.......... 15 6 Os. Cans, per doz.......... 85 Our Leader. i 45 a 5 |. boas... Peerless. ih. cae. 85 BATH BRICK. — a 70 Snglish.. _ 2... “BLUING. 1 doz. pasteboard Boxes... 40 3 doz. wooden boxes.... 1 20 BROOMS. ao. | Carpet....... 1 90 No. 2 Carpet..... 1s No. 3 Carpet.. .. —--... 2 oe ee aero... ll Parlor Gem . se oe Common Whisk............ 7 Pamey Whi... 80 Warehouse. ..... oo CANDLES. 7 ee. 8 Seems 8 CANNED GOODS. Manitowoc Peas. Lakeside Marrowfat....... 95 inode es. 1S Lakeside, Cham. of Eng.... 1 20 Lakeside. Gem, Ex. Sifted. 1 45 Extra Sifted Early June....1 75 CATSUP. Columbia, pints...... .-2 00 Columbia, % pints.......... 1 2 CHEESE em @ ik Amboy. . | Bloomingdale - ne @ li Byron... eae. @ 11% ee @ 12% eee @ 12% Goll Medal... ..... @ 11% mee @ 11% aw @ 12 icouaeece. @ Bigoresae. @ Sorumedaic..... .... @ Seeree @ Brick @ Edam a Leiden @ Limburger Pee ee @ Pineapme............ 48 @ ae See... @ 17 Chicery. nae... s 5 Red : 7 CHOCOLATE. Walter apap German Sweet ........ oe Premium Spe ce Breakfast ‘Cocoa. See ee rege S 45 ——— — Cotton, 40 ft, per doz....... i 00 Cotton, 50 ft, a a.......5 Cotton, oo tt, per don.......1 Cotton, 70 ft. par dos.......1 60 Cotton, 80 ft, per dos....... 1 80 suse, GOTt. per dos......... 88 Jute. 72 ft. p-- das.. 95 COCOA SHELLS. 21h hare ees auantity............- 3 Peund packages......... 4 CREAT TARTAR. 5 and 10 1b. wooden boxes..30-35 COFFEE. Green. Rio. Fair oe ee Good ..... SS a, roe ....... ee Goan Peeperry ................ ._ aS Santos. Par... oe i a... a Peaberry ee iv Mexican end Sentadhelin. — ................ eg oa iv Gance |... Maracaibo. Pee 20 Mitiioe, ....-.-.----... ee Jave. Pere .........- oe Private Growth....... _- Mandcniing. ........... ae Mocha. Dae... Axa Roasted. Clark-Jewell-Wells Co.’s Brands Fifth Avenue..... Jewell’s Arabian Mocha. Wells’ Mocha and Java.. | Wells’ Perfection Java.....2%4 ' Sanreethy = reak fast Biend.. ao a tty M aracaibo. ce 18% 14 aa! Blen a... | Lead jer Blend.... Package. Below are given New York prices on package coffees, to which the wholesale dealer adds the local freight from New York to your shipping point, giving you credit on the invoice for the amount of freight buyer pays from the market in which he purchases to his shipping point, including weight of package, alsoi%ca pound. In 601b. cases the list is 10c per 100 lbs. above the price in full cases. ee 6 10 00 Jersey - 00 McLaughlin’ s XXXX......10 00 Extract. Valley City % gross ..... 7 Pox % ero... 115 Hoummel’s foil % gross... 85 Humme!’s tin & gross 1 43 CLOTHES PINS. 5 gross boxes COUGH DROPS. C. B. Brand. 405 cent packages ........ 1 00 CONDENSED MILK. 4 doz in case. Gail Borden Wagle........ 6 %5 crown 2 6 25 Daisy .....- ee Caeser... 5... 2-2 Ge Sees =... Cue 3 35 eee 3 35 COUPON BOOKS. Tradesman Grade. a 50 books, any denom.... 1 50 100 books, any denom.... 2 50 500 books, any denom....1) 50 1,000 books, any denom....20 00 Economic Grade. 50 books, any denom.... 1 50 100 books, any denom.... 2 50 500 books’ any denom....11 50 1,000 books, any denom....20 00 een Grade. 50 books, any denom.... 1 50 100 books, any denom.... 2 50 500 books, any denom....11 50 1,000 books, any denom....20 00 Superior Grade. 50 books, any denom.... 1 50 100 books, any denom.... 2 50 s 500 books, any denom.... 1,000 books, any denom.... Coupon Pass Books, Can be made to represent any denomination from #10 down. 20 00 Seeaeee 1 00 lL 2 00 —s 3 00 Sehoens.... ke ae BePHOONR. 10 00 We eeere. 5. 8. 17 50 Credit Checks. 500, any one denom’n..... 3 00 1000, any one denom’n..... 5 00 2000, any one denom’n..... 8 6 Steel punch. 6 DRIED FRUITS— _DOMESTIC Appies. Su meee @ 5% Eva sporated 50 ib boxes. @ BY California Fruits. Ariens 7T%E@8% Bisekberrios........... oe Q@ 74 PemCrOR. 8 @8% Pears. oe OT Pitted Cherries. Prunnelles.. os Raspberries... fcc ek. California Prunes. 100-120 25 lb boxes....... @ 3% 90-100 25 1b boxes....... @4 80 - 90 25 Ib boxes....... @ 4% 70 - 80 25 lb boxes....... @5 60-70 25 lb boxes... .... @ 5% 50 - 60 25 Ib boxes....... 40 - 50 25 1b boxes....... 30 - 40 25 1b boxes. . @ lg cent less In 50 Ib cases Raisins. Lendon Layers 3 Crown. London Layers 4 Crown. Denese 2.0. Loose Muscatels 2 Crown Loose Muscatels 3 Crown Loose Muscatels 4 Crown FOREIGN. Currants. Peas bhi. @ Vostizzas 50 Ib cases......@ Cireaned, bam 22... @ Cleaned, packages........ @ Peel. Citron American 101b bx @13 Lemon American 101lb bx @12 Orange American 101b bx @12 Raisins. Ondura 28 ib boxes.....8 @ 8% Sultana 1Crown....... @ Sultana 2Crown....... @ Sultana 3 Crown.......9%@10 Sultana 4 Crown....... @ Sultana 5 Crown....... a Sultana 6 Crown....... — Sultana package....... FARINACEOUS Goops. Parina. Miitb. pockeces.....-; 2 Bulk, per 100 Ibs..... ..... 3 50 Grits. Walsh-DeRoo Co.’s....... 2 Bulk in 100 1b. bags....... 3 o Hominy. Bane ee 2 50 Flake, 50 Ib. drums.......1 00 Beans Dried Lima . 3 Medium Hand Picked....1 00 Maccaroni and Vermicelli. Domestic, 10 Ib. box. ..... Imported, 25 Ib. box.. ...2 50 Pearl Barley. eee ee 1 7% hester 2... oe Mmpre ..-..- oe Peas. Green, bu.. cS ae Split, per lb.. _. = Rolled Oats. Rolled Avena, bbl. .....3 90 Monarch, bbl a oe Monarch. 4 bbl es 2 00 Private brands, bbl..... Private brands, “dbl. ec Quaker. cases.............3 3 Huron, Cages. 5... 52.5} 1% Sago. ermine os es. 3% Bast Indie... 2.1... 3 Wheat. Cracked, bulk. ............ 314 242 1b packages Jleseceses 2 Wx Fish. Cod. Georges cured......... @5 Georges genuine...... @ 5% Georges selected...... @ Strips or bricks.......6 @ Halibut. Herring. Holland white hoops, bbl. 10 25 Holland white hoop % bbi 5 50 Holland white hoop, ‘keg. 7% Holland white — mchs 35 Norwerian... ............ tae Round 100 lbs............. 3 25 ound 4) lie... os... 1 60 Re 14 aent. Mess 100 lbs.. -io.. £0 a0 Broce 4G Tbs... .......... 6 90 Mors 10°... 1 82 Mess 6 the. ............:. 1 48 No. 1700 ts... ae Noe.? ink... 2... em pot ie... ............ i 60 Net Sioa... 2.3. 1 30 pact... ....... . S58 2 es... .... ta We. 2 ihe 1 07 No.2 S ibs.. ok. 88 Sardines. Russian kegs. . 55 rout. No. 1 100 itw......... eee ee 5 50 mo. t Ge... c...... 2 50 No. t 10am... 7 Not Ge... 5 Whitefish. No.1 No.2 Fam 100 ibe... ... 6% be 2 40 ibs... -3s6 236. 140 Die... 83 7 43 Bibs... .: 69 61 34 FLAVORING EXTRACTS. 3 2 00 No. 8 100 No. 8...2 40 No. 10. .6 00 No. 10...4 00 No. 27.1 3 No. 25. & No. 3T.2 00 No. 3T.1 35 No 4T.2 40 No. 47.1 59 Souders’. Oval bottle, with corkscrew. Best in the world for the money. Regular Grade Lemon. doz Pee... S. vib) Bf) % 40z...... 1 50 bu Pt Regular ! H Vanilla. f ie doz §| Soun [o.....-. . nuDER Soe... .. 2 40 t SI LAVORING | XX Grade iS xtracts Lemon. | | 208... 1 50 40z 3 00 XX Grade anilla. 2O8.....- 1% £08.....- 3 50 GUNPOWDER. Rifle—Dupont’s. Bem ee ee 4 00 Rot Bere 2 2 GQuerter Kees... ....-. 5... oe 11 CON 30 1D CANS es Choke Bore—Dupont’s. ee es 43 RPAIE Mere es: .2 40 Orarter Kees... 2.52. ...... 1 35 CT Cee i a 34 Eagle Duck—Dupont’s. BOON es 8 00 Piet eS 4 25 ne eee 23 eee ale cc ae HERBS. ee 1 NS ee 15 INDIGO. Madras, 5 lb boxes......... 55 S. F., 2,3 and51b boxes.... 50 JELLY. i5 ib pails.. 40 30 lb pails.. 73 KRAUT. Barrer... a ee 3 50 Halt barrels. 2... 8 2 00 LYE. Condensed, 2 dos .......... 1 20 Condensed. ¢ dos...........23 LICORICE. Pam... bese ee was 30 Abeer 2 Rieey.. 14 MOOR. 2 10 MINCE MBAT. Ideal, 8 doz. in case......... 2 2 MATCHES. Diamond Match Co.’s brands. No, 0 snipbur..........:...- 1 6 Amephor Parier...... >...) >, 1 70 No.% Meme. 2.2 1 10 Export Parter:..... ...2..: 400 MOLASSES. New Orieans. 11 14 = y i : Open Kettle... .......-..: som Half-barrels 2c extra. MUSTARD. Horse Radish, 1 doz......... 17 Horse Radish, 2 doz......... 3 50 Bayle’s Celery, 1 doz.. .....1 75 pea aoe. WO See 1 > Clay, T. D. Pam eeunt ..... en, NOS... 8... 4 POTASH. 48 cans in case. ee ee 4 00 Penna Sait Co.’s........... 30 PICKLES. Medium. Barrels, 1,200 count........ 5 & Half bbls, 600 count........ Sis Small. Barrels, 2,400 count....... 6 35 Half bbls 1,200 count...... 3 7% RICE. Domestic. Carolina head.... .. sc. Ge Cavouna MWoe.1............. 5 Caroling NO.2.............; 4% Bronen 3% imported. panan, Ne. to... 5x Japan, No. 2.. Scan ee Java, fancy head 20. 6 Java, No. 45. 5 oe ee ee SALERATUS. Packed 60 lbs. oes ne. Church’s} : ..-3 3 Baars ee 3 15 TIPE... 3 30 OU oe ce 3 00 SALT. Diamond Crystal. Table, cases, 24 3-lb boxes..1 50 Table, barrels, 100 3 1b bags.2 75 Table, barrels, 407 1b bags.2 40 Butter, barrels, 280 1b. bnlk.2 25 Butter, barrels. 20 14 lbbags.2 50 Butter, sacks, 28lbs......... 25 Butter, sacks, 56 lbs......... 55 Common Grades. MOOS IDaRCKE.... Lo: 1 70 O05-Ib gheks.... 22. 5. 1: 1 55 28 IG1b aaeks. ct 1 45 Worcester. SO 4 Ib. GCartons.....:..... 3 25 15 DiI ORO. 4 00 OO 5S ib. seers. .......-. 25: 3% 2214 lb. sacks.. A rieaie BO26 3h. epeie:... 8... 3 50 26 Ib. linen sa6ks........ 0.7. 32 56 lb. linen sacks............ 60 Bulk in barrels.............. 2.50 Warsaw. 56-lb dairy in drill bags..... 30 28-Ib dairy in drill bags..... 15 Ashton. 56-lb dairy in iinen sacks... 60 migeas- 56-lb dairy in linen.sacks... 60 Solar Rock. S610 seeks. oe cS 21 Common. Granulated Fine............ 79 Mogium Pine... 5. ..2c.. 85 SAL SODA. Granulated, bbls.......... 7% Granulated, 100 1b cases.. 9) tam, OO. 7 Lump, 14516 memes 85 SEEDS. es 9 Canary, Smyrna........... 3 Ce a ee 8 Cardamon, Malabar ’..... 69 Ceere 11 Hemp, Russian.......... 314 Mixce Bird. ..2......).. 4% Mustard, white.. eek as FODPY See coe! 8% LSU EN ae lec 4 Cuttle Bone HO ean Ss 5) es SNUFP, Scotch, in bladders......... 37 Maccaboy, Si yere. 35 French Rappee, in jars..... 43 SOAP. ener OR uae 2% 5 box lots, delivered........ 2 70 10 box lots, delivered....... 2 65 JAS. 8. KIRK & CO.’S BRANDS. American Family, wrp’d....3 33 American Family, unwrp a. 3 27 COPNNOG 2 20 Raven <2 ap Dusky Diamond, 50 6 oz....2 10 Dusky Diamond, 50 8 oz....3 00 Blue India, 100 % 1b, 5... 3 00 Mireetine os ee eae ce a 3 65 Schulte Soap Co.’s Brand. 100 cakes, 75 lbs. pmgte ber. =. 0 5 box lots. ie 10 box lots... me DOx 1608 ta 2 60 Allen B. Wrisley’s Brands. Old Country, 80 1-lb. bars ..2 %5 Good Cheer, ‘60 1-lb. bars....3 = Uno, 100 %- Ab Bars cr 25 Doll, 100 10-os. bars. .....:.- 2 4 Scouring. Sapolio, kitchen, 3 doz..... 2 40 Sapolio, hand, 3 doz eae 2 40 SODA. OR ee 5% Mors. Mughal... :. 4% SPICES. Whole Sifted. Dies oe ce ce 15 Cassia, China in mats..... 12 Cassia, Batavia in bund... .22 Cassia, Saigon in rolls...... 32 Cloves, Amboyna.......... id Cloves, Zanzibar........... 10 Mace, Wdewia........... 55 Nutmegs, ee -60 Mutmers No: 6... 50 Wucmces, WO. 3... 6s... = Pepper, Singapore, black.. Pepper, Singapore, white. . 2 Pepper, snot... . 2: .. . 235. Pure Ground in Bulk. AOR eet 12 Cassia, Batavia ............. 22 Cassia, Saigon...........:.. 40 Cloves, Amboyna.. eo ae Cloves, Zankipar ou... 2... “13 Ginger, PM ATIOCON oe cs 15 Ginger, Cochin... .. 2.01.65. . 18 Ginger, Jamaica............ 23 Mace, Batayia...........<.. 70 Mustard, Eng. and Trieste. .18 Mustard, Tries... 3.255: 20 Nutmegs, Dewe ch ieee p wien ee 40@50 Pepper, Sing , black........ 12 Pepper, Sing., white........ 15 Pepper, Cayenne iieuispmetnels J 20 Ros icin sc wig Ah ees 15 2 haga gaia ee PETAR hes Hie LPS a eae srancn MICHIGAN T oi VINEGAR. RAD ESM A Malt White Wi N Pure = ie ~ Candies G i epee ee dee sees 8 ' r Washing Powder Ss — and Feedstuiff | 2i a tick Candy. Ss oe Provisions at SASF a $$$ | —_______ lk NC sa Standard... .... bois. pails | “Beat....... Wheat. | Swift & fea Crocker y and stteece : ¢ i: ams. 12] " . 2 20 1 1b. pack Corn. No. 0, per gross poo vane pena @ 8% Gaekee’ oo... iwitee ae oe 2 to 6 gal., p anes ih ; | Nol ily ana 25 ae tae g : et SCLIN 460] Hams) 16 1p average ||. 8 Churn Dashers, per a 5% y ee ‘ No.2. TOSS... 25 : ‘ream... » 8% Spri cf inaseiseerte 4 60| S,161b ay a 83, shers, per doz... 8 Sele 4x .2, per gross Loo. ae Dandy Pa eee aT pring Whe = oe Hams, 20 lb rel ae. a Milk i. i-lb Common Gloss. é | No.8) per gross... 122222277" 4 | Valley jo S10” Clark-Jewell-Wenls oo Ham d ried beef 721 fon oe rd. bot. Lp ptager Sey | Vl cei iia nies cs | eucuaea mai tf ao Se cy—In B 3acon, clear... mut). . 6 Fi eee oe packages............... 4 Fi Lozenges, plai ™- California ha oc @s | % x ne Ceeoee Renae ‘ ae 4 ish and Lozenges, piain.... Boneless bh me... GBS % gal. flat or rd Ss. tant iB bowaa 2 Geel ote | Seed oer ri” Ss. rc Ham...... 7 . ns @ z STOVE POLISH. _ - ieee con Monumenials ou | i "leek he ve : PF | aes Deen... @il Compound. ee gal. fireproof, bai pee resh Fish. Prono nina ge a @6 Kettle. cnn 4. | gal. fireproof, bail 2 2s ee ~ Whitefish Per Ib oe @ 8 Ib Tuba.” advan . | gaa il, doz.1 10 aaa @ ' fe, } 8% ae fh pehiba (4 | 24 gal., p i Enameline ee errr @ 5 F G@ 8% 50 1b ‘Tins |... a 4 | ¥4 gal. per doz............. 4 ponte Halibut a @ 2 ancy—in 5 ib. B > = Pails aa ance 8! 1tod oe aon , o ROM Ske Cise tee... * EL » Boxes, | 0 1b Pail ou ivance 8 | i -» per eal. se eee Im ecto Herring.. g : oi a ae lb a ‘advance * | hd ™ us Lobster....... @ 1 Peppermint Drops oo 3 Ib Pails. ....._advanee ” | 4 gal., per dos — oa Lobster..... g = HM. che Drops @b0o Sa ey 8 | ee Ties eres ene ie ee 22 i. M. Choc sgl a u oe ed) ae a 7 Haddock... | @ Ww Gum sae Drops. @ou Bologna Sages. Care ye 4% gal., per doz Wa with Licorice Drops. wis Liver..... pute i gal’; per doz. 30 No. 4, $doz in Oe as i ice Droge... os Frankfort... aE PPR pitti tg No. 4. 3 doz ngage : Smoked =n a 7 Lozenges pea Drops aie Pork i nieands, _ | 72 gal., stone coy overs. , 3 doz in case, gro S.. 4 50 ed Snapper........ G 9 Lozenges, plain... co Blood i 8% | 1 gal., stone c ao enue Ss..17 20 Sol River Reco G@ re Imperials printed. 50 Pillsbury’ sp! ? a me i | oh over, doz...1 00 : ere - S| Mattes. ae it Soury 'shBest | Head cheese. |_|” i 2 |51bs ing W priclow, are given New ¥ oo. @ 3% | Cream Bar...) @) | Pillsbury’ Best 48... Bae ee package, per wholesale dealer to which the | FH Oysters in Cans Soca a @20 Pillsbury's = Ma... | Extra Mes am 4 | wo. 0 Sam BURNERS. ; reight f oa adds the 1 - . Counts i ud J ade Creams. @5 illsbury’s = 7a pa er. > Boneless SS.-.. 6.6.8, N esate ig shipping” point, giving lea! | FJD. Selec... oe. = @*0,, | Ball Barnhart Put paper. 5 58) Rumpee 00 220727 ou (eed s5 a a giving “you ie GQ x | String R Paes @9 |Grand R -Putinan’s B 5E tne hts eae Tubula STG BU gmount of freight user’ pays EJ. D. Standards. 3 Sizing Bock Goo Grand Republic, ys... .90| 4 bbls ypPias Feet. geoutiey Boi os re] le ni @ 2% " : : . ele eae Z| Pha. aaa Security, No.2...) lea sersnams tele in —e Standards... La @ 2 Wintergreen Seu 3 @ — Republic, i Seat % bbls. 40 Ibs... er me prea News 00001 sree including 20 ——— point avorites 0.11). / @ 16 Cc @bo emon & Wheeler Co.’s B; 5 30 (om Se China) 600 eee = tare le No. 1 agmae Gold Medal rs er Co.'s Brand, | Kits, 15 Ibs. 'P° 230 | LAMP CHIMNEYS—Co: 150 a n ok x0l : Pee Le c p » 40 a. ' be J eo — Oysters in Bulk — Gold Medal 343-000 oo 0) 5 65 | 4 Dols, ibs. 00701 [Noa 8 Poros ele har Gut Load. .0000 00000 7 . H. Counts — wrapped, 3 ib. @30 an gg ttteeee ee 5 = % bbls, 80 lbs...... --+- 140 No. : a ve ore Genshed. oI 5 to | Extra Selects. ...... @17% |N eg en . BIeIAD, HB. ---+----n.-02 5 45 =e ee om eae ty be CUES oe eer eeeter cries 5 hep Selegia @! 5 No. 2 wrap a oO ia = Parisian. oo a z = Pork .... a. 2 Sun... a ao 50 ee wees D1 50 ee @45 n, 48... eee nl 7 XXXX Se 5 50 Anchor Standards. @! » a Ones oc: ses Oiney <5 — ie 3 Beet ee carer sts 16 we 6 First Quality -2e X Powdered..........5 56] Clams pane - eo Shee 2 Sun, crimp _ Granulated i bls... =P ane @1 v0 —— /eTeSOta, igs nd. eep.. ees } wrapped a1 oe a 34 A @, Ceresot: TBS. es woes i fe aie cl a N ped and 1 P, Granulated in bags..... : -- @i meni See 6 6a .,| No. 1 Sun, ¢ a Extra anulated..0002.00.'5 op = Fruits Ceresota, 6.002000 0002777) 5 40 Rolls, da Butterine. . “wrapped and labe top, bs xtra eee. me: re Shell Goods. eile Worden Groe : LL TS Mine pan 5 3u Solid, a a aes as i | No. 2 Sun Pov nie ed... 2 2% — An ranulated...5 38 Ovsters, per 100 1 y Orang a. igs cer Co.’s Brand eae creamery Lr ‘4 | werenieess labeled." Riana Gea 5 58 ims, ner 160. 25@1 50 Mexicans 15 es. Simi age) Be id, creamery |||| |) . Xx “+++ om Diamond ¢ ae cen 558 (we: oe 150 176-2¢ tamed 7 i. Soe mery .... 14 |x XX Flint — sos Ona ae ag 25 a . Seedlings . 00 @3 00 a 540!1¢ Canned oo. fog |e 0 Sun, cri . ee Hi meee 112. @2 2 | Bolted — oa oes meee sa ws 6B | ‘a Tae labeled” 3 I Chgice a @2 75 | Granulated 111!" __ | Roast Fae 14 Ib... ie lee Sun, crimp top, & 8 des and Pelts,| Lemons o” — ee eee — ce \5 sun, labeled. -’ 2 75 * | Stri Lemons St. C Feed and Millstutis. ad ham; in. 80 | wrapped and labeled.” : strictly choice 360s. | i Seiad ace — Deviled ham, as. 1 00 aio Perkins & Hes Strictly choi 360s.. _. | No, 1 Corn ¢ : Screened ....16 eviled ham, cl" ae |e Be EYS Peart ; OWS: tess pa Faney 26 ice 300s @3 00; Un and Oats +e oe Potte 7 8... at Bat iy : pay ic a B. : bol ts. d : . ] a a as fol-| Ex.Fa 3608... ' @3 2 | Wint ted Corn Meal... .15 00 | Potted tongue 4s -i@ in abeled..... — on gaat estag reer ter nary 43 Hides. Ex-Fancy 300s... oe | wine wnent Sma. [a oe labeled.” wrapped and 3 70 aa er 433 | Green .... Cy 3603... Gs ap] Sercenines Middlings. "14 00 | Saas as ae 2 See 429 | Part cured 2020000001 7 @8 as G3 75 | ee Crackers. | No.2 Hinge, wrapped aad | ye 13...... ee : 25 a ee 8 ¢ 81% Medium oo eas se New Corn. ees ers, “as Ge a ~ N Se 9 TY sees eres eee stereee BO@ 9% arge nches...1 9% G@ r Jots........ i | "he Nati —— for G , “Small Bulb.” No 15 verte ates eeseerees i B Kips. nna eee 9 eu” ge bunches.... " = = 50 Less than car lots... 344, | quotes as ieee Biscuit ea r Globe Lams... “ ce 3 | Kips, cured........... F --1%5 @2 00 ci oe as "IN a on pete ae 4 00 calfsxins, es: 4 ae oreign Dried Fruits Car iots Oats. 37 Seymour — | “* 1 Sun. oe s. ins, cured...... 74G@ ; %¢ tS. sw... | Seymour XXX, 3 ib. ¢: Looe eo ’ Be Corn Seacenikias oe 2 *B10% Choice, 101b _ Tees te élipped 0001 00/7) aE Family XXX 31b. carton 6% | No. 2 Sun, plain bul See i es a Be oe ae 2 @30 Extra choice wT a @ IR an car lows. |... 33 | amily MM/S 1b carton. 6" wot cae ee ae 16 Pelts a @ B Hay [a TP | No. 1 Grimp, per doa! /..12" 1 35 Lee eee 1g | Shearli : Fancy, 12 lb boxes No. 1 Timothy¢ : | Salted XX 3 ih carton 34 | No. 2 Crim ’ Om ee Pure Can Serene «<=. Imperial Mikados i oo Sate eens” XX. Fb earton. | | Roche dom. 2 1 60 Wale <....| a Lambs oases eee es 406 1 39 Pul ao PO NE oi saa ate ob | Soda XXX _— | in 0, kates ogee Good «-...... ae = anna GO@ 1 25 Fulled, 6 1b boxes... @ 14 ora a ore _—. eS | 3 2, Lime (roe a: a eae re Pan , in bags.. @ 12 es ——= | Zephy a... : 1 wet ‘lint (80¢ Heroes Or ees 25 : Ss. @ 6% Meats Zephyrette ee 7 | doz) TABLE S Mink... F : Dates h 0* . | Long Island Wafers. a —— 7 AUCES > age 5 ‘ards in 10 i Li w and Wafers... 10. | No. 2, Li lectric. L . ese sccsue 50@ 1 40 | Fards i 0 1b boxes Pe | L. L. Wafers, 1 1b carton | wo. Fite coe Lon & Pern’, inge.-4 75 | Hank ai goo 1 | Faras in wih ses 8 | Bones Beet. | ea. tfbeanoi 8 | om ¢ doa) 22072 £99 8,8 samme mee Er 50@ aus, G. M's. i @ ’ rtceeeee Squa __ Oyster. " veers 440 Halford, largess... 3 3 Muskrats, spring...) 14g 10) | deaser iew.. Bg Fore quariens....1... 5iag 6 | Savare Oyster XXX. | tgal.dincen ae teas. Tf ee a "I°0'B gg - | Red + scr winter . @ 17 as cases... BA Tere, Tae... 5i@ 6 | Farina Oyster Taam £ sea with spout... 125 faint Deo me 2 (eee “+ ae ote ‘*G@ 9 SWE yster, XXX. 7 | 2galgalvi n with spout. oe ee 455 a 1 25@ 1.50 jt: -->-- aS ae SWEET GO wee. 6 | 3gal iron with s - 165 aa 455. | Gross BOK en. = 5 Lo ean 5 an | pens ODS—Boxe | 3 gal galv iron wit spout. 2 87 TOBACCOS. Badgers 2000 25 5 00 Nuts. Gacy cc Pag | Bale i Welce non ee | Satan fom With shout. 4% a" aaa 2 EE cane agar > £2 | Belle Ros os ai; | Og alv iron wi a Cigars. Cat. Wild ............ 5 60 | Almo. nT =e | Cocoanut * oot te 13% | 5 gal galv iron vith cancet 4 73 Clark-J at, House 15@ 40 nds, Ta _ @3 ocoanut Taffy 9 | | Seal The with fa = ewell-Wells Co.’ a” 10@ aks CT ”l!lUlUe Pork. a ee oy | 5 gal iy lig ne 8 00 New Brick.. Ss tenella 3 50@ 7 = Almonds, California git eect a | faa Honey... a S| galv fron Nacetas’..” 9 00 Wi 33 00 Martin, mat? ....1 0@ 2 00 ee shelled ifornia, aces Oe @s | Gina Crackers 12% | 5 galt Pump Cans -.. £0 . & P. Drug Co.’ Martin, Yellow... 1 50@ 3 00 razilsnew........... @13 Gulden @ 7% | singer Snaps, XXX round 8 |5B¢ tapid stead ’ Quintette ... .’s brand. W.--..., HG 1 50 Pilberts ooo. @9 cee ee 6 | Gin’su Seamer XE cle 7 |Sgal Home t non-overflow 10 Su ee 35 00 -5 CO@ 9 00 walete, eats @10 ae 5%@ nea aee Meus a 12 | Seal —— Rule... Tiow 10 56 nson Cigar Co.’ - ta 150| Walon calif es.. @ig | Carcass utton. ae made 7 | Seal Pirate King to a uyparay | Beaver. é 7 00@15 (0 W a, soft fac 1. @10 Seting EL ca 7 @ aa Vanilla Hoped.. 7 | gal Pirate King...... .-12 00 eaver Castors....... 2 00@ 6 00 Jalif .. ed 7 aba li) S.] rials .. terrareneeae 8 | N LANTERNS, ae Opossum... re @ ‘ioe we angen ‘as: Hauee on 8, | No. 0Tubul TERNS. Deerskin, dry. per lb 5a 8 00} Table Nuts’ fancy.. @s | Ceres Veal. Molasses Cak raha uc | No 1B Ty oa ag 5 Nuts, faney ot ’ : - 8% | No. 1B Tubular... °27. 42 Deerskin, Ty, perlb. 15 15 | Pecans, M S, choice. Gia fe tise Marshmallo arate 2 | No. 13 T bic ly 5 50 denne ae al lee ee 8 @g_ | Marshmé Wo... § lee teem eee + oa , . 1@ 5/P eu he Pace @8 ——————— ah ata imallaw Creaiaa | 1a 1 Tub., glas 1 ae ecan - Large... Se fume... @ lan ce » glass fount.... 7 oe peas, damien Bl — oo S [at Sanaa ae Washed. «0... oe Gin mice or bu., ine! i Sugar Cake.. xerman 7° | LAN Po a7 oo 14 @23 ‘| Cocoan ae a Suhanag Nes on TERN GL " auntie fe a -. oFe a >) (owe ~ g | No. 0 Tubular, ¢ OBES. 8 450|E arrels. | tes 1G bee » Cases 1 doz. H. Van T Tall Miscellaneous. Fane Peanuts. site XXX W sid a youn Sarat 000) 3 | No. 0 Tubular Cees ae Ss ongeren’s B OW ..-... Fane a. FP. Ss WwW W.W.Mich.Hdlt @11% nilla Wafers... BY | . C2ch, b T, cases2 doz. a sig cae rand. aan 24%@ 3 ancy, H = uns. @ NV W Michi -Hdlt @ 4| Pecan Wafe ers ‘-< l'No. 049 Ox 15 cents s. Se 30 60 Switches CPs... ee =" citoasted. . Flags 7 Diamond waa” ce @ ons Mixed ein aoe i a ee bbls 6 doz. 45 a i eee 1%@ 2 oice, H. P. Extras. @7 LU SiGaa @7 ream Jumbles...... |” 101, | N 4 O. . +» i ew ae Choice’ H. ., Extras. 4 oo ¢ Boston Gi ee cc ie | oc gesaacrens: @3 00| Roasted P., Extras, @ 1% Cylinder eee g : Chimmie Fadd Sok. me | cases 1 doz. ns. este aie ner : Engine peigieae a 25 ons" Pineapple Glace... oe ain LAMP sie coves LB ack ae ge Penny Cakes. Hd 16 [No.0 per gross... - 2 B a ica * 8% | No. : Foes... i * elle Isle a i 16 ae — gross 29 % “ee eees M ae ammoth, eta ie 58 _ oa 22 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN Hardware Experiences of a Hardware Salesman. Written for the TRADESMAN. A few days ago, there came into my hands a pamphiet entitled, ‘‘ Present Business Conditions As Compared With the Past,’’ the contents being extracts from a paper read before the traveling salesmen of the heavy hardware houses of New England given by their em- ployers. As a whole, it is good (employers’ argument to traveling salesmen). As all public acts as well as circulating pamphlets are subject to criticism, I will offer a few. Every traveler should read the book. It contains food for thought—thought principally that the pamphlet bears the earmarks of the author’s other interests instead of those relative to the traveling sales- Early purely man. I do not travel from ‘‘the rock-bound coast of Maine to the land of the setting sun’’ and the gold craze of ‘49, nor from ‘‘the Northern frontier to the Sunny South,’’ in this great land of ours; but, when it comes to miles traveled ina year, or the number of customers, as well as the different kinds, called upon, I think even one of us Western travelers, circulating in a small territory, has a geod chance to study human nature and criticise methods adopted by jobbing line. More especially, five have been ‘‘through the mill’’ so far as details of house work are con- cerned. The tenor of the pamphlet would indicate that the traveling sales- man is to blame for all the tribulations ot the jobbing houses. The author deals particularly with the low schedule of profits at which the goods are sold. True, inexperiened and incompetent men on the road are somewhat to blame, but the houses them- selves can share the greater part, as they are prone to employ men who are _ will- for small salaries rather than men _ whose ability commands greater salaries. Houses that have ex- perimented in this way have not been flatteringly successful. The greatest cause for low prices in the hardware business Is that of taking future orders with prices guaranteed to| date of shipment. The dealers who place such orders have from three to six months to enquire a price from every traveler who calls, and by the time of shipment they have been able to get the bottom price. Future orders amount to fully one-half of a traveler’s sales. The trouble does not stop here. The price on half the goods that a trav- eler sells are established at the low price. These future goods are sold ata profit of from 5 to Io per cent., which pulls down the average profit for the total year to a low figure. Certainly, this trouble cannot be laid at the door of the traveling salesman. All sales- men would welcome the day when there will be no such sale known as ‘‘future delivery, price guaranteed to date of of shipment.”’ The author dwells strongly on the re- wards given the faithful, and draws an attractive picture of a poor boy who, thirty years ago, with a capital of ten cents and a testament, entered the em- ploy of a large house, thereafter walk- ing up the ladder and retiring with a competency. A traveler who has been through the hardware grind would refer this argu- ment to some kindergarten. It makes houses in our ing to work me think of my own experience: I had read stories of this kind when a boy. From an early age, I had had an in- tense desire to become a ‘‘store-keeper. ”’ I made paper darts, etc., to sell to other children for pins. At the age of 18, having just graduated from school, | had an opportunity to enter a hardware store in a pretty Micbigan town ina good farming country. I slept over the store, and had to open up at 5 o'clock in the morning, and close—when every- body got sleepy, which was extremely late most of the time. Never dida boy work harder or more faithfully for an employe: than I think I did. I was after that reward I had heard of su often. I blacked stoves, piled iron, helped the tinner put up troughs, sol- dered pans, made stovepipe, etc., etc., etc., In addition to acting as salesman. I was on deck seven days in the week, and seldom went down town of a Sun- day without being obliged to go into the store for a customer. I was somewhat disappointed, at the end of the first year,to find only $180 credited to my sal- ary account. The second year I got an increase—got $200. The third year | got $250. About this time I was any- thing but satisfied. I began to think the stories of the rewards to the faith- ful a myth. Having worked more than three years without a single holiday, and with the future not promising, I began to enquire of the traveling men I met as to chances in a city wholesale house. Shortly after, I entered a city whole- sale house, as order clerk, at a salary more than double the largest I had yet received. Now I was happy. I re- newed my _ vow to be faithful, and worked just as hard when my employers were not around as I did when they were in sight. It seemed strange to me, then, to see some of the other boys work like nailers when within sight of the manager, then go to sleep on the straw bunk when his back was turned. Svon my ambition ‘ook an upward turn. 1 remembered the stories told me by travelers I had met when in the country store. I jonged to be ‘‘on the road.’’ This desire was gratified after the second year with the city wholesale house. I was called into the senior proprietor’s office and put through a course of instruction by himself; he had traveled twenty years before and knew (?) all about it. I was pumped full of ideas—that I have never had an occasion to use—pertaining to the handling of customers on the road. Maybe it was because times had changed. I was particularly impressed with the fact that I was about to go on the road to sell goods at a profit, and that his idea of profit must be obtained or I was to pass thecorder. I well remember the first customer I called upon. How my heart rose in my throat! The moment of my life had ar- rived that was to decide my future. The man happened to be a good cus- tomer of my house, as well asa fine gentleman. After the usual greetings, he enquired what I had in the way of a cheap rim lock. I fished out a sample I had in my grip, while my mind ran rapidly over my instructions: ‘*A spe- cial bargain; sell at $1.50 per dozen reg- ularly, but to large buyers sell case lots at $1.25.’’ My first customer scanned the lock and, upon my reply to his _ en- quiry for a price, said: ‘*My boy, you are not in it. See here! here is the same lock, and I have bought it for some time for $1 per dozen by the case.”’ This was my first blow. I had to sell at my employer’s price or ‘‘pass the order.’’ I had no cost on the lock, so passed on to the next item. I had not been out long before I lost confidence in my prices, and by the end of my first trip lhad page after page of memoranda of prices I had runacross. I had a fine session with my employer, which satis fied me conclusively that a man sitting in an easy chair in a city wholesale house has but a faint idea of the prices being made by competitors in the coun- try, and that the best policy is to hire men who can be trusted with the actual cost of the goods and whose judgment can be relied upon to grasp the bull by the horns and do the very best thing possible under the circumstances; and above all, don’t jump on him very bard for doing ‘‘a devilish foolish thing !’’ After that, every mail brought me some complaint of my work. I went into the house at the end of every five weeks’ trip, and the air would be blue for some time. The senior member al- ways followed the policy that it would never do to let one of his men think they ever did anything well enough. I stood this kind of treatment for eight years, but at last got tired of the same story over and over, so decided | would get another job. I had begun to think I was not cut out for a salesman, that I had missed my calling. Well, I made a change. Went with another house in the same city. Went over my old territory and, thanks be! every customer remained with me, and at the end of the second year I stood well up in the ranks on sales and profits. I often think of my first experience, and wonder if I would have been as aggressive then, had I had the leeway that I now have. I have been with my present house five years—and am spoil- ing fora row! Mail brings me differ- ent letters. Now they read: ‘‘You have our cost; do the best you can for us;’’ ‘‘You know the conditions and must use your own judgment;’’ ‘‘We are well satisfied with what you did;’’ ‘‘Glad to see your good luck;'’ ‘‘A nice order, to be sure.’’ Does this kind of letters swell the head of a conscientious traveler? No, a thousand times no! They will make him work as no other kind will, and every day the friendly feeling between the employed and employer increases, and the traveler eventually comes to consider himself a part of the concern. If jobbers generally used these tactics and encouraged the travelers more, the results of the road work would be more gratifying to all concerned. OUIX. - +0 - Couldn’t Solve the Problem. A man who went away from home some time ago to attend a convention of church people was struck with the beauty of the little town in which the gathering was held. He had plenty of time on his hands and, while wandering about, walked into the village cemetery. It was a beauti- ful place and ihe celcgate walked around among the graves. He saw one of the largest monuments in the cemetery and read with surprise the inscription on it: ‘*A Lawyer and an Honest Man.’’ The delegate scratched his head and looked at the monument again. He read the inscription over and _ over. Then be walked all around the monu- ment and examined the grave closely. Another man who happened to be in the cemetery approached and asked him: ‘*Have you found the grave of an old friend? ’ ‘*No,’’ said the delegate, ‘‘but I was wondering low they came to bury those two fellows in one grave,’’ Wire Nails Barb Wire Plain and Galvanized Wire the advance. Enter your order now for spring shipments and save Foster, Stevens & Co., Wholesale Hardware, Grand Rapids, Mich. SYRUP CANS Round and Square Sap Pails and Sap Pans Write for prices, Wm. Brummeler & Sons, Manufacturers, Grand Rapids, Mich. Factory and Salesrooms 260 S. lonia St. e i > vi spedieteedcninbiniaietaemem ncaa ee ee en ee tg ’ 4 gE ipa G4 cl ecisassssiasis iil oi Lie See Citi BLE ~~ % iaK nia teen N hy igure ecmnnceol FREER oO DBR sesh 89 Gi EUAN al el rar EAS oi) Rimina eek ~~ wee SA Old at the Business—Handling Bank- rupt Stocks. Sidney Arnold in American Artisan. ‘* Talking about bhardwaremen,’’ said the stove salesman, ‘‘I think they com- pare favorably in longevity of business life with any other calling. At the re- cent meeting of the Wisconsin Hard- ware Association, some members hap- pened to ask President Hughes of Fond du Lac, how long he had been in the hardware business. After a few sec- onds’ mental calculation Mr, Hughes gave the time as thirty-two years. At his questioner’s declaration that he was probably the oldest dealer in the State, Mr. Hughes modestly entered a dis- claimer and referred the gentleman to Teasurer Hay, of Oshkosh, who has been selling nails and axes for forty-eight years. Mr. Hay, on being asked if he could not claim to have been longer in the hardware business than any other Wisconsin dealer, said that he was un- certain on that point, and advised a consultation with Mr, D, Kusel, of Watertown. Mr. Kusel, on being inter- viewed, owned up to forty-nine years in the business, and stated that next month he would celebrate his golden wedding with Miss Hardware. If some of our other states can show a similar record it looks as though the hardware line was a good one to grow old in.”’ = * £ ‘‘As subjects of conversation natural- ly bring up contrasting pictures,’’ said the hardware specialty man, ‘‘I want to tell you why plenty of hardware dealers don’t stay in business very long, and that is because there is one rock upon which hundreds of otherwise shrewd business men have foundered. I refer to the purchase of bankrupt stocks. When the majority of hardware men with a little money saved up get a bit of luck thrown their way in the shape of a chance to buy ina lot of hardware of some bankrupt dealer at wonderfully low prices, they get a notion into their heads that they can make a splurge by selling the same below wholesale prices, thus cutting out their competitors. This is nothing but a fool mistake, and the man who does it ruins the hardware business in his own town. The buying public discount the bankrupt story, thinking it only a dodge, and Say: | So- and-So is selling wash boilers or axes at such a price. Now that shows that these hardware men here are making altogether too much profit.’ That’s the way it works every time, creating sore- ness and friction with competing mer- chants, and distrust of the trade in the public mind. It doesn’t pay. I have in mind a well-known retailer, who has made as much out of the business as perhaps anybody I know of, solely by treating this bankrupt stock question in the right manner. He buys every stock of this kind he can, sometimes getting them at tremendous discounts off the wholesale price, but he has never on that account cut the regular price. Whenever he gets a stock of goods of this kind he advertises them with sur- prising liberality, without Saying any- thing about their being bankrupt goods —why should he anyway? I don't know that a pocket knife cuts any worse be- cause it has been displayed a few months in a Smithville retail store. He hires additional clerks and uses every device to push the sale of these goods. He can afford to, considering the great margin of profit he makes. As a result of these tactics, he has made money hand over fist, and has not begrudged his competitors a chance to earn an honorable living. Now, to my notion, that is business, and if more hardware men followed these tactics as regards bankrupt stocks, there would be more of them who could stay in the business for a long term of years.”’ The Hardware Market. General trade keeps up remarkably well, considering the weather and the time of the year, as dealers seem to find it quite necessary to keep their stocks well assorted, as the demand in local quarters is quite unusual for this time of the year. There is but little to MICHIGAN note in the change of prices, as manu- facturers do not seem disposed to make any radical changes at present. Wire Nails—The demand is good and prices are very firm. There has been an advance this month of 5c all around op wire and nails, which js only for February shipment. We are advised by all manufacturers that March 1 an- other advance of 5c will take place. The selling out of all mills to the syndi- cate has not yet been consummated, but it is believed that by March 1 it will be known definitely what is to be done. If the deal goes through, prices un- doubtedly will be advanced, but how much no one is able to tell, Jobhers at present are selling wire nails in carlots, fo. b, mills) at $1.55 and in less than carlots are trying to get 5c additional. Nails from stock are still selling at $1.75@1.80, according to quantity taken. Barbed and Plain Wire—The situation in this line of goods is the same as govern and control the wire nail mar- ket. Prices are firm, with an advancing tendency, and jobbers are quoting at present painted and barbed wire at $1. 55 and No. 9 plain wire $1.30 with 3c for galvanizing, f. o. b. mills. Rope—There has been quite a steady advance in cordage of all kinds during the month of February, and the mar- ket at present is represented as follows: sisal, 6!{c; manilla, 8c. Manufacturers report that there is no indication of there being a decline for the present. Window Glass—As the factories now are nearly all in blast, competition to secure orders among jobbers is quite in- tense and prices are not maintained to that figure which they should be in or- der to afford an adequate profit for the dealer. The price at present varies all the way from 85 to 85 and 10 per cent. off and carload buyers can even shade these prices. It is hard to tell just what the future will bring forth in the glass market. It is not believed that prices will be any lower and that jobbers wiil Soon realize the folly of giving away glass, so that the price will soon settle down to a firm basis. Reports from other markets are as fol- lows: Chicago: Jobbers report a steady trade in most sections, but with con- siderable unsteadiness in others, owing to the annual snow and mud_ blockade. St. Louis: The movement of shelf hardware continues to increase and a heavy trade is the general report from all jobbers. Baltimore: Trade throughout the South has been fairly good in certain lines, but rather quiet in general hard- ware, Cleveland: Trade is not as good as could be hoped for, but open weather and a large amount of rain have made the country roads all but impassable and it is a wonder trade is as good as it Is. Om«ha: The bare statement that the jobbers and manufacturers of Omaha are busy only partially gives expression to the trade situation, They are not only busy, but in many departments there is a positive rush, and some houses are forced to work over time in order to keep up with the procession. SS eet The Wise Father. ‘‘No, I never take the home; l’ve a family of daughters, you know.’’ ‘* Papers too full of crime, eh?’’ ‘“No; too full of bargain sales. ’’ —_—_0-__ The man who walks between a woman and a milliner’s window is an ill-man- nered wretch. newspapers grown-up TRADESMAW Hardware Price Current. AUGURS AND BITS RE ' 70 Jennings’, genuine ........... «- - -20atlG Jennings’, imitation _ ..60&10 AXES First Quality, S. B. Bronze ............ _~- o& @O First Quality, D. B. Bronze....._. 4... 8 50 First Quality. S. B.S. Steel... eee Oe First Quality, DB. Steel 10 50 BARROWS Nee mass: ag 14 00 Cee teeeceenee BOE JO OO BOLTS Se OT 60410 Careraronow Mag 70 to 7% en an 50 BUCKETS Well pin. ee. .-83 2 BUTTS, CAST Cast Loose Pin, figured.. «4. OER! Wrought Nariog 00 a 4 ‘ 4 ef 24 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN Life in a Lumber Camp—Artemas Ward’s Handbook. Manistee, Feb. 22—While in Luding- ton last week, I paid a visit to Stetson, where the Butters & Peters Salt and Lumber Co. has a_ branch store under the management of Guy Vaughn. Stet- son lies twenty-six miles from Luding- ton and is reached by a narrow gauge road owned by the company above re- ferred to. Arriving at the station I found the train, consisting of several freight cars and a caboose, made up and ready to Start off, but when the conduct- or found he was to have a lady passen- ger, be attached the regular coach—a courtesy 1 certainly appreciated. A ride of two hours brougnt me safely to Stetson; a hearty weicome from Mr. Vaughn, a good dinner, and—a nice or- der sent me on my way with a light heart, which by the way stood me in good stead betore I was again to see Ludington. On the return trip the train was run out on a spur of the road five miles to one of the lumber camps to deliver sup- plies and bring in one of the gangs, numbering fiity men. Arriving there, I was invited by the Superintendent to visit the different builaings and see what life in a lumber camp meant. The diningroom was a long, one-story build- ing ot boards, large enough to seata possible hundred, and in the center two long tabies covered with white cloths were laid with dishes, glass ana silver quite .as good as one finds in the ordinary country hotel. The dinner had been served, but appetizing odors still prevailed and I am sure it haa been a good one. The floor was scrubbed to the proverbial cleanliness of the pin —new pin, to be exact. The sleeping quarters, while not luxuriously fur uished, were clean and comfortable. Some colored lithographs, an ocasional photograph and a picture of Lincoln adorned the wails. Several small mir- rors proved that even in the woods one cares how one looks. A pile of books attracted my attention, and curiosity to see what such men read prompted me to look them over. Homer's lliad, an Ovid in Greek, Nathan the Wise in the original, two Bibles, one of Drum- mond's later books, [he Deemster, ana one otber of Hail Caine’s books, anda number of magaziues of the better sort made up the lot. I happened to have a Chicago paper, a last week’s Trades- man and a copy of Quo Vadis which | contributed to their library. After a little delay the men had bade adieu to their companions and with their ‘‘kits’’ were got on board the coach, when we started tor Ludington. When about halt- way, in the miast of a thick woods, a truck on one of the treight cars broke down, and there we were. The lessons learned in the woods, of how to over- come ali cbstacies by some means, served us in this dilemma. In some mysterious way,another pair of trucks were brought from some place, and by sheer physical force put in place of the broken one, and we were able to go on after a delay of num ore than three hours. As I watched those men, I compared their masterful work with the helplessness usually dis- played by the unitormed, brass-buttoned crew one sees on our big railway lines. It may not have been the privilege of all readers of the Tradesman to read the Grocer’s Hand Book, published by Artemas Ward in 1862. I saw a copy in the store of Mr. J. H. McAnley, of Manistee, and became so interested in its early day wisdom that I borrowed it and read nearly all night in order to finish it. From what Artemas says, the price cutter was abroad and created the same havoc in the days of ’62 that he does to-day. Some pertinent thoughts in the form of a‘‘Grocer’s Catechism,’’ while a bit ironical, are quite to the point. He asks, ‘‘What is the chief article in a grocer’s stock?’’ ‘Sugar in its various grades.’’ *“What rule has governed the trade in its sales for many years?’’ ‘*That it should sacrifice all profit, to the destruction of the seller, without comparative advantage to the buyer.’’ ‘“How came this original sin in the trade?’”’ “It arose from ill-judged competi- tion.” “*Is there any hope for those who sell goods without profit?’’ **None in this world and very little in the next. ’’ ‘*Does the customer appreciate the saving he makes on his purchase of sugar?’’ ‘He rarely does and takes two pounds for a quarter without a suspicion that the grocer loses on it.’’ At that time Artemas Ward was edi- tor of a trade paper called the Philadel- phia Grocer. Copying from an editorial in it, he says: ‘‘Neariy one-half your purchases are sugar. What interest do you get on that half of your stock? Can you afford to credit your customer when nearly one-half bis purchases show no profit?’’ He makes the statement that the imports of sugar exceed in value (or did at that time) all the gold dug out of our mines, and the long-suffering grocer lets it pass profitlessly through his hands. Here is an amusing dialogue he relates: ‘What is a grocer, Pa?’’ ‘‘A grocer, my son, is a good-natured man who deals in the necessities of life at the corner. He isa believer in the early-bird theory. He gets up before the early bird,or the early worm either, but he works late at night, to make up for it. As I said, he 1s a good-natured man. He lets the people have his gro- ceries and then waits for them to pay him. He waits, and waits—waits un- til the undertaker gets in his bill, and then he leans over the graveyard fence and wonders if he will get his pay in the next world.’’ While one smiles at the picture Mr. Ward draws of the patience of the gro- cer, one must also admire him. Inas- much as the law of compensation is most just and most exact, | believe be will be paid. Surely the generosity which sent food into homes, where the hope of being paid was nil, the patience which waited months on the man out of work, and then bore unccmplainingly this man’s ingratitude when he gota job and changed his grocer simultan- eously, must leave a credit to the gro- cer’s account when life’s books are bal- anced. EmMA L. ALLEN. Oe The Grain Market The past week has been a phenomenon in wheat trading, as the market has been very excited, sometimes bordering on a panic on the Chicago Board of Trade. Prices varied 4@5c in as many minutes. Trading in May wheat is out of the question as the Leiter party has control of that part of the market and can put prices wherever they wish. If they want to put the price to $1.40 or $1.50 or drop it to $1, they can do so and no one can stop them as they vir- tually control the market of the world at present. However, with our present uncertainty between this country and Spain and the strained relations between France and England, the market is in a very uncertain condition and it may be possible that we will see a fair set- back. For some unaacountable reason our visible showed a decrease of only 201,- ooo bushels (against 1,441,000 bushels for the corresponding period last year), while a decrease of 1,000,000 bushels was expected. The Northwest continues to send along her average amount, with no let-up, but we predict that this will not last forever. Prices have advanced about 4c per bushel on futures and 3c on cash in the local markets. The move- ment of winter wheat is only fair. Coarse grains were as excited as wheat, and corn and oats advanced fully 3c per bushel, and will eventually go higher. The receipts of wheat were about normal, being 55 cars of wheat, Io cars of corn and 5 cars of oats. ~ Local millers are paying 9g2c for wheat. C. G. A. Voirer. The Swell Old Shopper and the Advertised Goods. Written for the TRADESMAN. ° She came to my counter with a dig- nity of bearing and haughtiness of man ner that to the uninitiated would have been truly appaling. In her hand she carried her pocketbook and an _ ear- trumpet and, suspended by a long and elegant gold chain encircling her neck, was a tortoise-shell lorgnette. Altogetb- er, from the tip of the purple ostrich feather in her wide-spreading hat, to the toes of her fine kid shoes, the old lady was a dudine of the first magni- tude. With great deliberation she seated herself at the counter. Placing the ear- trumpet in her ear, and holding the flaring end of it up for me to talk into, she asked to see ‘‘some of the henrietta cloth advertised in the morning paper.’’ Not for a moment did I dream that such an elegant personage would con- descend to look at a cheap farbic. With this idea, I turned to my shelves and took down the best henrietta cloth we carry, a grade sold regularly at $1.50. The advertised price of it was $1.35. When I had draped the fabric into soft loose folds for its better display, my customer examined it critically with the aid of the tortoise-shell lorgnette, remarking that she ‘‘did not see how we could sell it at that price.’’ In view of the fact that I had not as yet told her the price of the guods, her statement sounded somewhat premature. Getting hold of her ear-trumpet, I told her that this cloth was $1.35 per yard. The look of scorn that displaced the one of satisfaction in the old bargain hunter's face would have withered a tenderer product of mercantile life; but it only amused me. Taking the ear-trumpet from her ear —to prevent, I thought, my talking back —the old lady began a tirade against the mercantile methods of advertising in general, and ours in particular. ‘‘The idea of putting an advertise- ment in the paper to the effect that you would sell a fine henrietta cloth for 69 cents ! Then when you get the people into the store, you ask regular price for it. 1 can buy that cloth at any time for $1.35. You people and your methods ought to be exposed !’’ I tried to make the old schemer un- derstand that she was laboring under a misapprehension, and that we had a very fine cloth at 69 cents; but she could not be made to hear without the ear- trumpet, so I gave up in despair. After giving me, as it were, this piece of her mind, she walked out of the store, with her nose in the air, evidently thinking that she had donea fine thing. The incident, provoking as it was, contained a lesson which I shall not soon forget; that is, to show my cheaper goods first except when my customer States exactly what she wishes to see. Mac ALLAN, > o> — Phil Graham, grocer at 477-479 South Division street, in company with his wife, left Monday for Jacksonville, Florida, thence going as far south as Daytona, where they will remain about two months. Dae Cs Onan E. J. Herrick has purchased the resi- dence at 61 Paris avenue and will give the premises a_ thorough overhauling, preparatory to his taking possession of the property in the spring. —_—__— 2.» ____ Geo. McDonald, the veteran Kalama- zoo druggist, slipped on the ice one day last week and fractured the patella of his right leg. WANTS COLUMN. Advertisements will be inserted under this head for two cents a word the first insertion and one cent a word for each subsequent in- sertion. No advertisements taken for less than 25 cents. Advance payment. BUSINESS CHANCES. 1 SALE—ONE SA WMILL COMPLETE, except boiler and engine, foronly $100. Ad- dress A. H. Young & Co., Hartford, Mich. 520 Fe SALE OR EXCHANGE FOR FARM— $3,500 hardware stock in good town with no competition. Address No. 518, care Michigan Tradesman. 518 IARTNER WANTED—WITH CAPITAL TO manufacture something in wood. Have plant in best shipping town in Central Michi- gan. Address Day, care Michigan Tradesman. 517 NOMPLETE PICKLE AND VINEGAR WORKS / for sale for one-fourth its value; capacity 25,000 bushels; situated in section very favora- ble for growing vegetables; best of railroad fa- cilities. &. Cristy. Ringwood, Iil. 516 OR SALE— = #2,000 STOCK DRY GOODS AND clothing for 50 ceats on the dollar, spot cash. Address Box 323, Chesoygan, Mich. 513 YOR SALE—CREAMERY AND CHEESE factory outfit, on easy terms; price, $450. Whittemore & Phinney, Tawas City, Mich. 507 OR SALE—FEED MILL; BEST OF LOCA. tions. S. E. McKinney & Co., Ruyal Osk, Mich . A09 oS TO EXCHANGE—KEAL ESTATE for a stock of goods in the Central or Southern part of Michigan. The real estate is situated in the enterprising and thriving city of Benton Harbor, a luseport town and a live city of 7,50) inhavitants. (Call or address W. L. Hogue, 146 Brons'u ave., Benton Harbor, Mich. 5.0 JiLL PAY CASH FOR STOCK OF SHOES, clothing or general Merchandise worth from $5,000 to »$v5,000. Address No. 51i, care Michigan Tradesman. 511 ip STORE AND FIXTURES FOR SALE cheap; located in a good iown; part cash, balance on time, to suit the purchaser. Address J. W. Bale :m, E!k Rupids, Mich 512 OR SALE—ALL OF THE WOOD WORKING machinery, beits, shafting, pulleys, stock carts, Cabinet benches, etc., ete., in our turni- ture factory; also a Rhodes automatic band saw sharpener, one edger with chisel, pointed tooth saws, with extra teeth, and one set of Kuight’s sawmill dogs. Address the Converse Mfg. Co., Newaygo Mich 514 Fk EXCHANGE FOR A HARDWARE ' stock —#.,50 worth of stock in the Harrison International Telephone Co.; fuily paid up aud non-assessivle. Address No. 498, care Michigan Tradesman. 498 Ko" »sALE—STOCK OF DRY GOODs, GRO- ceries and shoes. Will sell or rent building. Reason for selling, poor health. Address b, Schrock. Ciarksville, Mich. 499 ees SALE— BUILDING AND GENERAL stock; ‘est farming section in Michigan. Notrudes W H. Pardee, Freeport, Mich. 500 160 ACRES FARMING LAND TO. EX- YU change for siock millinery. Address Lock Box 40, St Louis, Mich. 5U2 Ko SALE, CHEAP FOR CASH—!20 ACRE farm, good soil, excellent fruit: buildings first-class. Would take as part pay $2,5 0 stock of groceries or hardware. Address Lock Box 6:7, Buchanan, Mich. 495 | ee SALE—THREE STORE BUILDINGS (ull well rented), fine modern residence, two vacant lots and 80 acre farm near prosper- ous ¢'ty, in exchange for stock of merchandise. Address Thos Skelton Coldwater, Mich. 493 y JANT ALL KINDS OF GRAIN IN CAR lots. Name price or ask forbids. Rhodes Co., Grain Brokers, Granger, Ind. 379 HAVE A PARTY WANTING GROCERY OR general stock. Must be a bargain. I have buyers for any line of merchandise. W. H. Gil- bert, 109 Oitawa St., Grand Rapids. 440 J ANTED — FIRST-CLASS BUTTER FOR retail trade. Cash paid. Correspond with Caulkett & Co., Traverse City, Mich. 381 “OR EXCHANGE—TWO FINE IMPROVED farms for stock of merchandise; splendid location. Address No. 73, care Michigan Trades- man. %3 PATENT SOLICITORS. pS NEW HANDBOOK ON PAT- ents. Ciiley & Allgier, Patent Attorneys, Grand Rapids, Mich. 339 MISCELLANEOUS. \ YJANTED—BY MAN OF NINE YEARS’ experience, position as manager of gen eral store. Have had experience in all lines: ean also do book-keeping of any kind and would do same with other work. Address No.519. care Michigan Tradesman. 519 AJ ANTED—SALESMEN, BOTH LOCAL AND traveling, tosell our lubricating oils and greases, either as a special or side lire. Salary © or commis-ion. Special inducements to hustlers The Empire Oil Co , Cleveland, Ohio. 515 ANTE'\—POSITION BY REGISTERED pharmacist of = : TINMAAANAAAAAMAAAAkhathkkakkAkkaUkLULkkLaLLCdAdddaddddd Your own good sense will tell Is it not the The manufacturers, by constant and judi- E iuiislislsil Dur Money Weight System Is so Simple A Child Gan Understand tt It is just simply this—it saves what has heretofore been given away. Ist. It is a system. 2nd. A systematic check on overweight. 3rd. Weighs all merchandise in its money value. 4th. Enables you to handle your goods as safely as you do your cash. 5th. On pound and ounce scales losses don't show, and you don’t realize what you are giving away. 6th. By the MONEY WEIGHT SyS- TEM nothing escapes you. It gives you what belongs to you, HONEST PROFITS. 7th. Over 40,000 merchants in the United States are users and endorsers of the MONEY WEIGHT SYSTEM. For any information desired address THE COMPUTING SCALE CO., Dayton, Ob eet @ YI a AN Ashley, Mich., Jan. 6, 1898. W AN Stimpson Computinc ScALe Co. W a Elkhart, Ind. Y AN Gentlemen—After using the Stimpson Computing 7 AN Scale (2) years, was persuaded into changing for a Dayton W W WV MN to say that I am only too pleased to return to my first love on W WN Computing Scale, and, after giving it a fair trial, am very free AN the opportunity’s presenting itself, and now know positively W WN I have had all the Dayton Scales I ever wish to use as longas ¢ AN I can get the Stimpson at the same price. A. N. PALMETER. Se (Signed) UALE CD,, W ELKHART, IND. W mw 4G 6 '° '° ° ° ° 'e ’° . MI. LI. LO. LA. LA. LA. LP. LP. - I ae ~ wa jw BW ee Bw ee = -®W -<@Q, BW, BW. WB. BW. QM. ~~, W.-W, W.-W . WW. WB. Bw “BP * — 4 \ MN Vi a There are Others | W am But the v AN W M Celebrated Seymour Cracker W i : A W MN Made at Grand Rapids by the Wm. Sears & Co. \ ) A \ Factory is acknowledged to be the W AN \y 2 Leading Brand in America y a W ; prec Y AN eas W A No Chalky Finish W a \ No Rancid Flavor W a No Spongy Leavening ¥ a But a pure, clean, healthful cracker, made from the W (News lites sore thea “tr oir nie” mor W AN me worth aie It = mn best Sica Gad W AN known as the best. Manufactured by VW AWN W a National Biscuit Company, W AN Successor to Y a The New York Biscuit Co. Y : ZL