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Show NOT MAIL ORDER HOUSES. One of the pictures shown by Mr. Hoyle last Saturday was that of a town which he said had been ruined by mall order house all the business of Its merchants taken away by theso concerns. If one may Judge of the other business places by the one shown In the picture trade was lost through the lack of enterprise on tho part of the merchants themselves. Probably their stock was as old and worm-eaten as the stores themselves. Probably the merchants wen- too slow to keep an up (.-date stock of goods that the people wanted. I'robably their prices were as high for shopworn shop-worn goods as the mall order houses charged for the newest things. These merchants didn't cater to the local trade or advertise for It, as did the mull order houses. No up-to-date merchant need fear the competition of mall order houses. He can't expect to keep all the trade at home, but If he Is up to hts business he can keep all but a very small portion por-tion of It. Hut he must carry a large, enough variety to suit the varied tastes of his customers, at prices that are reasonable. He ought to keep his goods In attractive condition, so as to draw trade. He ought to treat bis customers so well that they will be glad to call again. Having the goods on hand where the customer can examine ex-amine them and get them at once the local merchant has an immense advantage ad-vantage over the mall order house, which can only describe and illustrate after the order I sent In. , People don't buy goods from a local merchant because he put up a few dollar for charily or a Fourth of July celebration, but because he has the goods at a suitable price and treat his customer fairly. Any attempt to get trade by any other moans Is sure to be a failure. Then, If the merchant keeps the fact before the people all the time through newspaper advertising advertis-ing that he Is getting In new goodn, what they are and some of the special bargains he has to offer, he will get his share of the local trade. |