Michigan Artisan; 1908-08-25

Notes:

Issue of a furniture trade magazine published in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was published twice monthly, beginning in 1880. and GRAND Twenly=Ninth Year-No.4 AUGUST ~5. 1908 Semi-Monthly ~• ---._-_._---------------------------- !j! ,I Royal Morris • Chairs "THE PUSH BUTTON KIND" You can make more money out of our nationally advertised lines of Morris Chairs, than you can by buying the unknown, unguaranteed kind. OUf advertising campaign begins in the Saturday Evening Post in September and the Ladies! Ho.me Journal in October and will continue through the Fall. Every month eleven million people will see our ads, a facsimile of which we show in this space. We believe we offer you the best selling proposi· tion in the furniture line today. They are unlike any other because they are eit,er u(.)holslered or with loose· cushions, with footrest or without footrest. Write Us TodaJJ, I1...._---~------~-~---------------~~~-_-.. _. f I,,,I II l__RO~A~_~~~I~H£?M~A_~Y,_ j I"THE B,EST" One Motion,All Steel Go-Cart I I FOLDS WITH ONE MOTION I, II NO FUSS, NO FOOLING FOLDS WITH ONE MOTION , I I I ~~~f~:::~ ~:;::~u~::~:·mpeti1ion. / I Frame of Steel Tubing. If Will Carry 200 Lbs. Over Rongb Pavements. , The Only Perfect Cart With a I Large Perfect Quick Action Hood. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. !:I , I• FOLDED :..lo.;;... c_ _ _-.1 STURGIS STEEL GO-CART COMPANY, Sturgis, Mich. CHICAGO SALESROOM: Geo. D, Williams Co" 1323Michigan Ave., First Floor, Chicago, Ill. F • . " SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW A Mahogany Dining Room Suite at Medium Price No. 5021. g Weare just putting on the market something entirely new---one of our artistic dining room suites at medium price in imitation mahogany as well as in imitation quartered oak. g Hitherto it has been impossible for the trade to get an up-to-date artistic mahogany dining room suite except in very high-priced goods. g Every dealer knows there is considerable demand for mahogany dining room furniture in the late and attractive designs, and at prices that can be afforded by the moderately well to do. g The design of this suite is in keeping with our new Colonial Line of Bed Room F umiture, which has been the hit of the past season. g The workmanship is of the highest grade, but the price is medium. g We have also added four new dining room suites with pedestal tables. Northem Furniture Company Sheboygan, Wisconsin j~----_. -" -"'.- .. III l :YIICHIGi\N ARTISAN ..------------------------- Napoleon Bedsteads Graceful Lines, Substantial Construction, Reliable Finish Imitation Quartered Oak. We have issued a catalogue containing illustrations of a com-plete line of Imitation Quartered Oak, and Imitation Mahogany Bedroom Suites in COLONIAL and COMPOSITE Styles, also Dressers, Chiffoniers and Wardrobes to match, in addition to our rei("ularline of Oak and Quartered Oak goods. Especially worthy of your attention is our Colonial Line. Evansville Furniture Co. Manufacturers of and Jobbers in Furniture for All Purposes. EVANSVILLE, - INDIANA Apply for new catalogue now. I ~. • I 1 2 MICHIGA;-,T ARTISAN rI "The Better Make" WE HAVE OVER 400 PIECES IN OUR LINE. Bedroom and Dining Room Furniture --- SUITES TO MATCH --- GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. NELSON.MATTER FURNITURE COMPANY Factory and Salesroom. 37 Canal Street Catalogues to Dealers. on Heavy Plate Paper. • I• GRAND RAPIDS f!Hl[ Ir LInT{ ,(ny UU ...iV whlitl 29th Year-No.4. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.. AUGUST 25. 1908. ==,======~~~= $1.00 per Year. Marvelous Growth of the Club. of_Ten Premium Selling Plan. Seventeen years ago two country boys carne to Chicago with an idea. They were just off the farm and the idea \vas not new .. but they had abundant faith, robust physical health, unbounded energy, untiring patience and the courage to do everything on the square. Like l11()~t fanner boys. they had the amb3t.ion to make their fortunes, and llnlike most farmer boys, they made it. Their idea was a plan to create sales for goods by the givillg of premiums. These hvo men \vere \V. L. Croits and C. A. Reed, who were raised on farms near .f-<:ast Liverpool. Ohio ant! who arc now resl)Cctively presi<1~nt and vice-pf(~:,;idelll of the Crofts & Reed Company, Chicago, manufacturers of soap, toilet articles, food products, and among the largest and most successful exponcnts of thc premium idea in the United States. Their business, like man:y others, i,.~ve:'Y improper-ly referred to as :l "nl.'lil order pla1J." That docs not define it aU; the mail order feature is incidental; the 111H.1erlying" characteristic of the plan is giving prCmitlll1S to force the sale of goods. Seventeen years ago they started, making by band onc hrand of "l11edicin;tl" soap. Their first batch of soap wa:,; mack in a wasb boiler. Today they openLtc a faetlwy em-ploying, jll COJJl1cctj(ljl ·""itb t111; office force, ov'er 350 people. L. B. Reed, the secretary of the cornpany, asked whether be cOllsidered premiums the secret of the success of his com-pany said: "1\ 0, (junJity of our goods is the secret of our Sllccess." But in the next breath he ackno\'v'ledged that a vcry small per cent of the C1.1stom.ers of the house took adV'llltage of the offer to give twenty dollars worth of goods ior ten dol-lars, as compared with the great multitude which choose ten dollars worth of goods and tell dollars worth of prem-iums for ten dollars. So the arg·umcul lor pn:mium.c; sticks. Of the high qmdily of Crofts & .Reed's goods there is no doubt or question; nor is there any doubt that the prices at which they listed in their catalogne fairly represent re-tail vrices; and when t11C customer secures tell dollars worth of these goods and t<:n dollars worth of premiums for ten dollars, she is getting a bargain; but it was the plan fir,;'", and the quality of goods next that actually built up thci: 'i".1st busincs.:i The Croft & Reed plan is simiiar to the Larkin plan described in a previous issuc, including' the "Club-of-Ten" idea, in which a woman is suitably rewarded for' the effort it requires for her to organize a c1ttb of t~n famities in her neighborhood to make monthly purchases of C. & R. goods. The Croft & Reed Company list in their cataloguc 220 articles of their merchandise, and their premium list consists of nearly ninety pages of closely printed desuiptions of premium goods, covering practically everything that a "",-oman would buy for her home or the individual use of members of ber family. Rougllly epitomized, this list illcludes furn-iture for kitchen, dining rOOID, parlor and hed chamber, kitchen utensils, including everything from a lemon squeezer L to a stove; toilet sets, razors, dishes, mattresses, beds, washing machines, cameras, musical instruments, lace curtains, rugs portiers, si)vcrw<lre, glassware, bmps, cutlery, clocks, ham-mocks, swings, harness, saddles, sleds, guns, tents, sporting goocb, la\vn mowers, incubators, express wagons, dolls and toys, trunks, satchels and otber leather goods, children's goods alld dresses, millinery, skirts and underskirts, women's wrappers and dresses, men's underwear and hosiery, men's, women's and children"s shoes, dc., etc., many times multi-plied. They have a large show room in their main factory Oil Austin avenue in Chicago, another great shO\'v' room in Engle-wood and another large show room in "Alilwaukee. Their success is one of the best examples of the selling power of prcmituns in conjunction with merchandise of worth t11;1t the modern commercial world bas to show.-Novelty Xc',"".';. Excess Charges on a Dresser. The combine of the express companies which is offering the establishment of a parcels post by the general govern-ment with all power at their command, and in the meantime, engaged in robbing the public by the levying of excessive charges for scrvjces, has been summoned before the public service commission of ::.Jew York to a.llswer a complaint ma(le by l\lrs. J. H. Coleburn of No. 2000 Grand Avenue, The Bronx, that tbe i'\meriC.1n Express Company had charged at the r3.te of one dollar a hundred pounds for carrying a crated dresser from lwenty~thircl stred, New York, to her home. It \V;[5 <"lsscrted in the complaint that this charge was not only unreasonable but that the company for the same class of g·oods charged only $1.25 a hundred pounds for transpor-tation between this city and Buffalo. The commission sent the complaint to the company, but T. B. T-l<"rrison, Jr., the cot11H::il for the company, asked that the complaint be dismissed on the ground that the com-mission had no jurisdiction in the matter, and had no author-ity to make any order or finding. The result of this reply 'vas the action of the board in ordering a public hearing. \Vhjle the complaint itself in-volves only a small a.mount it is the intention of the board to take advantage of the case to determine just what powers die cOlnmission 118S over the express companies. The pubUc sen,icc ael states that the commission shall have full author-ity over common carriers, and it is the belief of the com-mission that the express companies C0111e under this llcad. Rushing Car Repairs. The railroads have assured the National Manufacturers' association that 01ey are JOSil1gno time jn puttjng cars need-ing repairs into condition for service. An interesting account of tlle lives of factory ha.nds, snJcsmell and office employes in London, England, appears on :1nothe.r page of the Artisan. It is from the pen of an Englishman well informed on the subject on which he write3. MICHIGAN The Good Buyer in Great Demand.. Most patrons of the great department stores overlook the fact that in the head of a particular department thepa'tron is looking upon a graduate merchant. vVith- the cutting l1p of the great store into minute div-isions, each under its responsible head, the passing cus-tomer of the old school is likely to imagine that the cutting up process, with its attendant systematizing, has reduced merchandising to a mere system of routine A department has its counters and showcases filled with goods. AttendilJg salespeople are at hand to make sales. An overwatching .authority in some manner directs the activeness of thecie salesmen, many of whom may be novices at the business. The salesman has his five, ten or- twenty feet of floor :space to serve, and the exhibiting of the goods asked for by the customer,with the making out of a cash slip al~d effecting change when the purchase is made, seems to constitute the day's work of the department. It is forgotten, howcve:-, that there are single lincs in these great departments which represent as much money in-vested as was used in stocking 01H:~ of the old time gCl1cral stores of a geller;ttioll ago, that in the choosing of a depart-ment manager for such a place as much responsibility is shouldered upon him as leU UpOll tlle old time count;-y mer-chant \'Vho may have had a general line of goods on display and a stock in reserve in a neighboring waiehouse. This head of a department in such a house may b~ only the man-ager of the department, but his salary of $5,000.00, $9,000.00, or $15,000 a year, as his department ,.,.,arrants, suggests an income that might have satisfied the old fashioned merchant owner of a gener<ll business. This salary naturally becon~es possible through the turn-ing over of department stock in the cours~ of a yea:-. To buy stock that w'ill sell ar:d to buy it on terms tInt will in- ..---------_._--------~ Rockford Desk Co. Rockford, Illinois China Closets Music Cabinets and Ladies' Desks Full line on aale with M. L Nelaon & Co •• 1411 Michigan Ave., Chicago, IIJ. .. ARTISAN sure proflt are points to be observed by this head of the de-partment. He. may be th~ chief buyer for the department, or the department may be such that half a dozen buyers are necessary to keep 'it going. III any event, however, the re-sponsibilities of the buyer arc his and the success of the department rests on him, To meet these responsibilities this head of the department needs all the wisdom possible for the merchant. Out of his experience he must know his department needs. If sales of a certain volume are to be anticipated for that department, goods in approximate quantity must be supplied for sale. This knowledge never can be exact enough, The man-ager has his sales reports of a season before him. The goods with which his shelves are stocked have been lying bcfo:·c ,.-- ._-----------~ I (t. 18.'!batftelb, JDc£!igncr Blodl!ett BldQ.• Grand Lpids. Mich. Drawings prepared for special ordered ",or\[, and cOlltracts let. I on't allow tbis branch of the business to gd a wa)' from you, as there is mone) ill it. Chargt S Yeascmable. ' O~r Sketches Getthe Order. ~---------- him through a certain period. He makes it a point to oh serve how they sell. Ol:e line may drag, perhaps, and IJC seeks to know the reason; another line m;:ty move active!·,,· with the least resistance for which he seeks the reaSOI1, nlso. But having these rea:30ns for and against the sale;; III certain lines, the manag<::r still is without a guide line npon the future. It is this anticipating the future of trade which calh for the judgement of the merchant. 1hlly things are .s;ljnD~(: according to the feelil1g of prosperous conditions. Uncle!" the influences of gocJ times many litles will sell, when U1u!er reverse conditions they are drugs on the market. 1t lS part of the manager's duty to anticipate the kind of marke~ \vhich will meet his display, and the success of his venture may bt> determined wholly by an unexpected condition vi publl,. confidence. V\'hell the department buyer has decided upon his lines of goods and has gone into the markets for them his knt)"wl-edge of men no le~s than his knowledge of goods m'i.I':'; avail him. He bas the unlimited commission of his home an,:l be is tu Luy goods in a wav It...r,;a~e profits for his emp"':rcr~. His purchases may be U,Ji'l{'.l"CU to Lim ill thirty ,l,ay;. \·r he may have to wait a ye,lt", tw, .. y( :\1'":, or five years f·:..r tk"-- Jive:·y. In the rug uep1. ·till~l'.' ~ • i :come of the great ::'(0)". ~ \\ is not uncommon for '-I hU)-".>1"!l' l·"lcha~e rugs whi·:\1 "viI) I.ot he free of the loom for lh';t' to five years. l-f,~ h;'5 found a silk rug of a certain pattern which only one family knows ho\\' to make. If he buys that rug he must wait for it, and waiting for it, there are chances that before it is de-livered changes may come in financial affairs that will leave it little in demand. "The buyer who doesn't take risks never accomplishes anything," is the philosophy of Chicago. "The buyer who doesn't make mistakes is no good for the reason that he is afraid to risk ::l.11ything, He must count upon making his reasonable n~istakes, but his success must overbalance them year after year if he succeeds. And to succeed in the end the manager must be a merchant in the iull sense 01 the term." \\lith the world for his market place, the buyer's knowl-edge of men never has been and never will be wide enough. Manufacturers' agents will sell-that is their business. But there are all kinds of manufacturers and agents. If one of them shall be a trickster, anything in the experience of the bttye~ which will mark that fact to him is an asset as a bus-iness man. Any of the arts of the "mixer" which will en-able the buyer to lead the seller in his direction for a favoring sale are a buyer's capitaL "Take the buyer in the Chinese markets," said a State .. Street man, "He might have bought goods a hundred years :vrICHICAN AR'1'ISAN 5 r -------------------------------" I CHAS. A. FISHER & CO., 1319 Michigan Ave., Chicago. WRITE FOR BOOKLET AND PROPOSfTION Warehou,el: ST, LOUIS, MO. KANSAS CITY, MO. PEORIA, ILL. UNCOLN, ILL. MINNEAPOUS, MINN. CHICAGO. ILL. • 111 the United States and be at sea in the ycllO\v kingdom. They tell you the Chinese are honest in filling their contracts, and I suppose they are. But you never know 'whether the Chinam<l11 is giving you his lowest rate. He feels justified in selling to one man at one price and to another mall at another price. He ruedy delivers the goods at the cOntract prices and if the man who }1;\5 bought fit a lower rate tlwn you have chances to be your competitor at hOlre yOll have a problem on your hands." Tn the opinion of this manager the successful buyer is born quit;:: as much as he is made by merchant routine. He must have a head for merchandising. As to where he gets it and hmv nobody questions. "It is a problem of the individual," he S2yS, "and it always will be an individual qualification. I .vould not kl1O,v today .vhat qualifications to ask for in a buyer. So 111811y rne11 of so many type~ and temperaments arc successful buyers that the idea of choosing a buyer to suit is impossible. I know men as buyers who cannot he honest and open enough; I know others ·who hug the eleltl:.:':nt of foxiness within them, Hever dealing" squarely if they can avoid it. But when both types arc successful, hov,' can you choose?" "T f(~cal1the tin:e we took a young man in here as buyer," said another State Street departlnent manager. "It wa" imagined that he knew his business. He had experiencc enough in years of service, but even as an assistant he found his knowledg'e lacking. He camc to n:e one Inorning, say-ing, '1 wish you would Pllt 111eon to this work.' ,Vhen I told him there wasn't a man living who could do that, 1'\1) sure he felt that 1 lwd given him a slap in the face. But it was truth, and he knows it now. "Vv'e are growing men right here for such positiions. If the man won't grow there is nothing more to be said or done. The opportunity is here and his chances for mastering the knowledge of the merchant are on every :;ide. \Vhen a young man asks me a question about the busilless which I am unable to answer it always attracts my altenlion to him. There's something he v,'ants to know and I am unable to tell him. But I find out for him, and in ans\vering the ques-ion for him I am answcrillg it for myself. The whole departlnellt is benefitted in this manner." The Retailer's Side. The public in general believes that no rigl]t to combine to prevent price cutting. if a man can sell lower than another he chant. In some few cases this is true price-cutter is not making money, He is merchants have They argue that is the better mer-but as a rule the not demonstrating his l1--:.crchantileability, but is n:cre1y ruining himself and all his brother merchants. ,Vhen that is the situation, mer-c118ndising is being injured seriously, and a momentary ad-vantage is beillg gained for the public. It will surely change, and the public will be obliged to pay for it all in full measure. The retailer has a right to his fair profit, and he has a legiti-mate JiglJl to ·wage in preventing methods' which bid fair to do harm only. Price cutting is the il1 wind that blows no-body good.-·-Oregon Tradesman. A Good Line of Bedroom Furniture. The ~TichigaL1 Fllf11itnre Compally of Ann Arbor have for many ycars, devoted theil' cnergies and talent to the pro-duction of a medium priced tine of bedroom furniture in oak and ash, also odd dressers in hirch, finished in imitation mahogany. These goods arc of a kind that every furniture merchant may profitably carry in stock, as they are ex-ceptional values. Suite Xo. eighty-three, illustrated in their advertiseUlent on another page, is one that cannot but appeal to the furniture merchant who likes to always have in stock a line of bedroom goods that will meet the wants of buyers of moderate income. There a.re lIl;;lny more suites .in this line of which "",ill he illustrated in the Michigan Artisan in ftHure issues. • STAR CASTER CUP CO. NORTH UNION STREET. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (PA1KN'! A!'rl.Jh.1J }I",:,R) We have adopted celluloid as a base for our Caster Cups, making the best cup on the market Celluloid is a grcat improvemcnt over bases made of other material. When It Isne<:essary to move a piece supported by cups with celluloid base.,,;it can be done With ease, as the bases are per-fectly smooth. Celluloid does not sweat and by the use of these cups tables are never marred. These cups are finished in Golden Oak and \\'hit~ Maple, finished light. If you will try a sample order oj tMlIe (foodsyou 'will d~sire to handle tltem in quantities. PRICES: Size 2U inches $5.50 per hundred. Size 2U inches.".,. 4.50 per hundred. ( o. b. Grand RapidS. TRY A SAMPLE ORDER. ~---------------_._----' • • 6 MICHIGAN ARTISAN iII Luce-Redmond Chair Co., Ltd. BIG RAPIDS, MICH. We have moved New Exhibit Location Fourth Floor, East Section, MANUFACTURERS' BUILDING, North Ionia Street. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN . • • No. 897. 28x45. CHARLOTTE MAKES GOOD High Grade OfIice Chairs, Dining, Odd Rockers and Chairs, Desk and Dresser Chairs, Slipper Chairs, Colonial Parlor Suiles in Dark and Tuna Mahogany, Birdseye Maple. Bird" and Citcassian Walnut. • I ..--------------------------_._~-_._--~II CHARLOTTE MFG. CO. A NEW CHARLOTTE OVAL WRITE FOR CATALOGUE TABLES CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN MICHIGAN ARTISAN ,.-----_._-------------_._-----, I Entire Line on sale in CHICAGO Manufacturers' Exhibition Building 1319 Michigan Avenue Forty New Patterns of Dining Tables Posselius Bros. Manufacturing Co. MANUFACTURERS OF The Famous "VICTOR" Extension Tables DETROIT, MICHIGAN ~--_._--------_._------------' 7 8 MICHIGAN Chicago, Aug., 25.-Thc fourteenth annual catalogue of the Peck & Hills Furniture Company, has just been com~ pleted and is being distributed. It is not only the large.:t and most elaborate production the company has ever turnc<l out but it is as well the most expensive and the product of many weeks labor on the part of several experienced and skilled workmen. The catalog consists of over 700 pages, illustrating lines from over one hundred different manu-facturers. The hook contains over 5,000 illustrations made up of half tones and engravings gathered from far and ncar, with descriptions set in type loc.ked up in neady llfty SlX-teen page forms, the whole being printed in less than six weeks time. The coyer of' the new Peck & Hills catalogue is a reproduction of a beautiful mahogany panel with the firm's name and date in gold, printed on the heaviest en-ameled paper. It must follow that a book of this size and workmanship will be most attractive, when it is considered that the lines shown are the products ot many of the largest and 1110Streputable manufacturers of this market. The cat-alogue recommends itself in th('. highest degree to the trade and may well be called as the company have styled it. "The Furniture Dealers Hand Book." The company is following the CLlstom adopted several seasons ago of sending the cat-alogue to furniture dealers only upon request, every pre-caution is used to keep the same from falling into the hands of furniture manufacturers. Orders or requests for the Peck and Hills Company's catalogue are entered and "0. K'd" by their credit department the same as if they were orders for furniture. This is done as a safe guard as well as a matter of economy. The postage or express on the book alone is a large it(~111s,aying nothing of the cost of the cat- ~logue itself. Their publication this year is divided into four separate editions; their regular catalogue which goes to the DOll,estic trade an Export edition composed of those goods which appeal to the foreign buyer;an offiee and See-ting Specialtles edition consisting entirely of business furn-iture both in wood and met<ll, also an edition illustrating only those goods \",hich they war~ house and carry in stock at Chicago. The Peck & Hil1s Furniture Company warehouse . ~ Grand Rapids Caster Cup Co. I 2 Parkwood 4ve .. Grand Rapids. Mich. We are now putting out the best Caster Cups with cork baSes ever offered to the trade. These are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple Iin a light finish. These goods are admirable forpolished floors and furn-iture rests~ They wUI not sweat or mar. .1 PRICE~ Size2U inches ...... $4.00 per hundred Size 2M inches····'· 5.00 per hundred TrV a SampleOrdw. F. O.B. Grand Rapid8. I ARTISAN and reship from their branches in Oakland and Los Angeles, as welt as issue catalogues both for their Domestic and foreign trade which they are preparing constantly. This company have their OW1\ print shop aujoinillg their office in the Furniture Exchange, Vi/abash and fourteenth, Chicago, and not only has the copy for their ncw catalogue been pre-pared in their office but the type a!ld illustrations made up into pages and locked up for the printer in their own plant, otherwise the accomplishment of so huge a task in so short a time would have been impossjble. Their "adv." appears on the cover of the back of this issue and we would suggest that dealers take advantage of the Peck & Hills Furniture Company's offer amI write for this book in which every dealer must find something of interest. The Manufacturers Furniture Exchange, ,""'abash and Fourteenth Streets, Chicago, 111., is one of' the most com-fortable as well as one of the most substantial exhibition buildings'in Chicago. Its location is central and during tbe summer months is cooled by the wash air process. During the July season this building was notably the coolest in Chicago, and accordingly it attracted a large llumber of buyers. This building is of the sanitary fire proof con-struction, located 011 the \i\rabash car line, and the exits arc kept in order there the year around. The Schultz & Hirsch Company, 372-380 Fulton street, Chicago, have issu:::d their new fall catalogue and are dis-tributing the same to the trade. The catalogue is a very neat, tasty and comprehensive production, covering in a mo:;t thorough manner the products of the Schultz & Hirsch Com-pany. The new plant occupied by the company affo;·ds them a capacity double that available at their former location on Desplaines street. The present facilities arc such as to enable them to give their custon-.~rs goods second to none and to make shipments more promptly than ever before. The Schultz & Hirsch Company have always kept up and will continue to maintain their established high standard of manuhctttring with consistently low prices. A. B. McCall, manager of the foreign departrr::ent of the Peck & Hills Furniture Company spent a month in Old Mexico recently. M. J. Hills, vice president and sales manager of the Peck & Hills Furniture Company, is making a trip through the We,:o:;t. Mr. Hills will be joined at Yellowstone Park with Mrs. Hills and daughter, Zola, and will accompany them from there to the Pacific Coast, J. B, Jones, manil.ger of the western department of the Peck & Hills Furniture Company will soon return from a six weeks trip th:·ough the middle \~rest, going first to Col-orado. ChicQgo downtown home furnishers are partial to both business souvenirs and premiums as business getters. Every cow and then one of the well-known merchants in this line will advertise in the daily papers to give a picture or a fan or a celluloid mirror or son:e other novelty to eyery woman who c,alls on certain days. That never fails to bring a cro-wd. Then the:-c are other prcmium inducemcnts to actmdly ",,·in patror:agc aite;" the visitors get there. One of these pial,S in force at Spiegel's was to give a glass water pitcher and six: tumblers with every ten dollar purchase. Another proposition gives a premium sewing machine with every $200 cash purchase. Thus, there is something to reach and interest everybody and· to win the patronage of alt sized pocketbooks. These premium scb~mes are usually reported to he ,;ery popular'. Kennedy's and Story & Clark have also been good boosters of business by such live methods Another schem(', of a \Vabash avenue store was to advertise the sale of a c8.rving set for ten cents after the hour five. o'clock p. 111. Something new along this line is 'worked out everv month, and the people seldom fail to show their ap~ preciation by responding in presence and patronage. :II 1 CHI G A K ART I SAN arge line r------------------l "j ----------.---------.--.., I IIIIII I I The Noon Dinner Served at the Pllntlind for 50c is I THE FINEST IN THE WORLD. I h ~_B_O_Y_D_P_A_N_T_L ••I_N_D_,_P_ro_P_._i ow Prices iberal Terms No. 30 K. ;iOJl.30x'lS'! lligl1. No. 54 K. ;i4x30x4!)/1 high. Remember Row lette Desks are thoroughly well made and absolutely dependable. Send for Catalog and Prices. ROWLETTE DESK MFG. CO. • RICHMOND, INDIANA, U. S. A. • SHEBOYGAN, WIS. No. 542 Oak, Solid Seal. Price, $17t~~. No. 540J~ Same as No. 542 on I y Quartered Oak Veneer Seat. $18 &::. ---------- II No. 542 9 Morton House ( AmericanPlan) Rates $2.50 and Upe Hotel Pantlind I I (EuropeanPlan) Rates $1.00 and Up. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. ..---_._---_._---------~I J We Manufacture the Largest Line of fOIOino GUairs in the United States, suitable for Sunday Schools, Halls, Steamers and all public resorts. We also manufacture Brass Trimmed' Iron Beds, Spring Beds, Cots and Cribs in a large variety. I , 1 I UNION FURNITURE CO. I I I Stnd, for Catalogue and PriU5 to ROCKFORD, ILL. China Closets Buffets· Bookcases We lead. in Style, Conbld:icm and Finish. See our Catalogue. Our line on permanent exhibi. tion 7th Floor, New Manufact. urers' Building, Gr~nd Rapids. .---._----- ------;-.---~ I MANUFACTURERS OF : II HADn. DWOOD VLUENMEBEERRS' &. ! K/\UffM/\N MfG. GO. ASHLAND. OHIO ~._---- GEO. SPRATT & CO. Manufacturers of Chairs and Rockers. A compLete line of Oak Diners with quarter sawed veneer backs and seats. A large line of Elm Diners, medium priced. A select line of Ladies' Rockers. Bent and high arm Rockers with solid seats, veneer roll seats, cob-bLerseatsand up-holstered leather complete. High Chairs and Children's Rockers. rDU will fa in o1tI flu grDlll'id floor when you bu)' frDm #$. !Ih __. _ SPECIALTIES: ~AL\\{'g'E'l'JQUAORA.K VENiEERS MAHOGANY V E N EE R S HOFFMAN BROTHERS COMPANY 804 W.Main St., FORT WAYNE, INDIANA • 10 MICHIGAN I!STABLISHEO 1880 ~UaL.15MlI:g !liT MICHIGAN ARTISAN CO. pN THE 10TH AND 25TH OF I!:ACH MONTH OFFICE-l0e;. 110, 112NORTH DIVISION ST., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. ENTERED ...6 M/l.TTI!R OF THE SECOND CLASS Legislating evils out of existence is the method too many employ, or seek to employ, in their struggles against ills of life. The bw is powerful, but it cannot remove catalogue houses, operating strictly within its letter. Legislation is not the cure for the evil, It savors too much of the method of waving one's h<l..nds and saying "appear" or "vanish." One of Shakespeare's characters once stated he could "call spirits from the vasty deep," but he found no repoft when another asked if they would come. It is simple enough to say to catalogtlc houses, "consider yourselves out of exist-ence." It won't work. The only way to meet the cat house evil is by hard work, advertising and pushing advant-ages which small stores undoubtedly possess. "t" "t" Most credit merchants have customers on their books whom they consider worthless. The account began easily. After a time, when it became evident that the customer did not intend to broach the subject the merchant thrc"v out a gentle hint. It was lost. A stronger hint came'~the next time and it went the s<'..meway. Finally, with delicacy and tact, the Ctlston:er was requested to pay. Excuses followed. DUllS were plainer and more forcible and finally the customer transferred his CIoubtful affections elsewhe,e, but the bill is unpaid still. Better have a system and never deviate from it. Better have an understanding at the beginning with each llew customer, and stick to it. It is surprising how it offends. "t" "t" The furniture manufacturers of Muskegon lent the po-tential influence of their pocket-books and th-eir personal-ities as well to the success of home coming day all Atlg~tst thirteenth. The great factories of the city were not the least of the attractions viewed by ten thousand former res-idents of that city. "t" "t" The largest chair maker in the country does not in· variably sell the n:ost chairs. Nor does the man who buys the largest number of metal beds for one hundred dollars always get the best beds. Quality is something which should be figured in. Jt is fully as important as the price. °t" "to The manufacturers of Philadelphia seem to be well satis-fied with the results of their first exhibition of furniture, although the past season ""vas unfavorable for such enter-prise. Another trial of the plan ."ill take place in January. "t" "t" Many a m<1nliftcd to heights of importance by the pros-perity prevailing ill the furniture trade during the past five years, has been dropped into the deep W<1ters of oblivion during the dullness of the past six months. "t" "t" On November third, the people of the United States will elect a boss cabinet maker to scrve four years. His name will be "Bill." That is settled. Which Bill is the question. Manufacturers are busily engaged in perfecting ·new lines ARTISAN ior thc spring season of trade, having forgotten apparently that an election ior presidcnt will occur later in the year. "t" "t" A great many buyers for general stores have spent much time in New York, Chicago and St. Louis, durillg the past month, placing orders for goods. °tO "t" In about sixty days the ba.llot boxing campaign will close, when the country will settle down to the enjoyment of «fOUTyears more" of prosperity. °tO "to. Occupants of summer homes in the country are preparing to put their furniture in «cold storage" until next season, rcturning to the cities. "t" "t" Merchants of the Mississippi Valley have no fears of the future and are placing liberal orders for furniturc and kindred goods. Handling contracts for school furnitttre has been engaged in more largely than in years of the past by retailers of furniture. °t" "to A bargain that does not yield a profit either directly or indirectly to both parties thcreto is a bad one. "to °t" \\Then a buyer tells you he is as dryas a fish he doesn't expect you to ask him to take water. "t" "t" "August sales," in the large cities, have been quite suc~ cessful. °t" °t" Some men are born kickers. Others arc born to be kicked. The Most Important Body in the World. In an address to the traveling salesman assembled in Ne.v Yark recently, E. C. Simmons, the president of the Simmons Manufacturing Company of St. Louis paid the following compliment to the fraternity: "You gentlemen of the traveling fraternity are the most important body in the world in connection with this work. You have the confidence of the peoplc, you can convince them to your way of thinking--.-providing you think right, and providing your convictions are based upon absolute facts which can not be controvertcd. You can not have attained the great measure of SUccess that has attended your efforts without having gained thc confidence of your customers. V.le want you to use that confidence by carrying our message to these g·ood people-by invoking their aid to help bring about a thorough and complete return of business activity." A Beautiful Catalogue. The \Voodard Furniture Company, of Owosso, have re-ceived from the printer their catalogue for 1908, which is by far the finest they have ever issued. It contains twenty-eight pages 12 x 15 inches in size, enclosed in a beautiful cover. Heq,vy plate paper is used, and the engravings and printing and the whole make-up is up-tO-date. The line consists of bedroom suites in walnut, mahogany, oak and bird's-eye maple, also a great many odd pieces---dressers, commodes, cheval mirrors, 'costumers, dressing tables and desks_ Every furniture merchant would prize this catalogue as it is not often that manufacturers of furniture get 6ut such an elegant book. ;VI] C II I G A N THE LONDON WORKMAN. by W. J. Blackmur. Generally his name is Bill. Call out Bill. in a London crowd, and three out of six men \\·ill turn sharply to see \\'ho wants them, Now to really think of the London workman. yon must always disassociate your mind from any idea that he is at all like John Bull, that he is portly, has an upright bearing, looks-cvcry- man-in-the-face kind of mtUJ11cl", and tlwt he carrie;; (1, stick, or turns up his trOllSC:S. That may be the way of the aristocratic English youth who adorns NC\\' York with his presence, but London Bill, does not tl"Ouble about a Jittle mild round the bottom of his trousers. ~ : At six in the morning, the principal railway tcnni11i <lrc . crowded by men \\'ho have just a:-rived ill London from the suburbs by the workman's trains. They hurry out of the ,~-station, all with dead set faces, vcry few speaking to any . one else, ·with true English reserve, they are in units, instead of grollps ill making up the crowd. The early Lains arc fitted principally \\'ith the artisall, mechanic ;l11d labouring class. The hours or commencing work range ham six, six thirty to seven for nearly all the In<l.l1ual alJd rnechanical t:adcs; the passeng-crs which come by the chc<'.,p'workmen. after seven o'clock, arc composed of warehouse-men, and others engaged ill clerical labor, who wou\d indignantly refuse to be labclled by the title of workmen, although this class indignantly deny that they arc workrnell, but are oHieiah "vith weekly saiaries, and not ..v.ages; they do not refuse to take advantage of tllc cheap trains whith are run solely for the convenience of workmen. The artisan or lllechanic, with hi,,'; Hine or tell dollars it week, looks on those officials ·with it b,l1£ patronizing, balf (:ontel11ptuotts a.ir and shakes his coins ill his pocket, knowing that he docs not have to provide clot bing for a stockbroker, out of a salary \vhich is e</ual to half that of a mechanic. Indeed in some \'.-ork5, this idea i3 carried to stich an extent. that the offIcials, those \"ho arc engaged in the cle:'ical \vork, are not allowed to spenk beyond business affairs with the workmen. This is a source of great fun to the ·workman, who. in ree..:ipt of grcater wages, laughs at the poses t<l ..ken by (he poor officials who dr.iye tlleir pell over the )laper. "Penpusher" is tjl1ite a word of COlltCll"ipt, and \",hen a \vorkman comes into contact \'lith the poody paid official it [OJkHVS that the dignity of that perSon is considerably hurt by the process. You can imagine it, one man in clQthe<; bearing' the grin:e of toil, quick-witted and rude, the other.ill fed, yet ·well dotbed. suffering from stri·ving to keep up it position on a small sum. and v,rith a sense or inferiority to the ·workman at the b;~ck of his brain to torment him. Not only is the Londoll \vorkman keen to rub his wits against the official but be (',ares very little ..v.l.lO comes into conflict ·with his slla;'p tongue. /\sk him about the boss. and he \vill candidly tell you that the business is not run as he would run it. Of course, there is a huge profit, the man \'\'ho is employing him is coining money. He can j"LOVe it. Yes the first fruits of the Education Acts has been used by the workmen to calculate the profits of his employers, and yet strange tn say, and it seCll:S almost an anomaly. he will in-variabl. y reckon lip his wages ,vith the help of (\ ready reckoner. Vlhen the London lad has passed the iifth standard, and be is fourteen, he .is ready to t<lke his place in the world, and if he is fortunate, will pick up some ttade or craft by which he may gain his living. At the present time, the apprentice system in EnR;la1Jd .is almost dead. There are so few apprentices, that it would seem as if the various crafts would die out were it 110tthat mcn and youths enter them in various ways. Still, although the trades are being recruited by untrained helpers, there are ,L11 enormous Humber of lads working 011 machines, or formil1fl; links in the process of ARTISAN 11 manufacturing articles, who \vitI be thrown lIpOU the labor m,arket ·when they have reached manhood, without even the hard muscles for manual labor to belp them to get a living. Their ".'.·.01'k is boys work, and the ever growing army of boys will take their pLace as the others reach manhood. In some cases parents will apprentice their sons, and in proportioll to their income pay a large premium. In one or t\lIl0 instances ullder my <Hvn notice boys have been apprenticed to shop fittillg and joinery. A sum of twenty pounds was paid, and for the Grst. year, the lad was kept busy pushing a truck, taking goods from the workshop to their destination. Out in aU 'Neathers, and with not a cent returned during the first year as wages, this was not an ideal beginning for a lad. The truth \,\,'a5, Owt the employer warltcd the premium, and rnade things as unpleasflnt as he could for the: boys, till they quitted the works, and he was able to tctke on others, and obtain another premium. \i\lhen the T~olldon workman has mastered his trade, and he is able to command trade union rates, he becomes very independent. As London i3 som~: twenty miles wide from Dresser No. 80. Made by Michigan Furniture Co., Ann Arbor, Mich, THord to Acton, from Enfield to Croydon, it follows that there are a brge number of men who do not go h0111e to dinner. All over London are coffee stalls, in some plaees near the sbtiollS there are t'vo or three. In the winter each has a huge coke fire blazing away in a devil by the side of the stall, which is a huge box upon wheels, a door ilt the back, and with ha.lf the front opening and forming tbe counter. The coffee and tea is kept hot over a small coke fire, and the brass work on tlw urns is most dazzling hright. On three or four dishes are varieties of cakes, and bread <lnd butter, jam and marmalade. Every workman stops and has a cup of coffee, which is ~crved hailing: hOI, and a sli<:e of <:urrallt cake "better than mother makes," as the coffee sta1l lUan will facetiously say. The bread. and butter is only bought by the very old men, ·w11O disuain cakes or pastry. None of the men wait for the coffee to cool, but poor it into the saucer, blow it, then sip it with great gusto. Indeed on a cold morning, with a west wind blowing which chills one to the bone, there are n~any \vorse beverages than even this coffee. A WOrk1"nal1would lose a quarter or two hours, sooner than Continued on Page 14. 12 JlIICBIGi\N ARTISAN ARTISTIC and INEXPENSIVE CATALOGUE COVERS LET US FIGURE ON YOUR PHOTOGRAPHING ENGRAVING and PRINTING MICHIGAN HNGRA VING CO. PERFECT WORK PROMPT DELIVERIES COMPLETE CATALOGS at Right Price. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ,..-------------------------------------- -- -- - - - MICHI(iA~ ARTISAN 13 RICHMOND CHAIR CO., II!~--_._---------------------------------------~ •! HAND CIRCULAR RfP SAW No. 4, SAW (ready fo(cross-cuttitlg) No. ~ SCROLL SAW ,~....-----------_. , IIII ------------------- .. Double Cane Line "Slip Seats"-the latest and best method of double cane seating. Catalogues to the Trade. White Printing CO. GRAND RAPI S, MICHIGAN MORTISER CO:\1BINED MACHINE Complete Outfit of HAND and fOOT POWER MACHINERY WHY THEY PAY THE CA9lNET MAKER He can sav~ a manufacturer's profit as well as a dealer's profit. He can make more money with less capital invested. He can hold a better and moTE: satislactory trade with his customers. He c:,\a manufacture ill as gODd :>.tyleand finish, and at as tow cost as the factories. The local cahlnet maker has been forced into only the dealer's trade and profit. bec31lse of m~chine manufactured goods of factories. All outfit of Barnt!s Patent Foot and Hand-Pow~r Machinery, reinstates the cabi~let maker with adwwtaKes equal to his competitors. If desired, thde machines will he sold on trial. Tht'; pllrchaser can have ample tijue to test them in hi~ own shop al\d an th~ work he wishes them co do. IJi'8criptiv6 cata]ogutJ and lH'ice list.free. W. f. &. JO"N BARNES CO.,654 Ruby St., Rockford, III. FORMER OR MOULDER HAND TENONER -----------_._-----~ ,h _ No.3 WOOD LATHE Nt}. 4. SAW (ready for ripping) No.7 SCROLL SAW HIGH GRADE CATALOGS COMPLETE • 14 MICHIGAN ARTISAN miss his c.offee. Indeed t11e London workman has a great idea of what is necessary to keep hlm in perfect condition. He knows what he wants and he gets it. Those who work too far from home have to go to the coffee shop for their ll1eals. As an institlttion, the London coffee shop is peCUliarly a growth of' the great city from the Dickens period, The shop is generally one, with the doo, in the center, a few illustrated pictures, much fly blown in the window, and with several vegetables and joints below These arc the uncooked dishes to tempt the epicures of workmen to come next day and feast off the tasty morsels. At eight in the morning there is a rush into the coffee shop; the men have been at work since six o'clock. They arc hungry, In.vc but little time to spare, and want their coffee or tea as soon as they sit down. Then they must have their relish. Yes a workman would as soou think of going to church in his working clothes as to go without bis relish. "Two and a bloater," "Pair and three,'! "Three and half," "T,vo and a rasher and three of tea, missis, and look bloomins sharp.'" "Two of jam .and half a soused mackereL" 'Ere •., ..------------------. • WrUefor Out~and P1"iCt8. Fred J. Zimmer 39 E. Bridie St•• Grand Rapids, Mich. Maker of HJGH GRADE UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE I• Every Piece Guaranteed. PERFECT. Liza, bring us up my tea. Do you think I'm a stuffed dummy:" Liza has a retort which is cutting, and attracts the attention of the shop. Just a. little explanation about the orders. Slices of bread and butter are either named asa number or called "door5teps." Then a number combined with a rasher, LeH" what c,ggs are reqtlired. Three of tea means, three cents worth. Two of jam, and the relish of half a soused macri:.- erel to eat with it is not at all unusual. Indeed some men will eat the m01it strange mixtures with the greatest pleas-ure. The coffee, kippers, bread and rashers are rapi<11y served out, and in about fifteen minutes the men have de-voured their breakfast, and go outside for a smoke. They would not miss the opportunity for a whiff for worldS, were those huge globes presentables as substitutes. At half past eight another gang of workmen rush in, who breakfast half hour later than the others; usually these men are those who start at seven o'clock. The coffee shop clea;rs and until twelve it only receives stray customers, such as carmen. At twelve the building and allied trades go to dinner. The beef which laid in the morning sun yesterday, has been stewed and baked, and is now oue of the joints on. The average shop runs two joints, beef and mutton. Beef freshly cooked one day, mut-ton the next. If yon will tip Liza, she will tell you the day, 50 you will be able to avoid the reheated meat. Besides the two joints,there ate always steak puddings. These are always in stock. Let me whisper that the steak is the beef or mutton whlch 15 unsold on the tbinl day, and is worked up into steak pudding, or "babies heads," to use their common name. Stewed steak is also a favorite dish of the workman. This will appear about Tuesday and Fridays'. Liza win tell you if you tempt hcx, that the amount of stew is ob-tained by parboiling the beef and mutton to get morc stock as well as to make the meat tender. Two vegetables and a cut from the joint for twelve cents is the average price. A few of the coffee shops have a part partitioned off for clerks or others who keep their coats on, so that they need not ruh shoulders with workmen, but for that privilege the coffee house l{eepers charge one penny more, The workman's 11fe is not one continuous feast, and this article would not serve its purpose if it did not take into consideration his amusements and his vanities. Foremost in tlle London workman's thoughts 15 betting upon racehorses, Even a casual glance at our daily papers would show accounts of bookmakers being heavily fined for taking bets in the public highway. The workmen will bet; he loves to "spot a winner." Were it not. such a craze with tragic results an ohserver in close touch with workmen would be intensly amused at the eager way in which they will listen to tips for possible winners of horse races. I have known men for sheer anl.- usement to invent the most elaborate tales of how they have exclusive information . Imagine hvo men meeting each other; one will say. "Yes, Bill this is a dead cert; now don't go "'.nd tell every fool about it, Bill, or I won't tell you when I hear a good thing. Dead cert this is, It is a little bit of "all right," it can't fail. I had it from the right party. \Vhy if myoId woman wasn't so unfortunate, I'd put every penny I've got on it. So do this Bill; you back "vVater-hen," and don't forget me when you draw your quids (sovereigns). Its a hundred to one chance, and don't forget it. I had it from head quarters. .:'vIy brother's wife's uncle knows a bloke that sweeps out stable, and he heard Lord \Vimwam tell the Duke of Smokc111 about it. It is a dead "cert," s\'velp me Bob, Bill it is. If I ·wasu't so deuced hard up, I'd pav\"n my shirt to get it home. Now don't go and give that tip away and spoil the prices." The dum is invited to half a pint of beer, and Bill takes the fJrst opportunity to laying a spare shilling on :'\Vater-hen." It has occasionally happened, that an invented yarn of secret information as to the certain winning of a race by a particular horse, has come true. That makes good business for the inventor of the yarn, who trades upon the event until a number of losses makes his adherents discard hls tips in disgust. At times, however, information as to the winnillg of a certain race leaks out in a very mysterious manner among workmen. An installee occurred several years ago, which was amu1iing to the onlooker, but exceedingly annoying to the paTticlpatoTs, It became commonknowlcdge in a sub-urban distrlct that a certain horse would win a forthcoming race. Everybody was certain about it, and workmen all over the district put their shinlng~, and in some cases pounds upon the llorse winning this race. Their information was correct ~the horse did win the race and great was the jubilation in the evcl1ing. The workme.n were half delirious with joy, and plans for spending the money were. laid and partly ex-ecuted. Next morning when they went to draw the pounds which they had won, not a single bOOkmaker COllld be found. They had all sOllg"ht fresh pastures. It was as well they did not face the music of not. being able to pay their obli-gations or England might have rung with the horror of a public lynching of bookmakers. The men were in the humor for blood. Although horseracing, or rather tbe betting side of it, takes a great part of the London workman's thought, he does not entirely neglect athletics. Not that he himself is one, but he admires the prowess and agility of others_ Strange to say, the older forms of English sports, not bull baiting or cock fighting, although the latter is still done in secret places, but the noble art of self defense, as it is ealled upon the bills, only flourishes in the very rich and poor quarters of the .. Mle I G;\ N town. Tn Haxton, "Vhitechapd, and Shoreditch oxing is part of a yOtwg man's educatioll. During the win! r months, when the flat racing is O\'ef, namely horse racing on the level, and hurdle jumping for horses has commenced, 1etting on them is sup(~rceded in these districts by the num Jet of as-saults of arms whidl take place in the large roami some of the public houses. It is rather interesting bo\.... some of these encounters are arranged. An advertisement in a daily sporting paper \-vill read as follo'\vs: "Cocky Tim, of Hoctoo, hcaril1g that Bill Sykes, of White chapel is anxious to lTIf;ct anyone of s yen stone ten, Tom Bruiser barred, for ten founds, jf any on(~ will tind a purse of tell pounds." The result is that a bo iug match is arranged by a publican, <lnd several otllCr eVCl ts are de-cided on the san::e night, making it a grand assault farms. One has on ly to go into the \Vhitechapel Roa on a Sat-urday night, to see thousands of men waiting to ay for ad-mission to a hall where the leading artists of " be boxing \~rorld" give their patrons some insight into the noble art. The east end of London also supplit::. tlh' -.,V(:5t en ,,,,itll men for enCoullte,s at the various dubs. Any youn man wbo is coming' OTl is almost sure of an engn,gemel t to meet an accomplished pugilist and to carll fifteen to twe lty guineas whether he 'wins or lasts rootball is the great healthy hobby of the ';vo kman. If it interests him early in life, he ..v.ill be a footb ]( devotee, a,Hd during the ,~eason f!"Om Septclnber till May, the variou;.; league matches and the prospects as to ·who ~ill 'win the cup will always be upon his lips. It is most remarkable what information as to form, pedigrt:e, skill of arious club members they possess. It makcs one quite Cll'Y·j us of their memories. Should there be a piece of waste g Ollnd close to the factory or mill. in which they are employ d, they will even hurry back fron1. the coffee bouse during tl e hatf haUl" they have for breakfast to !wve :;everal kicks a a football. The dinner hour gives them a long time, and al hough they may be upon their feet <111day, they rush aho 1t like wild bulls. rt;gardless of the need of rest, <\.11d'Jf th.ir digestive organs. Apparently from the prcccerJing item one would imagine that the London workman h,HI no home life. That depends, and hert::'.the hctors of ·where he lives and how he works comes into consideration. In the sllbllrb he has a garden, and a hous or flat; 111 London proper he lives in one, two, or three roo ns. In the suburb he ,,"v"ill m2ke a hobby of his garden all{ spend Sun-day morning there; in London he will go 011t al d join three or four boon compal1ions for a. trip upon a tr;li l sufficiently far from his home that he may become a legal tr we1er. Let me expb.in. On Sunday when the public hOU5 s or saloons are closed, you must travel three miles, by tnin, tram or foot to enable you to demand intoxicating 1quors. All round the ant skirts of London v(Jriot1s well kncnvn hos-telries and public houses keep open all day f r the benefit of these travelers. A man will stand at the oar and ask you where from, and if that place exceeds t1 e tl1l'oeemile limit, you are entitled to buy your drink 1: t times .. the police make a raid Oi1 these houses; in one cas where con-siderable local drinking ·was slIspected a number of policemen were driven up to the house in a fUrtJiturc reI lOyal wag-o'J. T1w)' ;-;l1rrollnded the pbce <llldm:lde a 12rg-e c;.pture oi l1iell who were too tired to ·walk or ride the threc nile limit. The London workman's attitude to his wi e and female relatives, is that of a superior being to his depe ldants. Tbe ItJ',ver you go ill the social scale, unlc;<;sthe wo nan is strong minded :etnd has mastered the male, the man t kes the same attitude over his wife which his employer or foreman has over him. He keeps her and she is always tr ring to get as much as possible from him, is tll(: idea. Ul1 xprcsscd, but still in his mind, previotls to marriage., and (hait g the walking out or courtship period, a verbal contract i'i entered into. Bill will give Liza so much a week, say ><eihteen bobJJ~ AICrISAN IS meaning shillings, to use his phraseology, "amI you w1lJ have to keep house out of that. I want a relish for my breakfast. You buy all yOUT own clothes and my boots." The bargain is settled according as the man ,"vants a home or the girl wants to get married. If the first is the grea.t-est force the woman gets more money; if the latter, well the man has more money for himself. The bargaining is as complete as any commercial transaction; as the family in-creases in number there is a renewed bargaining. The ''I'om;w needs more money to meet incre'J..sing demands, and the man who cannot get 1I1Orcfor his labor, has to curtail his expenditure, and increase that of his ,"vife for the benefit of little Ritl, Bessie and Johnny and etc. The London workman dies, and his widow puts on weeds. If she is young the black crepe and flmving veil becomes her, if she is old, and desirous of being very demonstrative in her grief she is a lllass of black trimtning"s, with her face hidden by tbe black veil and bonnet. A most uncanny looking object to encounter in the twilight. You can then realize the conception in a physical form of the much talked of "btack bogies" of childhood. But the dress of the widow is not the only feature at the death of a London workman. If Bill is well knowll, and has a large circle of friends some one inllnediately starts a friendly lead. The word is a strange one in tl1is particular, and the only explanation is that is \-vas t<l,kenas denoting tlle original idea of the coHect-lOll. Cards \vill be printed as follows: "Owing to the unfortunate death of Bill \Vorkman, a friendly lead will take place;1t tbe Cock and Pigeon, for the benefit of his widO'\', and nine little children who arc left entirely unsuppoi·tcd. As Bill was the first to help others, it is to be hoped that his friends will rally round and belp. Chairman 1\1r.--, Vjce 1'\-'Ir.---. A host of talent has promised to attend. The friendly lead will take place in the principal room of the public honse, and promptly at eight p. m." The chairman, generally a chum of the de-ccased, will ta.ke the chair, nnd call all various members of the audience for a song. At nine o'clock the plate will be put upon the table, and everyone present will contri-bute according to his means. It is rather remarkable what sums can he obtained in this -.,vay; .in somt cases as much as forty pounds has been collected at a good lead. The expense of the funeral will at times impoverish the family. A woman will spend her last penny and even mortgage coming money to have a splendhl fUlleral Four horses drav..·.ing the hearse, plumes and pall bearers, every extravag'ance which the undertaker can suggest is agreed to, and th~ poor woman has only the satisfaction of knO\ving that ,,,,hen she has to face the world for her Jiving that she has the opinion of the ncighborhood as being aU that a good wife should be. "Look what she spent on the funeral," is the comment ,,"Vhy, it even emt inrty-five pound':>; all she got from the friendly lead al1d the insurance C0111pany. "Ah! poor Bill's wife is a "good un." Special Sales Attract New Customers. The Gelleral Stores Company, of Evansville, Ind., finds proli.t in special sales. "It is a good idea," ").'.TanagerSpiegle remarked, to offer an article of recognized value at cost. This win often bring' many strangers to the store and fre-quently new customers are gained to rcmain for years. A recent special sale attracted nearly 1,000 people many of whom had never visited the store before." WHITE PRINTING CO., GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. PRINlERS OF CATALOGUES and everything needed by business men 16 MICHIGAN • - -- - - - -- ---------------------- ARTISAN I You Can't Make a Mistake By planning for an Alaska agency for 1909, if you do not now handle the line. Our sales for 1908 have far exceeded our expec-tations, and the demand has been strong throughout the season. ALASKA QUALITY is what does it. The lines are complete in styles and linings. The Alaska Refrigerator Co. EXCLUSIVE RI':FRIGERATOR MANUFACTURERS, Muskegon - , Michigan • Unscund Business Conditions. I'The commercial traveler has it within his power to go the limit, yielding or not to the temptation of the grafting buyer and to the demand for exceessive time allowances for payment, both of which are symptoms of tin sound business conditions. These can be curtailed by the salesman. thell1- selves in many instances, aed with their competitors acting in good faith along the same lines, can be eliminated en-tirely," said Henry Cle,,,,'s, in an address to a convention of traveling salesman. Continuing, :Mr. Clews said: "I c.an nothing in the immediate future," dec1axed the banker, "but what is promising, and OUr business set!Jac!, last. year should be considered merely as a passing cloud to be followed by national prosperity still greater than before. The time has now come to cheer up and be brave in our business unde,takings. He,eafter, day by day, we will be [wle to more clearly see the Phoenix arising from the ashes of the recent panic." Just at present many of the smaller merchants in OUt I! MUSKEGON VAllEY FURNITURE COMPANY ! MUSKEGON MICH •••• COIOniOi SUlies 1011 POSI BedS 000 Dressers ChiffOnierS WorOrolleS lomes' IOilets OresSill\l mllms MOhO!Jllny 1n10i0 600118 Lmeo. onIe m M•• uf~lu,",.· Sundi••• Gr~d Rapid., 1 • country are like setting hens, and will lay no golden eggs. Shoo them off their nests and compel them to get busy. Money is plentiful and will be for a long time to come. En-courage them to get into debt. They are overcautious nOw and want to be prodded a little. Down in Wall Street We have all v,raked up during the 1fast few weeks, and the troubles of last year are but a nightmare. vValI Street has always be<enthe barometer of trade, and I believe it foretells great activity in the commercial world during the coming months. 1\ew Yorkers who recently went to the Denver con-vention and did some traveling in Kansas during their trip had their eyes opened to the conditions prevailing in that section of the country. They report the farmers as almost all having automobiles to go to market in, thus showing their affluent condition-and why not? They have had those eventful eight yyears of bountiful crops, which they have sold at high prices, 80 that the strongest backlog that this country has today against a continuation of panicky or depressed conditions is the wealth of OUr farmers, who rep-resent thirty-five per cent of the labor class of the nation. The industrial manufacturers of this country represent twenty-five percent of the labor class, who have enjoyed equal prosperity with the farmers except during the past year. These two great interests represent sixty -per cent of the labor class, almost two-thirds of the whole population." A Decision on Routing Freight. Manufacturers ha,ie been obliged to pay railroad charges on a rou-ndabout route instead of on a straight route. Some railroad managers, in fact, very many, claim the right and privilege to ship freight or to route freight just as they please, regardless of the increased cost of freight. This has been the occasion of much friction between shippers and railroad men in years past. A recent court decision lay:; down the common sense principle ,of the law that a railroad company has no right to ship by a roundabout way if there is a direct and cheaper way. A case was recently brought by a shipper who was charged a large additional amount for a roundabout routing. The shipper gained his case and the judge read the railroad men a lecture to the effect that they had no right under the law to route goods just as they pleased irrespective of cost. This decision will do good. There is considerable in-justice done to the shippers by this indefensible railroad practice. Shippers have a right to enjoy the advantage of the shortest line from point of shipment to termination. The railroads have paid very little attention to this right, and have fallen into the habit of sending shipments as they saw'fit . ,..-------------- --- ]'v[I HIGAN ARTISAN ,~- ---- ----+--------------_.__ ._-~ This Fall's 'Eff and Eff" Line is pronounced OUR EST EFFORT The unusual in th way of style is as significantas the "Air of Quality" that prevades the line. And above all, "Good Valu .. sticks right out of every piece. Rockford Fra e and Fixture Company OCKFORD, ILLINOIS 17 ---_._---1--._-- • , Sligh·s Styles Satisfy Dealers MANY NEW F ATURES ADDED FOR FALL SEASON. "---------_.~,.- ----_._---_._-----~ EVERYTHING FOR THE BEDROOM (Medium and Fine Quality). Office and Salesroom corner Prescott andBuchanan Streets, Grand Rapids, Mich. Line now ready for inspection by dealers. 18 MICHIGAN Trade is about as usual with both retailers and manu-facturers. Several of the manufacturers who exhibited ill Chicago and Grand Rapids were agreeably surprised to l'!flU that after the show was over that orders commenced to come so freely that they have had to increase their working-time. Detroit has more than twenty furniture manufr!ctur-ers, and this year quite a number of them decided to have an exhibition of "Furniture made in Detroit," and select~d space in the Michigan Upholstering Company's factory on Lafayette avenue, and ran a :~how from July 20 to August l. It was a success and will probably be held again in January or July next, with a larger number of exhibitors. Detroit presents rnallY attractioGs in the summer time which makes it desirable acd country merchants like to visit it. The hotel accomodations are equal to auy city in the country under a half-million inhabitants; the. jobbing house:~ are large and varied, and the merchant who TUllS a general store can buy everything- he needs as well in :Cetroit as in any other city. If all manufacturers in Detroit should join with the single purpose of making the city a furniture market it would prove successfu~. The Posselius Brothers Furniture Manufacturing Com-pany 'have added a line of Arts Crafts tables to meet a de~ mand that seems to be growing in popularity everywhere. These will be illustrated in due time, and meanwhile all mer-chants -_whohave handled the famous Victor tables and other patterns manufactured by this house will know that the line will be fully up to the high quality of the others. The Palmer ldanufacturtng Company has had to add to the number of hours for running the factory. Business has improved very materially within the last two or three weeks. Their line of reed and rattan rockers, chairs, settees and chil~ dren's c':lrriages is large and fine, and one of the most pop-ular on the market. J. C. vVidman Company report a fair trade. Their line of dining room suites is one that is growing in popularity all the time, while their hall furniture and framed mirrors have a place 'in almost every first class furniture store in the country. Too Many Special Sales. In Providence, R. 1., merchants ransack the dictionary for names to apply to special sale offerings, presented to the public marvelously frequent. On this account the tendency of the business is eviL A prominent retailer of Grand Rapids discussed marked Pe9,taI No. 412. PALMER MFG. CO. 115 to 135 Palmer Ave •• DETROIT, MICH. Manufacturers of FANCY TABLES PEDESTALS TABOURETTES for the PARLOR AN. LIBRARY Our famousROOKWOOD FINISH lPO'W5 il!l popularity every clay. Nothiolillike it. Write for Picture. and Pricea. t ••• ARTISAN down sales recently. Prefacing his remarks with the state-ment that such sales were unprofitable, he said: "They have a tendency to create dissatisfaction among the regular trade \vhich is buying steadily and through all seasons of the year. In the larger cities these marked down sales are regular inci-dents of the business at specified times of the year. Dealers and salesmen who have had long experience with th~m have informed me they hold up in great measure the trade which would come in the busy periods of the year, these people waiting for the special prices and bargains. In some in-stances while waiting they would come to the conclusion they could get along very well without the furniture and thus a sale was lost entirely. They assert they would be glad to discontinue the practice and would if not compelled to keep it up through competition. In any event, if one sits down to figure results he will often discover the amount yOU can cut off your regular profit 'in these special sales represents the difference between your dividends and \,,,'hat they should be at the close of the year." The Value of Personality. E. L. Willis, of Flagg & \A/illis, Brockton, Massachusetts, attaches great value to the personal element in disposing of goods. He keeps in close touch with his trade, and im-p,' esses upon ctlstorr.ers the fact that their interests are identi-cal. Salesmen arc taught to first seek to discover what is to the interest of the customer, and thereby make him an active and interested force to any sale. • PlonrrR nanufa(\urin~ (om~anJ DItTROIT, MICH. Reed Furniture Baby Carriages Go-Carts ~ Full line ShQ1L'non 8ectmdjlMT, 1319 Mich-igan Ave., Chicago, , • Murphy Chair Co. MANUFACTURERS • DETROIT, MICH. A COMPLE.TE LINE. • MICHIG'\N ARTISAN ..----------------_._-- --------~----.. 55 Per Cent. INCREASE IN OUR BUSINESS FOR THE FIRST FIVE - .~- ------------- MONTHS OF 1908 OVER THE SAME PERIOD FOR 19Q7. OUR LINE ROCKERS ROMAN CHAIRS MISSION SUITES MORRIS CHAIRS MISSION PIECES TURKISH CHAIRS IMPERIAL RECLINING CHAIRS There's a Reason If you are one of our customers you will know. If yOll are not and are "from Misoouri." we would like an opportunity to show you. '--- ~1 Prompt Shipments. OUR PRICES Fll.OM $3.00 TO $30.00 Prompt :Ship ments. , No. 120 Our July Line conslstmg of one hundred twenty-five different patterns is larger and better than ever. Don't Forget to call, shake hands with our salesmen and look over our showing. It will mean increased business for you. CHICACO -3rd Roor Furniture Exchange. 14th and Wabash. GRAND RAPIDS-2d floor New Auditorium. NEW YORK-la RoD'. 155E, 23,d St. ST. LOUIS -6th floor Manufacturers'· Furniture Exchange, 14th and Locust Sts. Full line shown in our new catalog ready for distribution Sept. 1st. TRAVERSE CITY CHAIR CO., Traverse City, Mich. 19 ..... 20 MICHIGAN ARTISAN THE TRAVELING SALESMAN. He is Net a NeCf:ESary Evil But a Farce Making fer Better Business. In the distribution of Alcerican manufadures. a very irn~ partant part is played by the traveling salesman. Opinions rr;ay differ as to whether he is indespcnsable or not, but it is s"fe to say that it will be long before he is eliminated as a facto: in Ame,ric,a c9mn:ercial life. With cheap postage and a tIreless pnntll1g press, more or less determined efforts have been made from time to time to do without the services of the commercial traveler, but few manufacturers have solved the problem of dispensing with his services; hence he continues to be regarded as the missionary of trade. This being the case, says a writer in the American Artisan, the man \vho gets the o~dcrs and keeps the wheels of the factory moving ought to be given the consideration al~d re-spect he deserves. There are those who fail to accord such consideration to the traveling saleman, including some cold-blooded individ-uals and journals that supereilliously refe: to him, if they give him any notice at all, as "a necessary evil." Such a view of the missionary of trade is, we believe, an unjustifiable one. If the man who sells goods "on the road" for a manu-facturer or wholesale house is no marc than "a necessa y evil," the retail salesman and 5alcswon~an might be placed in the same class, but we have not yet heard anyone senseless enough to call the retail salesman "a necessary evil." Taken as a class, the commercial travelers of America are a great credit to their country and to the communities in which they claim residencc. More than once they have proved their patriotism and they are citizens of credit and renown. In the communities in which their families live and to which they return with eager speed whenever the ex-igencies of business will permit, they exhibit a hig-h type of citizenship ar.d are noted for their progressiveness and their public spirit, while in the communitits which tl1ey visit in their ete,nal quest for orders they ate ever we1con'e, acd their presence sheds unbounded joy. On the railroads of the United States the commercial traveler is a perpetual delight, brightening the darkest day and lightening the gloom at night. Does a sick ar.d \,wary --- ----------- traveler need the comfort of human sympathy: The com-mercial traveler is there to extend it in a wholesouled, jovial way that fills the bill. Docs a case requiring charity prese:-_t ibdf? The c(ml-mercia! traveler is eyer cha;-itably irc1ineo, and his -omni-presence makes him invaluable to the needy. Does an emergency arise demanding courage, patience, encrgy, clear-sightedness, self-sacrifice? The commercial t~aveler is the nrst and readiest to respond. Are there difficulties and dangers to be met al~d surmounted? The commercial tr;lV-eler is found to be a leader of r:cCll, as he is a pioneer of trade. Watch him as he enters the country town in quest of business. Note the cheery smile that wins him welcome. See the fraternal ease_\,/ith which he greets the station agent and the baggage master and the village marshal and H:e bus driver, and note the warmth of their recurring welcon~e. As he enters the hotel and registers for a brief stay be-tween trains, see how cheerily, almost affectionately, he is greeted by the prop,ietor or the night clerk. Do not worry lest he should be given an uncomfortable room, for his wel-come is a genuine one, and he will get th~ best there is in the house. \Vatch him as with sample case in hand he starts to sce his trade in the town, or prepare his display in the sarrp'le room, which he transforms ten:pOrarily into a who1cslle· store. Note the confidence, the conscious rectitude in every move, ,and see how he impresses himself upon those with whom. he c.omes in contact, for conGdence be;sets con-fidence, and the cheery man has all the world for his friends. In the store of the country me: chant Ilote the diplomacy of the missionary of trade. Okerve the care and good judgement with which. he. comports hin:seli-treating 1:0 two men alike, but all zs brothers; looking at things from their point of view appa"_ently, but in the end impressing his own views Llpon his CU:3to:rr:ersas surely as the c3sti:lg-is formed by the mold. Note his patience llllder, rebuff, his perserverance in tlH~ pursuit of t~adc, his disregard of personal discomfort [f,nd the petty hardships of traveling; his unfailing optimism tl1)- der all circumstances-and who shall S:iY that he is not, in his thousal:ds, a power in th::: land and a mighty influence for good. Remcmber that on the efforts of this one cheerful, er.- ergetic, businesslike iLdividual the welfa e of a hundred An:- OUR OAK AND MAHOGANY DINING EXTENSION TABLES ARE BEST MADE BEST FINISHED VALUES All Made from Thoroughly Seasoned Siock. LENTZ TABLE CO. NASHVILLE. MICH. I• No 384~ • ~l 1C 1-1 1C; A ;\ ARTISAi\ 21 • rSMITH-& DAVIS MFG. CO. I St. Louis No. 155 Woven Wire Couch, Write for 1908 Catalogue No. 146 Iron Frame Woven Wire Cot, real support, $1.85 Net $4.00 Net No. 152 Link Fabric Couch, $3.60 Net ~_._--_._--------- eric:m workmen depends; that it is he and his like who keep the milts and factories at 'work; that in the distant city "the hou~c" depends upon his efforts from day to day to dispose of its outPllt and keep its employes at work-and then all him "a l;eccssary evil" if you will, bt1t in the name of truth and justice lay due en:phasis Oll the word Hnecessary," Fo:" the commercial travcltr is as necessary to the business life of America as fJW Jlwtcrjal is to a factory, or power to an eng11le. He is the motive power of the manufacturing world-the factor that keeps Ule wheels re\'olving and the mac:hines at \vork. Grafting Barred. One of the evils that prevails in many large industries is the pnIctice indulged in by foremen and in many instances superintendents, 01 borrol,villg money from shop hands. A rr:ovement to check thi~ species of blackmail has been in-augurated by the United States Steel Trust, \vhich has posted the following rule in its several plant;; at Pittsburg: ;'1\"0 sl:perintendent, foreman, boss or clerk is permitted to ..-----------_. I Henry •I Schmit 8 Co. HOPKINS AND HARRIET STS. CindnDati. Ohio makers of Upbolstered Furniture I I,• • fo. 'IPit;iI!~LODGE and PULPIT, PARLOR, LIBRARY, HOTEL and CLUB ROOM No. 73 Link Cot, $3.25 Net 3.50 Net 2.feet, 6 in., 3 (eet, (- . . . . ..--.i solicit tr;oney or n~ake collections from workmen for any church, society or association,'" Bosses have been in the habit of seeking donations from ~mong workmen ·who were afraid of their jobs if they did I:ot subscribe. Rule 23 reads: ")Io salaried employee of this company '\vill be permitted to buy or in any way aS3ist in the sale of ~11eproduct of any cOIY,pacy, nor must aoy salaried employee take an active part in C:01Hluc:tingany business ill which such inve.>tment is made." The rule \vas adopted to keep the bosses from forcing workmen to buy at places in which the bosses are financially interested. A rule has also been adopted prohibiting employees from interfering with each other in political matters and none is permitted to solicit contributions for political purposes. "Blue Fig Furniture/' ~\ Sydney daily paper quoted Mr. R. B<lker, Curator of Sydney Technological 1Jl1seum, as stating: "He had seen suites of furniture in the city showrooms, purporting to be of real oak.' Really, it was only 'blue fig,' which grov.'s not in England, not even America, but simply at home on the "Korth Coast rivers of >Jew South "Vales." "Build.ing" considered the remark an unwarrantable slur upon Australian furnishers, and found on enquiry that the remark was utte:·]y ridiculous for the simple reason that "blue fig" is more difficult to obtain than oak, and more ex-pensive. "Furnjshers,''' said the Kosmic cotllpar.y .. 'Iare only too anxiOl13 to obtain blue fig; infact, it takes us over three weeks to get any for our work. Blue fig is not ljkely to be passed off as oak, beeause it is ever so mueh bette-. If 1'1r. Baker can tell us where we can obtain "blue rig we will purchase all he can get for us."-"Building," New South Wales . 22 MICHIGAN NO GENERAL RISE MADE IN CARLOAD MINIMUMS. Western Classification Committee Finishes its Work. After a meeting at Manitou, Colo., that lasted two weeks, the western classification committee has finished its work and adjourned, to meet ill January at Miami, Fla. Contrary to general expectations a general advance in carload minimums from 30,000 to 36,000 pounds was not made. The committee considered each classification sep-arately, and either raised or lowered the minimum on its merits. It is stated that an advance has been agreed upon in a majority of cases. Just what they are will probably not become public until the new classification is published. The only statement obtainahle from H. O. Backer, chairman of the committee is this: "'vVe felt that in justice to the shippers it would be better to take up classification separately, as a general schedule would work hardship in most instances. In this manner we feel that we have satisfied the greatest number of shippers, as in several classifications a lowcr minimum rate was necess-ary," The increases are said to run from 6 and 10 per cent. The remarkable thing about it is that most of the increases are agreeable to the shippers, For example, the Illinois Steel company is .said to have suffered an increase in the minimums of more than· 30 articles, which the company ships, and no objection was made. Two-thirds of the increases, it was also stated, were on light and bulky articles. which are diffi-cult to load heavy. The committee gave the shippers an eight-day hearing before it went into executive session to settle the 500 subjects on the docket. Never before was such a courtesy extended, as they have usually been cut off with a short hearing. The fact that nothing more definite can be learned and that in most instanc.es an increase was made will keep an army of· small shippers on the anxious seat, while it will not make so much difference to the big shippers. The latter will, it is asserted, be benelitted, and were strong advocat2:>, of the higher minimums. The effects will be far-reachiug". as the small jobbers in the territory of the heavier shrpp~r.'i \.·ot,ld interfere 'Nith their trade. The railroads as a rul,,: ',','ere agreeable, ~;T,d justified it on the ground that a grt.~,~ volume of freight could be handled with the same amount of equipment, and that had the heavier loading been required during the- past three months, it would ha.ve helped to solve the car shortage problem. On this point, when the meeting of the committee began, its chairman said: "The clamor for the higher minimum weight of <:arload lots has come largely from the jobbing interests, and es-pecially the. large firms that aT(: able to buy in almost any quantities. It 'will be an advantage to the railroads, as the most of them have been improving the roadbeds and in-creasing their motive power iri the last few years, until they are now able to haul much larger cars and heavier trains than formerly. With the increased minimum weight, the roads can handle more freight with the same number of cars, and in times of congestion this will relieve the car shortage, which will be much appreciated by all the large business in-terests that in the past have been hampered by their in-ability to get fn'.1ght on time. "The charge that the committee is trying to manipulate the classification so as to effect what would be equal to an increase in rates is false as it is absurd. Some articles may be placed ill higher classes and some in lower classes, but it is impossible to tell whether the average will be higher or lower for the general jobber. There will probably be very little 'difference noticable. The work of the committee is open and above board and there are at least 200 representa-tives from the business organizations of the country ready to enter protests or u\ake petitions. In fact th~ work of ------ -- ------------------------- ARTISAN the committee is nothing more nor less than theconsid-eration of appeals Of protests from the shippers of the country, some of which are granted and others of which are rejected as the memhers of the committee may deem wise. The committee meets every six months, and all the ac-cummulated protests for the intervening time are consid-ered. We have absolutely nothing to do with the fixing of rates. The classification of freight is not of so much im-portance to the business men of the country so long as the classification is the same for all cities west of the Missis-sippi as it is bound to .be. It is uniform and therefore no particular jobber aud no particular city has any advantage Dver the others. \V c have four classes for freight in less than carload lots and six classes for carload lots, makillg 10 classes in all." "'\Vhen asked as to the rumor that the Standard Oil trust had a special representative at the committee meetings Mr. Becker smiled and said that such might be tl~e case hut he had not made himse-If ma11ifest and the big oil concern might have a dozen men for all he knew. The committee has nothing to do with the classification of such freight as oil, which is ha.ndled in special tank cars owned by the large oil companies. The same rule applies to the packers' special refrigerator cars.---:New York Commercial. "Keep on Keeping On." It pays to "keep on keeping on," remarked a traveling salesman representing a prominent fl1rnjture manufactttrinp; house. "\Vhy not throw in an illustration to illuminate your brilliant remark suggested one of a group of listeners. "That is casy," remarked the first speaker. The in-cident I shall describe was not an -Uncommon one. In fact it is a\rr:ost an every day experience. HArrived at night in Sioux City, Iowa. After the usual clean-up and breakfasting on themornillg following I went out to see the trade. Buyer Rappley, of Davidson Brothers, said "nothing doing.'! Albert Lindholm of the Lindholm Furniture company expressed sorrow becau;;e there was nothing in my lines he could use. Frank H. Peavy of Peavy & .:-.Jashhoped. to have an order for n~e.whe.n I caned on my next trip. R. J. McMahon of the Pelletier company regretted that his company was overstocked, "Dave Anderson, the good natured Swede, of the Ander-son Furniture company expressed appredation for my call but did not need a thing. l\:1y ill success did not affect my appetite for dinner, and as my train did not leave till nightfall I concluded later in the afteruoon to make the rounds of the buyers' offices again. Mr. Rappley had sold quite a number of' dressers during the morning and concluded that he could use a few more-only three, with chiffoniers to match. Fred Peavy had looked over his stock list and ordered a few box seat diners. Mc!\,fahon found a place in his stock for a few table5. Albert Lindholm had a call for taU post beds, which he did not have in stock, and ordered two. Anderson had thought the matter over and concluded that he ought to buy a few cheap dressers. When I returned to the hotel and figured up my sales I found the total amounted to $1,000. Under the circum-stances, for mind you my trip to SOttix City was made in one of the dullest months of last year, my sales were not So bad. "It pays to keep on keeping on." An Order for Hotel Furniture in Sight. \Vork has been resumed upon a hotel bUilding at Grange-ville, Idaho. It will cost $50,000 to complete the structure. :vIICHIGA'J ARTISA'J HELLO GIRLS TRAIN FOR JOBS. 7,000,000 Telephones in Uf:e-13,OOO,OOOMiles of Wires in This Country. "Few people know that there arc 7,000,COOtelephones now in tlse in the United States." said a well-posted telephone man in speaking of the remarkable growth of the telephone in reccnt years. ;'Few know, too, that there are abont 13,000,000 mites of telephone wires in operation in this countl-y, not to speak of the many miles of wires used in switchboards and other apparatus under roof. The wires reach from coast to const and from Canada to l\lexico, and a man in ~ ew Y()~k call talk to another mall in Omaha, and each can hear the other as distinctly as though one ·were in the Bronx and the other at the Battery, There will soon COlue a time ,<rhen K01/ Yorkers can talk with San Francisco or other cities along th(~ Pacific Coast "Some surprising figures al'C shown in the cost of oper-- ating this vast system. For instance, the value of th~ -wire and other apparatus and the labor cost for installation arn- OU11tsto about $175,COO,CCO. There arc ahout 25,000,000 toll connections throughout the United States and more than 8,OOO,OCD,OOO exchange counections. The cost of maintajning the standard of service is enormous. Last year the various telephone companies paid about $54,000,000 for maintenance and recollE'tt'lletion of plants. One system alone, the Bell, spent $36,000.CCO h,st year. "\",/hile the Bell system is by far the largest in this country there arc several hundred smaller and independent telephone concerns tInt maintain an excellellt service. "The whole territory of the Bell Company and its sub-sidiaries has becl] divided into departments, and over each has been placed a mall who is responsible to the Directors. The new system incllldes the business, plant, and traffic departments, and each of thesc departments is suh-divided, and every head 01 a department or sub-departmcnt all the way up the line is respollsible to a Illall higher tip, who ill tul'11 is responsible to the one still higher up, until it gets to the manager of one of the three departmeets. HIll recent years the system of obtaining operators has changed. ::-J 0 long ago a 'hello' girl ,'vas employed after <L :-;u:veliicial course of instruction. P,-Jo: servicp was th'~ result. XO\.v the telcphone companies have schools of in-struction for the telephone operators. Sometimes it takes weeks for a 'hello' girl to get all the details of the \vork, and to be graduated as a reliable operator. Often the:'e arc cases where girls :J.re found unsuited for the work. These sehools of instruction cost the students nothing, The in-structors are expert who have been in the employ of the company for several years. "In these scbools of instruction the prospecti,'e 'hello' girl is drilled in calming the irritable: cllstomer who wants a number and wants it quick; also the customer \"...ho makes all the trouble he can for the girl at the switchboard. There is a set phraseology of replies to certain queries. All these she has to learn letter perfecL "The experts say that a girl must have imagination to become a good operator. She has to see in ber mind's eye all that is taking place on the wires and to be ready for every emergency. \Vithout that the 'hello' girl will always prove a failure."-Times. Occupants of Burns' Chair Must Treat, In one of the rooms of a Dumfries public house is an old arm chair which is said to have been frequently used by the poet Burlls. All who sit in this chail' are expected to treat everyone who is in the room at the time, and often the immortal memory of the famous Scottish national poet is drunk. 23 III ,,, I I PRICE $13.50. Full Quartered Oak. Dull Finish. Commode and Chiffoniers and Beds to match. GHAS, BENNETT FURNITURE CO, CHARLOTTE, MICHICAN ~--------_. • I• G~efO;~&. Johnson Company • II ! II I The line includes a very complete assortment of Chairs. Rockers and Settees of all grades. Dining Room Furniture. Mission Furniture. Fibre·Rush Furniture. Reed and Rattan Furniture. Go-Carts and Baby Carriages. Our complete line of samples are displayed In The ford &. Johnson Co. building. 1333-37 Wabash Avo.. InclUding a special display of "ote. furniture. No 805 C2 II• All Furniture lJealers are c07dially invited to Visit our building. - EVANSVILLE LINES MANUFACTURERS' FURNiTURE EXCHANGE Corner Wabash Avenue and Fourteenth Street Just one of the 100 styles of the "New Superior Lrn~:" of Extension, Library, Parlor and Dressing Ta11les. This table is made with the "Ideal" drop Jei. 'Base is non·dividing, made in 6 ft. to 14 ft. THE BOCKSTEGE F'URNITURE CO. EVANSVIL.L-.E. INDIANA The Metal Furniture Co. EVANSVILLE, IND. MANUFACTURERS OF Metal Bedsteads Fullliue 01 Samples on exhibition dUIing the eutire year, on fi"'t Ooor 01 the Manufacturers' Furniture Exchange. comer Wabash Ave. and 14th St., Chicago. TIfE WORLD FURNITURE CO. (Member of Big Six Car Loading Association) tvANSVIu.E INDIANA Manufacturen of Folding Bed. (Mantel and Upright), BuffetB. Hall Trees. China Closeb, Combination and Library Bookcaaell. Full line of tamples on exhibition during the entire year, on first floor of the Manufacturers Furniture Mchanse, corner Wabash Ave. and 14th St., Chicago. Globe Side Boards and Hall Racks Are the best for the money. Get our Cata-logue. Mention the Michigan Artisan when writing, F ull ~ne 01 samples on exhibition during the en-tire year, on the fir51Ooor 01 the Manufacturers' Furniture Exchange. Cor. Wabash Ave., and 14th St.. Chicago. Globe Furniture Company EVANSVILLE, IND. - -- --------------------------- ON SALE IN CHICAGO MANUF ACTURERS' FURNITURE EXCHANGE Corner Wabash Avenue and Fourteenth Strut The Karges Furniture CO. EVANSVILLE, INDIANA Manuf ..cturer8 ". Chamber Suites Dressers Wardrobes a.d Chiffoniers i. PLAIN OAK QUARTERED OAK AND IMITATlON QUARTERED OAK Full line of samples (In exhibitiOTl during the en-tire- year. on firSt floor of the Manufadurers' Furni-ture Exchanlle, corner Wa-bash Ave. and 14th 3t., CrueaI/o. Cupboards Kitchen Cabinets and K. D. Wardrobes. Is all we make but we make lots of them. Get Catalogue and Price.. The Bosse Furniture Co. EVANSVILLE, IND. Putt tine of wMpleg on eXhibition during Ihe entire year on jl:r8tftoor (Jf the jl[anujac(!ll'ers' Furnitm'( Exchange, corner Wabash Ave. and 14th St., Ckicago. The "ELI" FOLDING BEDS ~~tfl'rR~,'1.Nm No Stock complete wltbout the Eli Beds in Mantd and Upright. E 0 M & C Evansville. Indiana Ll . ILLER O. Wrtt~ for cuts and p'ri(;e5 ON SALE IN FURNITURE EXCIiANCE, CHICAQO. --_. --- -----------------------------, 26 MICHIGAN PRACTICAL HINTS ON HOME BUILDING. Comfort and Artistic Satisfaction in the Arrangement of th<; Dining Room. Take the Dining Room as t(1C Living Room, its great featur~ is the fireplace. It is the keynote of the room. The use of a fireplace is to give heat. This mig-ht seem a rather Ul1- lJeCessary remark, but in v.iew of the fact that most fireplaces waste more heat than they thro,,'" out, the POjllt is well worth consideration. A defi-nition of J. good fircpb.ce would be "one that gives plenty of heat, wastes 110ne, and is easily cleaned," but such a one is an ideal. A fireplace must necessarily waste heat, even the best designs must waste at least 25 per cent. It gently wafts itself up the flue, and, of course, one can't do ,..i..t.hout that cOllv~nience., therefore it can't be helped. It is better to have a fireplace use-ful and ornamental than to have one ornarncntal and of little use; on the other hand, it is still better to com-bine usefulness and beauty. There is no reason ,;"hy the two should not combine, but seldom is it that they do. There has been gr(~at improve-ll1ei1t in the design of fireplaces of late years. It is not long since they were built in stlch a way as to afford the least possible amount of heat for the greatest quantity of fuel, and were of such surface as to require a whole 1110rninK. and several cakes of black lead to polish. Those old grates were cunningly fashioned, so as to smuggle all the. heat up the chimney, and leave the room frigid, and one didn't even have the satisfaction of knowing they were "artistic." Then there ,...e.r.e the mantelpieces 1 They exist still in many a house, huge, clumsy things, some ranged up in tiers of fretwork and ui>eless little cupboards, and others just heavy shelves, supported on Jumpy brackets or reedy pil-asters. And then the marble mantlepiece! Hideous and ungainly, but i>omehow it seeh1ed One time to he taken as an indication of gentility. Inseparable from such mantles were the buffy, fringy drapes, that hung all round them, and caught the smoke and the flies. Thetl there were the steel fenders, and the clumsy fire-irons', that everyone stumbled over. After these came the cast-iron mantelpiece, painted to resemble marble, and a hundred other abominations too irritating to mention. \Vhat a difference there is between such atrocious ex-amples and the beautiful conceptions of modern manufacture, same of which are here shown. GTIILLE. D~slgn(:rl and Manufac-tured b~' Buckly & Nunn, Sydney, N. S. W. ARTISAN This age has certainly seen a vast improvement in the design of such domestic fumishings, also there have been many inventiolls to rcgulat~ the consumption of fuel and the supply of heat. There are many good designs in the market, having these qualities of convenience and economy, but for positive comfort there aTe none that can compare with the open fireplace. \Vhat a sense of .vell-being it gives, the wide hearth S'2:.'ms always glowing with genial hospitality. The evening group sitting round it, can talk or be silent as they \-vill, the 'work-a-day cares <l.re dissolved, <l1ld one ar-ranges the future in a splendidly comfortable manner bencath its radiant influence. There is no such pleasure emanating from a stave or tiny grate, and one certainly can't imagine anyone weaving falleles while !>itting before a radiator! Now, an open fire; though in the process it wastes heat, does ventilate a room. The fireplace should be recogniz'":d as an integral and highly important part of the ventilaticil1, and most architects rei1lize this as they are beginning to re-alize its decorative· value, but when one sees that in a direct line between dOOf, window, and fireplace, is the only possible sitting place, then one is justified in believing that someone has blundered. It is seldom that one comes across any effective attempt to combine heating and ventilation by means of the fire-place, and this surely, is one of the things that should be GRILLE .Manufactured i:tnd dealgned by Buckly & Nunn, Sldney, N. S. W. done; another suggestion here given to any inventive genius is to devise some means where-by the waste heat may be util-ized. Just think of the heat which might be utillZed to !;varm the icy cold bedrooms to which we retire from the. comfortable sitting room. One of the best features in modern fireplace design is the ingle-nook. Its revival is, in a way. due to the medieval in-clinings of the arts-craft move-ment; there is an atmosphere of snugness and quietude about them which is wonderfully pleasant, though they in a large measure prevent the warm-ing of the whole room. How-ever, the ingle-nook, campen-- sates by its picturesqueness, it is an excellent architectural opportunity, and its treatment can often give an otherwise commonplace rooni distinct in-dividuality. Such a nook is not expensive. Quite a simple treatment is all that is needed to place one of these most companionable re-cesses in the lhdng-room, and what better place could be de-sired for quietude and content? ---------_ .._---- MICHIGAN Its opening could be made a great decorative feature by the addition of a grille, such as sho\vn in these notes. For the flreplace surroundings, simplicity and neatness should be the first consideration. Tiled openings arc clean SIDEBOARD IX -,"\1~8T.KA!,(i\l\- TIMBEJ:{ :Manufactured and designed by Buckly & KUllf'. Sidlley >:i. S. "'. and fresh, both in appearance a1lClreality. Those built up of pressed brick, with ""videopenings, are also good to have. ;\ fireplace should have as little ironwork as possible abollt it; many of thos(~ elaborately "quaint" designs with copper everywhere and a metal hood, are rather absurd. The hood especially is a mistake; it re-minds one of a cure for a smoky fluc, and prevents the heat being thrown up w ar d s. The present day dog g 1- ate is another thing that would be ·"e,·y well if it ".rere of any use, but as it is used merely for the sake of its pic-turesqueness, and is of little or no utility, it could well be dis- DIKI::-lG ROOM ART' MANTEL IK AI'::S- pensed with. These TRALIAN 'lTMDEJR. De8igned and Manufactured by Ellckl~' & Nunn, Sidney, 1\. S. W. grates are seen at their best in old CO u n try houses, \vhere the blackened dogs rest on a broad hearth, in a deep-backed, cavernous aperture. In a modern drawing-room, the small recess containillg the polished dogs (quite purpose-less), and a flickerillg nre that \varms the room not at all, remind one of stage properties. To sU111111ariscthe matter; choose a f-ireplace that is a good heating apparatus, for that is the first consideration; the second is, that it should necessitate little cleaning, it must have nothing about it that will collect dust and dirt. In regard to the design, let it he broad, simple, and well-proportioned. Avoid all unnecessary, 11ddling detail. and you will have a fireplace good to give warmth and pleasant to look upon.~"Building." Sydney, New South \Vales. ARTISAN 2i New Hotels in the South. T. Vv'. Smith will erect a seventy 1'0'0\11 hotel in Columbus, Ga. A large extension to the Hotel Grafton, in\tVashingtotl, D. C. will be erected at a cost of $130.000. D. \Volverston is flllancing a company to erect a sixty room hotel in Yazoo City, l\liss. The Gr('envil1c (S. C.) will illvest $105,COO in a new hotel building . .i\. hotel to contain 200 rooms will be erected in lvlaeon, Ga., by Dr. E. P. Frazier. C.V./. Baxter wilt erect a hotel with 126 gucst rooms at St. Peter~~burg, Fla. A ~eYent}' room hotel will be erected by the Red Springs (Texas) Devlopment company. Booming the Home Town. Every husiness man should be proud of the city or tOWlI in "\vhich he lives and lend his efforts to the work of making Ilis place of residence ·worthy of his pride. In many cities civic pride is almost a pas- SI011. The Gothamite argues that "little old New York" is the only city in the world fit for a lady or gentleman to live ill. The resident of tbe "\Vindy City" 'will undertake to prove that Chicago is the only city in the wor1d~ that all others are merely her suburbs. The Cleve- 1and e r challenges the world to produce greater evidences of llatural and acquired beauty tha11 he can boast of. Alba11Y, Los .Angeles. 1Jinneapolis, and Grand Rapiu.s l11ust be considered w hen the beauty spots of this grand old \vorld shall be p:'esent-cd for consideration. It rema111S for the people of Atlanta however to shO\.,- the people of Am-erica how to boom the t01,.vns in ..v..hich they live. /\.t the recent convention of the hotel keepers of America, .Mr. Zimmer, proprietor of the Kimball house (n former resident of the remarkably beautiful and still more p~osper()us and rapidly growing city of Detroit) gave the following statement of the plan employed by the citizens of Atlanta. It has been said that everyone who comes to Atlanta becomes thoroughly intoxicated with the greatest of all tonics, "The Atlanta Spirit," which by the way is the only intoxicating thing available in Georgia now-a-days. To demonstrate the strength of 'The Atlanta Spirit" it has been told that an Atlanta traveling man met a competitor from Savanah. The Atlanta man said to the Savanah man: "Did yOll ever visit Atlanta?" "Oh, yes." "How long ago?" says the Atlanta mall: Savanah man: "Last week." Atlanta mall: "Oh, well, you ought to see her now." There is a lot of enthusiasm in that final sentence. If there is nothing in a man's town that \vill not make him swell ,,,,-ithpride and remark, "Oh, well, yOll ought to see her now!" it is that man's duty to wake up and assist his neighbors in putting the place he lives in upon the map prominently. WINDOW DEJSIGN-"AUTCMN'" 28 MICHIGAN DRIPPING WITH VARNISH. Adventures of Jean Baptiste. It is now six rr:onthssince I am come to America, and be-hold fee already a citizen of this glorious Republic! At present, fortune smiles ber.ignantly upon me. I am agreeably placed in 110rton & Covington's new emporium of paint and varnish on lower Sixth Avenue. l\'Iy salary is considerable, my feHow clerks are an-.iable and obliging, and I am entirely content. True, there are occa3ional UI1- pleasantnesscs" but these arc of no importance. They do Lot disturb me, as I have reason to think myself a favorite. Today it is already August. From \vhere I sit behind my desk of cashier, I can see the patchc!;ipf sun that lie a1011.s the thrc~hoJd of the store with all the languor of afternoon. Outside, the listless hush of four o'clQ?"k spreads itself Oy'er the bunjng pavements. I withdraw n~y gaze from the street and look about n~e with satisfaction. Beneath the arch of the ceiling, elec-tric fans whirl energetically, rer.dedng the air of an agree- <ible coolness, at:d the sl~adowed interior of the st0re is qui::t ~t:d witham exciten:ent. Neat rows of tins, diversiJied with colored labets, line the shelves on all sides, and little kegs of van~i.>h are heaped beside the tall machine of artistic netal and a dial face in which one puts the penny aed ascer-tains one's true weight. 1 am surrqunded by an atmosphere of lacquer, of etlamel, of paint, of multicolored tints. All is riotous color, the very walls themselves seemingly tapestried with advertisen-.ents of surprising h\1es. On the PO:3tbeside my desk is hung a superb lithograph. It reprcsents a young girl, very pretty and adorable. This one is also a blonde, with eyes of an' animated blue, and mag-nificent color. Between her parted lips one sees the little teeth like pearls. She is decolletee, and her shoulders lift themselves above her dress with a luster of tillted ivory. She extends in one hand a tin of "Herrick's Varnish." I gaze upon her with adoration, believing myself to see in her the countenance of my ideal. And always she looks at me, smiling. I am alone except for Henry, the errnx.d-boy. Ab:Jut two o'cl.cck n:y confreres become restless. Peterson is stricken with an ttr.accountable illr ess, ar.d is oblige,d to absent himself. IVlcDermott also fancies hin~self siezed v,rith al:pel~diciti~, and gOt:~;to constlt a phy i_ia:l. "Je:l11 B::ptiste," he s~,ys "Jean BaptiJte, just keep an eye on the store while I'm gone, will you? There'll he nobody in, but I tT'.8yn't be b3.ck for sorr.e tirr.e in cc,se the pain be- (or::·_esserwus. And there's no occasion to mention it to the old man tomorrow. It might alarm him." I as~elit. but I am not decejved. 11cDern:ott has a girl, and he will take her to CP'1cy Islar:d for the afternoon. It will be delightful down there, and ll"-onsier is safe not to return until n:orninG. And then, too, there is the adorable blor:de of the codectionery-shop. I cor.sider the sug.;cstion, but no, I am Jean Baptiste, and l,evt:r betray a trust confided by my employer. Also, it will be wise to ke(p an (ye t:pOll Henry. There is a base-b: l1l game this aftc,r~oon, ard I am already conscious of hi:3 efforts to quit tl~e ~,torc without observation. VV~endure a long p:tu.:;e of it,action, during which I re-gard the COUl1tenJcce of IT y ideal with rapture, and Henry approaches hirrseL" l:e:trer aul nearer to the door. Then the entrance is sr:ddcGly darkened, and a n-stomer enters in con-siderable agitation. She declares hers2lf wait(ng since ten o'clock tLls mcrri:'g fer the arriv~l of a tin of enamel which was pron:isrd t8 her yesterd9Y, at:d she comes to de-tlland an explanatio;'. Henry addresses hel" courteously. signifying hin~se1f ready to inquire into the neglige He. and in order to investigate, withdra\vs himself to the rear of the store while I regard madame with a casual interest. She ARTISAN is not beautiful, this lady, but is of middle age, large, ruddy, and of an amazing expansiveness. One observes at once that she is German, and, though not of the upper worid, is ostensibly a woman of substance. Also one sees that at her house all is admirably regulated. She wears a purple dress with astonishing spots, and of a style a little anti-quated, and a black bonnet that nods with purple flowers. An inimical eye gazes out from behind the skirts of mada.n~e, and I am suddenly conscious that a great dog on a leash accon~panies her. Oh, he is ferociol:s, that animal, and of a surprising ugliness! Also it '..'o. uld be possible to dream about those relentless teeth, long and so glaring a whiteness, that menacing jaw, that gaze so omdprescnt and wicked. He is indeed a true nightmare, that dog! HAch, n:ein lieber," says madame, bending ab:)Ve the animal, "do not be afraid. The kind gentleman will not hurt thee. Be still, mein EngeL" Me, I do not think that the kind gentleman desires to annoy the angel dog at all. The kil:d monsieur prefer.;; to rerr.ain in perfect amity, and at a complete distance. He is young, and, he has at present, no desire for sudden and fright-ful dt:ath. J crry, Hetiry's confrere, returning from an ern.:nd, et~te:s the stc,rc hurriedly, but precipitates himself be:.ind the counter, 011 beholding the animal. The dog growls, in showing his teeth. Evidently young boys do not please him, but then perhaps the period of his youth has not been an entirely happy one. Presently Henry reappears, flushed and apologetic. He ~s entirely desolated, but he has been unable to trace the order of rradame. The regular clerk is not at prese,lt in the shop, but will be interrogated concerning it upon the instant of his return, l\Iad:nne has only to wait until to-morrow, and all will be arranged satisfactorily. Howcver, this does not content madame at all. She is angry, and she expostulates. She has lost an entire day in waiting, and it is 110t her purpose to quit the store with-out satisfactory 2.ssurancc that the stuff will be sent to her immediately. And it io; an order for a brand which we do not keep in the store! It is tremendously important to madame that she should have it at once, al~d it is preposter-ous that she sr.ould be made to wait. It is necessary that Henry· should look again~ "Jerry," S2YS Henry, "m<:.ybe you can find that enamel for th' lady. I've just been lookin' in th' back of the shop and 'tisn't ttere. "'lander if Mr. Peterson hasn't put it down in th' cellar?" "I'll look ar:d sfe," snys Jerry, e:ti,e\' wi~lin3" to obli;-e, and he descends into the recesses below with an impctl1o;.13 rapidity. The enorn:ous beast prcss(s closer to his n:i:-.tress, beat-ing violently with· the tail. ;'Fine dog you've got there, ma'am," says Henry, with politeness, acd observing him with care, Madarre is pleased. She smiles, nodding the head. HYes, yes, l~e is a goat dog, a fery goat dog; but he docs 110t luf the leetle cats. He has killed a great many, }r':'. a fery great many, - And there was a burglar oncc. They took him to the jail in many p'ieces, and the judge has given him seven years in the hospital. Yes, a fery goot dog." I decide that I will never burgle-at least, not while there is a possibility of meeting an animal like that. A thousand thunders, but I would not have liked to have been that man! I determine always to be virtuous. "Ach," continues madame, with con:placence, "but he has a so beautiful disposition, my Bismarck-so gentle, so affec-tionate, a heart rrit a s:) great devotion filled! I luf him like a son. Is he not indeed magni1icent, meit~ jtmge ?" Henry ass~t1ts, but we are here interrupted by ·the return of Jerry, who cotr.es to report a lack of sUCcess in his search. He has diligently investigated into every nook and MICHIGAK corner but has been unable to discover the slightest trace of "Presbury"s Enamel." \-Vill lradame Hot be satisfied to wait, Of else allow us to ~l1Pllly her with '-t different brand? l\fadamc is again disturbed. The purple flowers on her bounet agitate themselves, and she gesticulates in extreme irritation. It is n:onstrous, unheard-of! The tin must be found, and immediately, or she \\li11 \vithdraw her cllstom from the firm, never to restore it! The unfortunate Henry. in despair, endeavors to appease her, but discovers it \1se-less, and, as a last hope, addresses himself to me. "Jean Baptiste," he says, ;'Jean Bnptiste, do yoU knmv any-thing about that ellan,el?" I do not. 11y bll::;iness does not concern itself \vltb paint. 1 am here only to keep the books. However, a lady is in distress, and I will endeavor to do rr:.y best to as-sist her. I step forward, in hawing, and assure ber of my ,villingness to search. "1Jadame," 1 say, with the mo:,t profour~d courteOtlSlless. "1 will attempt to do my l1tl11est to discover for yon the vanished article. I am entirely desolated at the incon-venience to which yOLl have been put, and make my most humble apologies. 1 go ncnv to undertake a mOst pene-trating investigation." Again I bow, and the countenance of madame is irrad-iated with approval. I turn toward the entrance of the cellar, the head high and believing myself to have mad;c. :t most agreeable impression, when, alas, what a !nt~;[UI"~.elle~ All undiscovered, the dog bas left the ~ide of his Pl:stress, and, in turning, T tread unexpectedly upon the tail of the allimal~ Figure to yotLself the confusion! The brute, emitting a cry of the greatest acuteness, endeavors to hurl himself upon me, and would have destroyed me inunediately had it not been for the efforts of maclarne. This latter is 0111y able to restrain him "..-ith the greatest pOE;sihle difli.culty, he tug-gi; lg at the end of his leash, the teeth bared, the eyes glaring and terrible. :'dadame threatens, entreats him in terms of cr,de:un:ect, but is entirely unable to render him calm. OvercoITe by the enormity of my misti1ke, 1 \vithdre'.v myself from danger with the utmost abrttptnlCss. I am shaken with the violence of the surprise, and imploring a thousand pardons, I accelerate my steps in the direction of the cellar. I descend a long spiral of darkened stel)s and believe myself "afe. I look around me, finding myself in an un-familiar reg·ion of casks, boxes, tubs, gigantic barrels, Everytbing about me appears to loom ill strange ard un-real pr(}IJortio[l~>. I am stlrrotl1:~ded hy a somber tvviJight. with only a pale star of radiance to ll,-ark the open do:)r above lTe. Irresolutely T p:wse, at a loss how be~.;t to s~t "bOllt 1;-y t('sk. All at ctlce a fearful shriek reaches !'. e, the cry of a won:al', terrified ::end despairing. I turn with celerity, castir g I'. Y eyes up the stairway down which 1 have made n y ::·pproach. \Vhat I behold fills me ,vith the most vivid elTotiOl·. I grov ..- giddy with horror, I reel. A thousand devils, hut I see that dog descending ;It the gral1d gallop. the mouth g"aping, and a broken leash stre:m:;ing ill the air behind him! He has con:;e to destroy n e! 1 do not pause to cOl1s:der, T have l~O tirLe in which to n~ake a farewell. For 01H~ swift instal~t I cast a desperate eye around me. A heap of gigantic barrels invi.te me, and I am suddenly upon the tQpmcst, with an ag"ility of which I had 110t believed myself ~apable. T hold n~yself upou n'.y insecure refuge l,vitlt the greatest desperateness. I am horrified, whik the infuriated animal rages belov..·.me. Far above, the star of light is suddenly blurred by the shadov~'s of my rescuers. Jerry, T-Tenry, and madame hasten to descend, madame in the greatest agitation, the gamins not entirely uninfluenced by mirth. I find hilarity in-appropriate. To me, the situation is one of the gravcst ARTISAN 29 terror. I behold myself suspended above the very jaws of deatJl. Suddenly 1 discover myself menaced by a new danger. The head of the barrel upon which I stand begins slowly 10 yield beneath my feet. I recognize my peril and en-deavor, to late, to avoid it. 1 attempt to SJ.ve myself; T seize witb desperate hands at walls and projections; I behold that accursed varnish gapping below me! \~Vith the strength of despair I grasp at an overhanging beam. It is useless. I am precipitated downward, and a111.im-mersed} almost to the neck, in the abominable liquid. That l,vhich follO\vs is heart-rending. lIhdame seizes upon Bismarck and reduces him to submission, but my mis-adventure is only at a beginning, T attempt to free my-self from my monstrans predicament, I struggle, I combat it with violence. Alas, what an unhappiness! I only suc-ceed in subjecting myself to more humilating disasters. My efforts have disturbed the equilibrium of the barrel in which t am confined, and a last struggle dislodges it totally from its resting place. I roll, I am whirled downward, strik-ing' with a sickening crash on the flooring of adamant. Un-happy one, it only remains to me to pick myself up from the ruins, utterly overwhelmed by varnish and humilation! Bismarck attempts to wrench himself from madame that he may precipitate himself upon me, while the gamins suffo-cate themselves with laughter. Those miserable ones are convulsed with an extreme merriment. Barbarians! Before my very eyes they mock of my misfortune, turning the unhappiness of my plight to ridicule. They even ejaculate rudeness between their paroxysms of hilarity. Beholding them, 1 am seized by an overpowering frenzy. 1 have suddenly the wish to anllihilate them. On the moment, I fling myself upon them, but they elude me, tlee-illg before me, in giving utterance to shrill cries of delight and fear. I pursue them with vehemence as they dart up the stainvay. I desire their blood. \Ve storm upward. and btJrst into the slore with the rapidity of a tornado. At the salr.e instant, my employer enters unexpectedly from the street, with se\:eral friends to whom he wishes to demonstrate his model establishment, and the perfection of his office force. The scene is frightful. .Monsieur purple with, rage, the eyes starting from his head, dem~nds an explanation of this astounding occurence. \Ve attempt to oblige him in a single breath, al1 clamoring together. Monsieur listens, hi-:; anger increasing to a point of dang-er, but it is upon n~e, das 1 that his eye is concentrated. And the'll suddenly n,-adan~e etrerzes from tl'('. cellar, dra:5e~ng with her, by the coll<1r, the n~O!1strous Bismarck. It is the bst straw. The diE'ple:lsure cf n:ors~eur rca:.::hes its fever-heat, and the telrpe.'l of hi:3 ,vrath is 1:1ll:lched upon us. Kever before in !! y whole (Cxiste:'ce lrve T bce.l pern-.itted to listen to such eloqucnce. .:\1nnsict:r rajes, he :;torn s he annihilates us with his irony and cons ..nnes U3 with his disapprobatiOll. \Ve are left without c1nra.::ter and without hereafter. \Ve behold ourselves sketched out in the n~ost lurid colors; we are depicted fallen into depths of iniquity whose bbckcess the most lively imagination might fail to realize, until !-lnally pausing for breath, he leaves us cO\vering, both speechless and appalled. dA pack of thieves, the whole lot of you!" shouts mon-sieur. dConsider yourselves no longer in my employment!" The terrible words strike irrevocably upon my ear, over-lNhelming n::e with the mcst vivid despair. I start forward, intending to implore his mercy.' ·1 attempt to expostulate, to entreat for pardon. It is useless. The mind of mon-sieur is entirely made up; and, dripping with varnish, I can only stand before my employer, confounded and discharged. -Cosmopolitan IVlagazine. 30 MICHIGAN Made by Charles Bennett Furn-iture Co., Charlotte, Mich. ARTISAN Keep in Touch With Goods. One of the esser,tials of success in running a store, whole-sale or retail, is keeping in touch with the merchandise. To be in touch with one's trade; important as it is, is but half. To be in touch with the goods is equally necess-ary. Therefore, the retailer who plays his part in the mod-ern way sends his buyers into every country and every dis-trict where the wares he handles a:"e produced. They are required to go to the factories where goods are made, to acquaint themselves with processes of production, to know the goods from the raw material to the finished article. No matter where else he may economize, the retailer must at alt costs keep in touch with the sourc..:s where new goods and fresh styles originate. If he fails in this regard, no effort in other ways will avail to kcep him from falling behind in the race. And every year, to an ever increasing degree, retailers are finding that the store which keeps in touch with the merchandising is getting the cream of the trade. The retailer must keep in advance, anticipating trade demands. l\.1ust learn of new goods while they are ne"\'. Shifting fashions rr.ust not find him unprepared, with floors loaded with goods which have gone out of favor. He must lead, not follow. He cannot live in the same narrow grove all the tirr.e, doing the same old thing in the same old way, and not grow into a tlarrower man. , And the only way to keep in touch with the goods is to go to market at least several times a year. Salesmen and catalogues both are good as far as they go, and both are indispensible to keep one in touch between trips to market. But both fall short in that they do not show the actual goods. Suspicious. Manufaclurer-"I can not put faith in that traveling designer. Salesmall-"\Vhy?" Mallufacturer-"He did not tell me -I do not knowhow to manufacture and sell furniture." Long Time Leas~s. The permanency of the Grand Rapids Furniture Ex~ position is assured. Many manufacturers have taken lease.'> for ten years in the exposition buildings. I A Retailer's Rights. There is a vast gulf between a retailer who uses his in-fluence to direct the demand of his customers from an article which does not pay a reasonable amount of profit to the goods of a manufacturer who does not try to "hog it all," and the man who abets an attempt to pirate a trade that has been built up on enterprise and merit by pas sin g off imitations having a generable resem-blance ill style of package. trademark and outward appearance. Legjitimate manufacturers difter in the methods they use to pop-ularize their products. The one who ignores the interesb of the retailer has no right to complain if the latter is determined to protect himself. The retailer's position as a dis-tributor carries a "good will" which is an asset as that of the manufacturer who is building up a trade for his commodities. But legitimate manu-facturers do not seek to steal the trade of comve~ itors by meam of inferior imitations, and the retailer who assists such scheme~~ -supplanting a brand that is well made and carries a fair profit, save on the basis of actual merit and economy, is prac-ticing a form of substitution which is reprehensible. The use of the word, "substitution," has been vague and unsatisfactory. \Vhat does it mean, as applied to the re-tailer? Does it imply actual deception? Does it signify physical force? Not at all. It means that the retailer endeavors to dissuade the purchaser from taking a certain brand in order that he may sell him another. Is this right or wrong? It depeuds entirely on the conditions surround-ing the attempt. If the goods which the merchant seeks to sell are as good as the goods he does not wish to sell, and if he does not mis-represent either, the act is not only proper, but something which he ought to do. The customer is not harmed in the least, and a pernicious form of business robbery and unfair mulcting is injured, while his legitimate profit is protected. There -has been a great deal said regarding the duty of the retail merchant to the public. There is such a duty and it is a big one and an important and responsible one as well. No retailer has any right to foist off inferior goods upon the public. If he cannot secure goods equal or sup-erior to the ones which pay him no profit he should handle them or none at all. However, we believe that such a di-lemma will never confront the retailer. There are plenty of good goods which pay a fair profit-fully as good and fully as reasonable in price as anything made which deprives the distributor of his living and strives to drive him out of bus-iness. There is also a duty which every merchant owes which is not to the customer. It is to himself and his fellow mer-chants. His business is an honest one. \iVhy should it be left defenceless? Why should it be given over to the wolves? ¥/hy should others who are in the same line of trade be made to suffer because he has not the grit and courage to protect his own? We are still pausing for a reply.-Oregon Tradesman. • Why Not Order? Say'a dozen or more Montgomery Iron Display Couch Trucks sentyou on approval:;' If not $atisfactory they can be returned at no expense to you whatever, whileIhe price asked is but a trifle, com_ paredlo the conveniencetheyaiford aDd theeconomy they representin the $aving of ftoor space. Thirty-two couches mounted on the MontgomeIYIron DisplayCouchTruck$ occupythesamefloor$paceas twelve dis-playedin the usualmanner. Write for cataloguegiving full deKrip. lionand pricein the differentfinishes, to. gether with illustrations demonsuatipg the use of theGiaDtShortRailBedFMtener lot lton &ds. Manufacturedby the H. J. Montllomery MEll. Co. PATENTBES Silver Creek, New York, U. S. A.. • --------------------------------- - - - - - ;,f!CHIGA)J ARTISAN 31 1------ -----------_.--.. I PRICE $11.25 Swell Top B,nd Tdp Dmwers, Qualttcred Oak Finish. French Bevcle-d Mirror, IGx28. Top 22d2. One Drawer Lilled. SEE HERE It will keep you all busy wit h you r pencil to beat the price and quali ty of the s e two pieces, and many other patterns in Sid e-boards, Buffets, Chiffoniers and Dressers made by the old reI i a b I e MANISTEE MFG. CO. MANISTEE, MICH. Accessories in Furniture Displays. Valuable. 1Hnch & Eisenberger, retailers of Baltimore, use rugs, draperies and kindr~d articles in making their show rooms attractive, breaking the monotony of a vast array of furnIture. In a great area of allY particular line of goods the rnonot~ ony of which is inevitable, the placing of a plant here and there, a bit of statuary, a drape or rug "\\'ill remove it. The finn also uses electroliers and the dome lights to a con-siderable extent and they have a potent influence in making how a decorator might use these accessories loa freely, but our show room attraction. One can understand very readily employed as we ntilize them, simply as incidents of the whole they have a beautiful eITect from the business view-point Clnd add materially to the artistic appearance of their rooms. An occasion 'l,vhen their presence distracted the at-tention 01 a customer had never been noted. In many in-stances their presence give jnst the horne-like effect which was the determining bctor in bringing about a sale. This is the result of practical experience, and ,,0 long as the policy is of benefit to the house it wiH continue. Furniture on Approval Condemned. Sending out furniture on approval i~condemned as un-profitable by many dealers. It caUSes double work in all departments of a store. Frequently the et1stomer 'w.iJlorder goods from three firms, at length making a selection; two firms will have to haUl back the goods, aside from the extra work, witllOl.lt compensation of any kind, laying itself open to unjust criticism as to the respective merit at' the articles, through not being pre~ent to back up the goods when the decision was rendered. It is better not to mak~ the sale in the fi.rst place than to go to all the trouble and expense caused, to say nothing of the damage to the reputation of the house, should it fail to satisfy. PRICE $7.50 QU(1.'ten:d Oak Finish. French Beveled Pat<otlt.~jnor 20.:.:24. Top 2Ox40, Divided Top Dr~wer. I• Profit in Catalogues. The Robert Keith Furniture Company, of Kansas City, finds it profitable to use cata!ogttes at intervals in the trans-action of their retail business in fUl'lliture. The nrm does not attempt to secure trade as nwil order merchants, but cata-r III Big Rapids Furni-tu

Date Created:

1908-08-25T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Collection:

29:4

Subject Topic:

Periodicals and Furniture Industry

Language:

English

Rights:

© Grand Rapids Public Library. All Rights Reserved.

URL:

http://cdm16055.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16055coll20/id/28