What Bright Retailers And Advertisers Look For

( Originally Published 1902 )

Some of the most successful business bringing schemes evolved are herewith presented. They have been tried by well-known advertisers and not found wanting. If your business needs a tonic, try one of these ideas. They have been carefully compiled from the files of The Retailer and Advertiser, and are herewith submitted with every confidence in their efficacy.

ANNIVERSARY.

The Star Store, New Bedford, Mass., gave away, on their fourth anniversary, four hundred dollars' worth of beautiful souvenirs, consisting of bric-a-brac, decorated cups and saucers, fancy plates, etc., to those purchasing a dollar's worth of goods.

"The Economy" Store, Scranton, Pa., gave away seven hundred dollars in gifts at their twelfth birthday anniversary. On entering the store each patron received a ticket on which was printed a number. Each ticket was numbered consecutively so there were no two tickets numbered alike, and as one walked into the store he would see articles of furniture each bearing different numbers. He would keep on walking until he found the piece of furniture which bore a number corresponding to the number on his ticket. That piece of furniture belonged to him. To those who did not find a piece of furniture bearing their numbers, a handsome present was given on the day following.

BAKERY.

Colby's Modern Bakery, Washington, D. C., offered " moon flies" (toys for children), free with each loaf of bread on a certain date.

BANKING BY MAIL.

Charles H. Ravell, of the advertising department of the Chicago Record-Herald, originated a plan for making de-posits in savings banks by mail, the general adoption of which, he believed, would be mutually advantageous to depositors and banking institutions. " The banks," said Mr. Ravell, " can make it easy and profitable for the public to save money. The newspaper advertising can make it easy for the wage-earner to get a pass book and open an account. The express companies through their branch offices, can get the money to. the banks. The pass book is the key to the situation, and it must be slightly changed and an important addition made to it. In the back of the pass book now in general use in savings banks there can be printed a series of coupons in duplicate, with the right hand coupon made detachable from the book. The depositor makes his own bank entry upon both coupons (date, amount, etc.), tears out the right hand coupon and buys an express or postal order for a like amount and mails both to the bank, which returns a postal receipt next day, after crediting the account numbered the same as the coupon that was sent with the money. With this form of coupon there is little chance for error. This book can be used either for depositing in person or depositing by mail." Mr. Ravell thought that the adoption of this plan would give the banker the first chance at the pay envelope of the wage-earner in-stead of the last, as is generally the case, owing to the fact that few of them are able to get to a bank during banking hours.

BOOKS.

The Moore Book and Stationery Co., Topeka, Kan., gave away a ten cent book-holder with every purchase made at their store.

CARPETS, RUGS.

Wilder's store, Montreal, Canada, gave a carpet sweeper to purchasers of a carpet or rug to the amount of twenty-five dollars.

CIGARS.

The United Cigar Stores Co., New York City, gave a coupon with every cigar sold—five of which could be exchanged for a valuable certificate at any of their stores.

B. S. Cooban, Cigars, Chicago, Ill., sent out an envelope on which appeared the words: "A good thing inside." The "good thing " proved to be a circular piece of green card-board, on which was printed Good for one Weapon Cigar, if presented by an adult," and the name and address of the firm. Enclosed with this was a circular letter soliciting patronage.

A neat little trade-drawer from the Burg Cigar Co., New Ulm, Minn., was one of their " Blizzard " cigars wrapped in a gilt foil and tied to a smaY. card 3 x 5 inches in size, on which the following appeared: " A man chooses the girl who is nice and ' different' from other girls just like the smokers choose the ` Blizzard' Cigar because it is good and different from other cigars." This was enclosed in a pasteboard box, the outside of which prettily illustrated the " Blizzard " cigar.

The Frisch Cigar Store Co., New York, offered to give a ladies' or gentleman's umbrella—valued at three dollars-upon surrender of punched coupons representing total purchases of ten dollars. To enable purchasers to take ad-vantage of this offer the Company gave coupons—ranging from five cents to seven dollars and fifty cents—with the amount of purchase punched out. Fractions of five cents were punched at the next highest figure.

The R. & W. Jenkinson Co., Pittsburg, Pa., issued a neat booklet containing sixteen pages, advertising cigars. The cover of this booklet was of gray paper, with the figures of two jesters sitting outside the wall of a city, smoking cigars and talking over beer. The front page of the cover had a flap half the width of the booklet, which folded over the back cover. The inside pages were devoted to giving price lists of the different brands of cigars, with the labels used with those brands, and comments on the cigars which the booklet advertised.

R. Nete Ellis, St. Joseph, Mo., is a very aggressive cigar advertiser. Here are some of his ideas once told:

"I zinc-lined all the wall cases and placed moistening trays in them and of course put moisteners in the show case. I have a six-chair marble shining stand in the rear room now and give a free shine to every purchaser of one ten cent cigar or two five cent ones. I bulletin the base ball games of the Western League on a black board in the store, and when the St. Joseph team plays out of town I give the re-port by innings. Of course great interest is taken in the home team when away, so my bulletin enables the boys to come to this store and enjoy a good cigar while fanned by electricity, with leather-cushioned settees to save their trousers, and plenty of ice water."

Mr. R. Nete Ellis, of St. Joseph, Mo., also used for advertising his cigar store one of his bright ideas called a " Pipe Dream." He had made out of half-inch lumber a wedge-shaped box 5 feet long, the ends of which were 6 x 6 and 15 X 15 inches respectively. The small end had a peep-hole of about 1% inches in diameter and the other end a mirror, which made it look a mile long. The inside of the box was painted jet black. A twenty-four candle-power incandescent light about a foot from the larger end, and suspended from the lid, furnished the light. The outside of the box was painted white to match the woodwork in the windows. He suspended the box in the window by means of wire from the ceiling, allowing the smaller end to rest against the window glass just high enough to admit a straight view through the peep-hole. A card over the box and against the window pane bore the words, " Look Here; A Pipe Dream!" The inside of the box was nicely arranged with nice pipes, French briars and meerschaums, the centerpiece in the rear being a handsomely carved weer schat m pipe in case, bearing its price, $15.00. He fastened pipes to the sides by means of hooks screwed in the walls, fastening the pipes to them by means of rubber bands. A few cans of choice smoking mixtures finished the display. The "Pipe Dream" furnished something to attract passers-by; and every hour in the day crowds were seen standing in front of the store viewing the " Pipe Dream," or else were heard asking people whether they had seen the "Pipe Dream at the Nete Cigar Store.

CLOTHING.

The Union, Columbus, O., gave a knife with every purchase of a boy's suit.

A. Schradzki, Peoria, Ill., gave away a pencil box with every purchase of a boy's suit.

B. Nugent & Bro., St. Louis, Mo., gave a genuine pigskin Rugby football with every boys' five-dollar suit, reefer or overcoat.

The Utica Clothiers, Des Moines, Ia., gave away a pair of hardwood stilts to purchasers of a two dollar and a half suit for boys.

The Hub, Milwaukee, Wis., once gave a nickel-plated watch with every five-dollar purchase in their boys' and children's department.

Sol. Schloss & Co., Monmouth, Ill., gave away at an opening a beautifully decorated plate, and also a knife with every purchase of a boy's suit.

The F. W. Humphrey Co., St. Louis, Mo., boomed their boys' clothing department by giving a ping-pong set with every boys' five-dollar suit or overcoat.

" Nicoll, The Tailor," Kansas City, Mo., once advertised to give away, during a ten-day period, a pair of trousers with each twenty, twenty-five, twenty-eight or thirty-dollar suit of clothing.

The Worcester Credit Co., Worcester, Mass., in one of their ads, said they would give a rebate of a dollar to the person cutting out that ad and presenting it when a suit or over-coat was purchased.

Campbell's (Clothiers) Pittsburg, Pa., gave an "eclipse" watch to the purchaser of a man's suit at seven and a half dollars or over, and a "Yankee" watch with every purchase of a boy's suit at three and half dollars or over.

The Continental Clothing House, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, once upon a time gave away a handy carry-all with each boy's suit. Each carry-all consisted of a book carrier, pencil case and ruler combined. It was nicely finished off and fitted with a lock.

Moss Cohen, the popular clothier, of Dayton, Ohio, gave free open air concerts to the citizens of his town. So did Bernard M. Wolff (" My Clothier"), Hanover Street, Boston.

The August Clothing Co., Topeka, Kan., once gave a hat free with each suit of clothes purchased on that day.

Moses Cohen, Dayton, Ohio, once gave away twenty dollars in prizes to the boys and girls of Dayton, after this method: He offered ten prizes of two dollars each to any ten boys and girls who wrote for him the best advertisements for his children's department. The ads were to contain not more than twenty lines, and not over ten words in a line. The judges were the experts on the advertising staffs of the Dayton newspapers, and the contest lasted four weeks.

The Crews-Beggs Dry Goods Co., Pueblo, Colo., sent out to twenty-two hundred boys—whose names and addresses they secured from the city school records—a circular to the effect that with any purchase of a boy's suit selling from a dollar and ninety-five cents to the young men's fine fifteen-dollar suits there would be given free a ticket of general admission to the Great Roman Forum and one ticket each for the Electric Theatre and the play of the Yellow Kids. These tickets could be exchanged for tickets to any of the other entertainments where the tickets cost the same.

The Ark, Colorado Springs, Colo., once gave away six hundred and seventy-five dollars in cash. They had a certain amount of goods, put up in seventy-five hundred pack-ages, containing men's, women's, and children's clothing, and they were sold at one dollar each. A number of these packages contained an order for a certain amount of money. For instance, one package called for one hundred dollars in cash, another for fifty dollars, etc. The person who bought the largest number of packages received twenty-five dollars.

Weitzenkorn & Son, Pottstown, Pa., had about five hundred Pottstown boys turn out for the gift distribution thus detailed in the Pottstown papers:

" FREE DISTRIBUTION OP AIR SHIPS AT WRITZRNKORN'S.

We want a whole bunch of boys to be at hand in front of our store at ten o'clock sharp, rain or shine. There is going to be something doing. We are going to shoot twenty-five tops into the air from one of our air ships. Each boy who is fortunate enough to get one of the tops, should bring it to our store and get an air ship that will do the same thing. We do this so as to keep in the good graces of the boys and to introduce this wonderful mechanical toy, which we give away with boys' suits."

Hartzell's, Youngstown, O., gave an Ingersoll watch to the purchaser of a three dollar, or over, suit or overcoat for a day.

Brill Bros., the New York clothiers, once got up an advertising scheme in the shape of a turquois blue poster about four by eight and a half inches in size. On one side was printed: "Boys' Suits Free. Our Boys' and Children's Department is where you fit out two boys for what it usually costs you to fit out one in most stores," etc On the other side was announced a scheme for the boys. To the five schoolboys who drew the five best pictures in their show windows they offered the following prizes: Five dollars for the best drawing, four dollars for the next best, three dollars for the third best, two dollars for the fourth and a pair of boy's dollar knee pants for the fifth.

Block Bros., St. Joseph, Mo., once issued a particularly good booklet, advertising Union Made men's clothing. It was compiled with the idea of winning the trade of members of various unions. It contained only eight pages, and it had a cover. The back cover extended a little over an inch beyond the pages of the booklet and folded over the front. This flap was held down by a red pas ter. The best feature of the booklet was the illustrating. The cuts were half-tones from photographs of living models. Now here is the point, the models were well-known as labor leaders of St. Joseph. The idea of getting well-known local men to act as models for showing off good points of clothing is a mighty good one. Of course, we have seen in many, many ads the pictures of Roosevelt, Schlep, Sampson and other great men, but I do not know of another instance where pictures of men, well known locally, have been used to advertise a store.

COAL.

The Kansas City Coal and Coke Co., Kansas City, Mo., in order to advertise their Fiber Kindling once gave a free trial box with each order for domestic coal. In each box were ten kindlers—enough to start ten fires.

CREDIT.

Wildberg's Store, Pittsburg, Pa., offered beautiful presents to their credit customers. A beautiful pearl and gold pen was given to the purchaser of fifty dollars' worth of goods, on which one dollar and a half was paid down. The purchasers of a hundred dollars' worth of goods (and who paid two dollars and a half down) were given gilt and enamelled clocks. On a hundred and fifty dollar sale (on which five dollars were deposited) a silver set, consisting of coffee, sugar and cream dishes, was given. They also gave a couch when ten dollars were paid on a hundred dollar purchase.

DOLLS AND TOYS.

Arreson Mercantile Co., Grand Forks, N. D., once offered to give a large doll to the person making the largest purchase of dry goods during a certain day.

White's Toy Store, Columbus, O., on an opening day presented each patron with an illustrated souvenir book. They also gave a set of four pictures with every fifty-cent purchase.

DRUGS.

Schaefer's Cut Price Drug Store, Omaha, Neb., gave a match scratcher with the bottle of kidney or liver cure purchased.

The Owl Drug Store, Kansas City, Mo., once gave a good-sized bottle of Ed. Oulettes's celebrated perfume to each of their customers.

The Owl Drug Company, Sacramento, Cal., once gave away coupons with every twenty-five cent purchase. The person who held the coupon bearing a certain number received a beautiful Shetland pony with a stylish basket cart and russet harness.

Eugene A. Pfefferle, the reliable druggist of New Ulm, Minn., during a fireman's convention in that town arranged a window show display to catch the firemen's attention. He had a " Brownie" fire company working on a house through which an alcoholic blaze was coming, and real water was poured on the house through a roof hose. The scene was reported as very attractive.

Eugene A. Pfefferle, Reliable Druggist," of New Ulm, Minn., is one of those advertisers who sees the advantage of keeping up with, and in fact a trifle in advance of the times. The fortieth anniversary of the Indian Massacre at that place he observed by sending out an aluminum pin tray bearing a handsome picture of the Indian monument. This tray was given with every purchase of Mr. Pfefferle's head-ache tablets and cough cure.

The C. A. Lowe Drug Co., Old Town, Me., once printed a rebus. in the daily papers and offered fifteen prizes to the people who solved it correctly. The only condition in entering this contest was that the participant purchased a twenty-five-cent bottle of toilet cream. They gave five dollars for the first correct answer, one dollar each for the next three, fifty cents each for the next three, twenty-five cents for the three next and a bottle of toilet cream to the next five.

The City Drug Store, Delhi, N. Y., once advertised that they would pay two dollars for the largest specimen of any kind of an apple sent them before a certain time. The apples entered in the contest were displayed in their show windows.

Johnson & Johnson, Charlottetown, P. E. I., druggists, once issued on a cardboard about eight by ten inches in size, a directory of Charlottetown physicians. The greater part of the card was taken up by the directory and the remainder, to an advertisement for Johnson & Johnson. The list of doctors' names was alphabetically arranged. It gave the telephone number, address and office hours. A cord was fastened to the top of the card. A little hook, with which to hang it up was also sent with the request that the directory be hung near the telephone. Messrs. Johnson & Johnson sent them to all public buildings, hotels, etc., and their directory seemed to be much appreciated by their customers-On the card, they gave their own telephone number and said: " Ring us up and we will send to any part of the city for your prescription and return it to you correctly and neatly compounded."

DRY GOODS.

The W. R. Bennett Co., Omaha, Neb., advertised the day before " Flag Day" that with each twenty-five cent's worth of merchandise bought anywhere in the store they would give a muslin printed flag, thirteen by eight inches, with a twenty-two inch long staff.

FEMININE GARMENTS.

R. A. McWhirr & Co., Fall River, Mass., once advertised that they, would make up walking skirts free of charge, if bought from a certain kind of material.

Vogel Brothers, New York, once advertised that they would give away a handsome silver souvenir to every purchaser in their ladies' suit, skirt or cloak departments. The souvenir was one of the Whiting Manufacturing Co.'s make, and was given in celebration of the opening of the ladies' department.

In Bamberger's Retail Establishment, Newark, N. J., during a fall opening, ten lady models held a reception in the ladies' suit department. They wore the handsomest garments the store had on exhibition. These models, of course, were able to show off to the best advantage the style and beauty of the garments.

The Star Store, New Bedford, Mass., once upon a time enlivened trade by giving free with every child's cloak purchased during that sale, a handsome dressed or kid body doll, and with every girl's jacket bought a handsome trimmed hat worth a dollar and a half.

FURNITURE.

A. Samuel, Topeka, Kan., tried the plan of giving a hand-some rocker with a ten-dollar purchase.

W. E. Heskett, Columbus, O., advertised to give a five-dollar cotton-felt mattress free with every folding bed.

The People's Furniture Co: Crookston, Minn., gave with every purchase of a sideboard, a work basket or a lunch basket.

The People's Outfitting Co., Detroit, Mich., offered a hand-some mahogany parlor rocker with every purchase of ten dollars or over.

The People's Outfitting Co., Detroit, Mich., gave a gilt parlor cabinet of four shelves with every purchase of ten dollars or over during a sale.

The National Furniture Co., Indianapolis, Ind., tried the idea of giving a beautiful quartered oak center stand with a five-dollar purchase.

Lockhart & Stoddart, Montreal, Canada, gave a good substantial spring and a white cotton mattress to each purchaser of an iron bed.

The Straus Furniture and Carpet Co., Chicago, Ill., gave a choice of a handsome rug or a beautiful upholstered parlor chair to the purchaser of twenty-five dollars' worth of furniture.

C. H. Robinson gave for a limited time a tapestry brussels carpet with every purchase of a parlor suit. He also gave a five piece parlor suit with every piano purchased at his store at Woonsocket, R. I.

Stumps & Langhaff, Milwaukee, Wis., gave a beautiful bevelled-edge French plate mirror, mounted on a handsome wrought iron frame easel, with every purchase to the amount of a dollar or over.

The Standard Furniture Co., Seattle, Wash., gave four prizes to the four children who sent them the best rhymes about their " Buck " ranges. The first prize was a miniature Buck " range—the second, a dresser-the third, a desk, and the fourth, a cart.

The Guy Furniture Co., Worcester, Mass., printed a coupon in their daily advertisements which could be exchanged at their store for a numbered ticket. The ticket was good for a chance on a fifty-five-dollar ` Acorn " range.

N. G. Valiquette, Montreal, Que., printed three coupons in his advertisement which entitled holders to a certain discount on purchases. The first coupon was good for two dollars on the purchase price of any parlor table which sold regularly for five dollars or over. The second coupon was good for five dollars on a twenty-five-dollar parlor suite. The third entitled the holder to ten dollars on a fifty-dollar parlor suite.

The Coombs & Gilbert Furniture Co., Haverhill, Mass., once had a number of pieces of coal in a basket in their window and stated that they would give a ton of coal to the person who guessed the correct number of pieces of coal in that basket. On a certain day the coal was counted in the window and in case two or more persons guessed the correct number the coal was divided equally among them.

GENERAL.

Edmundson, Perrine Co., Pittsburg, Pa., gave a clock worth two dollars with every fifteen-dollar purchase during a certain week.

Phelan's Store, Galesburg, Ill., had a sale in the notion department where they gave an aluminum dressing comb with every purchase.

The big department store run by the Harris-Emory Company, in Des Moines, Iowa, once started a house organ, known as the Corner News.

L. S. Plant & Co., Newark, N. J., gave a box of seven assorted colored crayons, — or a pretty pen-holder with pen to 12 the youngster who bought five cents or more worth of merchandise.

I. N. Martin, Peoria, Ill., gave a nice oak ruler " free for the asking to school children. When they brought a note from their teacher they could get enough for their school-room.

The Broadway Department Store, Los Angeles, Cal., printed a small coupon in their advertisement which entitled the holder to a rebate of twenty-five cents on a pair of " American Lady corsets.

With every twenty-five cent purchase made at his store, Reed Hurlbut, Des Moines, Ia., gave during a certain period, a ticket entitling the holder to a chance on a nine hundred dollar automobile.

H. A. Meldrum Co., Buffalo, N. Y., advertised that during a certain week they would cut to measure any kind of garment desired from material selected at their store if it costs not less than ten cents per yard

McCarthy's establishment, Seattle, Wash., presented an admission ticket to the Industrial Street of the Elk's Carnival, with every dollar purchase, and an admission to the Midway, with every five-dollar purchase.

The Broadway Department Store, Los Angeles, Cal., gave away a printing press—complete with type, ink, roller and tweezers (" everything necessary to open up a thoroughly modern print shop ") to every purchaser of a boy's two dollar and ninety-eight cents suit.

Atha & Atha, Pittsburg, Pa., gave tickets to each customer making a purchase of twenty-five cents or over. All customers who held tickets to the amount of ten dollars and who furnished them with a good photograph obtained a portrait in water color or crayon free.

Schipper & Block, Peoria, Ill., gave with every dollar's worth of school books or supplies, the choice of a brass-edged twelve-inch ruler, or an ice cream soda. They also gave one of the famous " Zimmerman " kites with every purchase ranging from twenty-five cents to one dollar.

The Old Bee Hive, Burlington, Ia., offered to give away two hundred dollars in prizes to persons guessing the nearest to the number of kernels of corn in a glass jar which had been placed in the store. Each purchaser was entitled to a guess. The kernels were counted by a disinterestedparty and the person who guessed nearest the number received one hundred dollars—the two next nearest to the number received each twenty dollars—the three next ten dollars each and the next six received five dollars apiece.

Crawfords Retail Establishment, St. Louis, Mo., gave a ticket free to the New West Heights Garden with every purchase made at their store during a certain period.

The Big Boston Store, Salt Lake City, Utah, offered a 22 X 32-inch oil painting with every five-dollar purchase during a certain time. They said: " We have engaged the services of the world's greatest lightning artist to paint these pictures in our window for a limited time."

W. W. Kyle, Pulaski, Pa., sent out a neat little advertising novelty in the shape of a metal match box. At the top was a hole for hanging it up and below this a space for an advertisement. A piece of sand paper on the bottom made it complete.

Hahne & Co., Newark, N. J., presented to children, who visited their store on a certain date, with the following school articles: A pencil box with lock and key—a good, polished pencil with rubber tip—a composition book—a box of colored chalk—a pen or pencil tablet, and a twelve-inch school ruler.

The Church-Dodge Co., Troy, N. Y., gave free ice cream with each cash purchase amounting to fifty cents or over.

The Broadway Department Store, Los Angeles, Cal., once took two complete sentences and dissected them—cutting each word out of a duplicate copy. Then they mixed them up, taking piece by piece, and pasting them on a sheet of paper, until a complete mix up of words was formed. To the boy or girl sending to their store the first proper arrangement of these words they offered ten dollars in gold.

A. B. Matthew's Sons, Brooklyn, N. Y., offered small stick-pins to children sending in the names and numbers of the schools they attended. The pin formed the flag-pole for a pennant made of red, white and blue celluloid. On one side of the pennant were the words, " Be honest, diligent and courageous." On the reverse side appeared the following

" Education is the salvation of the nation." The name of the firm was under these words.

A coupon was once given with every twenty-five cent purchase at H. O. Smith & Co.'s, Crookston, Minn. These coupons entitled the holder to a guess on the number of cereals contained in a glass jar on exhibition in their window. A few weeks later the seal of the jar was broken and the contents counted. The person who guessed nearest to the exact number was given ten dollars in trade at this store.

Bernhard & Geyer, Los Angeles, Cal., once sent out an effective advertising curiosity in the shape of a legal-looking document, which when taken out of its envelope flashed the word " Subpoena " upon the eye. Its outside was made out as a summons to court, bore a red seal (that of Bernhard & Geyer), and was tied with the customery red tape. The wording was very clever, and the notice was plainly " legal.

It was signed by Bernhard & Geyer and witnessed by E. X. Perience. It charged the person to whom it was made out to appear before them at a certain time.

GENERAL STORE SALE.

The Boston Store, Worcester, Mass., held a "Department Managers' Sale," during which the department heads gave away a handsome piano to the most popular school teacher in Worcester County. Ballots for voting were given by the clerk from whom a purchase was made. The name of the teacher and the name of the school in which she taught were written on these and deposited in ballot boxes. Daily were the votes counted and the names announced.

GROCERIES.

The Nickel-Plate Grocery Co., Alliance, O., once gave away (for a few days only) boxes for kindling with each order for groceries.

James Butler, grocer, Brooklyn, N. Y., gave a set of table tennis to the purchaser of a dozen packages of Malt Break-fast Food.

The Joseph H. Bauland Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., have tested the plan of giving away granulated sugar to patrons in their grocery department.

The Adams Dry Goods Co., New York, gave away a cake of Croft's chocolate with every purchase of a half-pound bottle of Croft's cocoa.

R. H. Bailey, Saginaw, Mich., gave away a globe, two Italian gold fish, water plant and pebbles with each purchase of a pound of baking powder.

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., once gave away four ladies' lawn handkerchiefs to purchasers of their teas, coffees, etc.

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., gave away a diamond steel-enameled preserving kettle to all purchasers of fifty cents worth of groceries.

The E. C. Hutchinson Milling Co., Trenton, N. J., gave five dollars in prizes to each of the five ladies, making the best loaves of bread from " Better Than Gold " flour.

Every purchaser, some time ago, who made a purchase to the amount of a dollar at Haste's Grocery Store, Edenton, N. C., was presented with a large market basket.

The Grand Union Tea Company, Aurora, Ill., gave a nickel salt and pepper shaker with each purchase of a pound of fifty-cent tea and two pounds of twenty-five cent coffee.

Frank S. York & Co., Bangor, Maine, once advertised that they would give away a handsome china oatmeal dish—decorated in gilt and printed flower design-to every purchaser of a certain brand of rolled oats.

James Butler, who operates several grocery stores in New York, gave a package of "Zu-Zu " ginger snaps to the purchaser of a pound of his best coffee and a half pound of his best tea at the regular price of forty-three cents.

The Nickel Plate Grocery Co., Alliance, Ohio, once upon a time gave away a ticket with each twenty-five cent purchase made at their store—entitling the holder to a chance in either of thirty-two prizes, valued at sixty-five dollars.

The Grand Union Tea Store, Bangor, Maine, once held a birthday party in their salesrooms, during which a handsome Japanese tea cup and saucer were presented to each customer. Light refreshments were served from 2 to io P. M.

G. E. Mitchell, Detroit, Mich., once sold a brand of coffee, in each pound package of which was one letter of the name of the brand. Upon the return of five tickets, the letters on which spell the name, two dollars and fifty cents in gold was given the holder.

The Columbus Dry Goods Co., Columbus, O., demonstrated their " Egg Baking Powder" by serving hot muffins made from this baking powder, at their store, and on two certain days they gave a loaf of currant bread to every purchaser of a half pound of "Egg Baking Powder."

The Globe Tea Store, Newburyport, Mass., once advertised to give away a beautiful mahogany or oak parlor rocker or parlor table with two dollars and fifty cents' worth of tea and coffee checks. They also offered to give a pound of Mocha and Java coffee with every pound of a certain brand of tea.

In order to test the merits of the different papers in bringing immediate returns to their advertisements, S. Hey-man & Co., Oshkosh, Wis., published once in each paper carrying their advertising, a coupon which would allow the holder to a special price of twenty five cents on twelve bars of good laundry soap.

The Empire Tea and Crockery Co., Spokane, Wash., in order to introduce their coffees, teas and spices, once offered as a special inducement with each fifty cent purchase two pounds of sugar or a choice of a large number of pieces of china, crockery and glassware displayed at their store. With each dollar purchase they gave four pounds of sugar or any piece of an attractive assortment of crockery and glassware.

HARDWARE.

R. C. Reynolds, Troy, N. Y., once advertised to give away a barrel of Pillsbury's best flour free with every range of a certain kind.

A pair of skate straps and a Winslow's " Eureka" skate sharpener was given to boom business once with each pair of skates bought at Ingersoll's store, New York.

In order to increase their sales of " Hub" ranges Pink-ham & Willis Co., Worcester, Mass.,. once offered to give away one barrel of " Butterfly " flour to purchasers of one of these stoves.

Geo. M. Dimmitt, Des Moines, Ia., once gave a complete set of the celebrated " Majestic" cooking ware, made of copper and enamel, and worth seven dollars and fifty cents, to every purchaser of a "Majestic " range.

The Fair Store, Binghamton, N. Y., once offered three " Buck Junior " ranges to the three girls who baked the best batches of biscuits. The baking was to be done on a " Buck" range and the contests were to be decided by a committee of ladies.

The Household " Store, New Bedford, Mass., once gave away, with every parlor stove sold above twelve dollars, a " Bissell carpet sweeper with full nickel trimmings, all the new finishes and the famous " Tyco " bearings—worth three dollars and a quarter.

John T. Claugh, Colorado Springs, Colo., once advertised that on the last day of the year a drawing would take place for one of his " Great Majestic Steel Ranges." One ballot was given free of charge to each family and the ballots had to be deposited before December twenty-fifth.

HATS.

George B. Wells, the Philadelphia hatter, some time ago made up an exceedingly catchy advertisement by printing at the top of his announcement a double half-column half-tone of one of his attractive hat windows.

D. E. Brackett (Hatter), Topeka,. Kan., offered prizes amounting to twenty-five dollars to the persons who wrote the best rhymes or poems on the Brackett hat. The person who wrote the best rhyme received five dollars, the next best three dollars, the third two dollars, and the next fifteen a dollar apiece.

Kaufman's Downtown Hat Store, New York, gave to their patrons a folder representing a red morocco pocket-book with strap, which contained an announcement in green, with a broad border. This was folded twice and pasted to the inside of the cover. The folded ends protruded from the cover and bore a striking resemblance to greenbacks.

A very novel trade-drawer came from Liberman, the Clothier, New Castle, Pa. It was a sheet of paper about 9x12 inches in size, printed in white on black, with a large black space in which there was cut an opening, Through this slit was stuck a small bunch of straw. Below this, in white, appeared the following:

" Here's a Bunch of Straw." Just a reminder of our Grand Straw Hat Opening, Friday, May 9th. Direct from one of Baltimore's Greatest Straw Works-thus assuring bed-rock prices. A chic, choice, complete collection of the Swellest Straw Hats ever shown in New Castle-from the chip sun hat to the unexcelled imported Panama. The right hat for the right head at the right price here."

This circular was folded and enclosed in a large envelope which had the words, " Good for Man or Horse," printed across the top.

HOTELS.

Mr. Hooper, the manager of the Occidental Hotel, San Francisco, Cal., presented to army officers sailing for Manilla what appeared to be books—each with the title " The Capture of Aguinaldo. In reality each book was a flask filled with the choicest brandy.

HOUSE FURNISHINGS.

Shipper & Block, Peoria, Ill., advertised during their " White Sale" to hem free of charge any purchase of table linen.

F. S. Shooge, Ashland, Wis., once gave free to each of his patrons a lamp costing about one quarter of the value of the goods purchased.

Hoyt-Kent-Sefton Co., Cleveland, O., during a certain period, gave a child's carpet sweeper with every purchase of a " Bissell " sweeper.

Frost & Atwood, Fall River, Mass., advertised that up to a certain date they would furnish with ice every purchaser of one of their refrigerators.

Atha & Atha, Pittsburg, Pa., gave a palm or rubber plant free with each jardinere sold during a special sale of fifty-six hundred jardineres that ranged in price from thirty-eight cents to ten dollars.

Richardson & Grant, Hardware and Crockery Dealers, Salt Lake City, Utah, gave free with every purchase of five dollars' worth of goods a ticket to the famous Jingling Bros.' circus while the show was in town.

The Leterman Company, Charlottesville, Va., celebrated the third anniversary of their " Big Store" by giving a 42-piece hand-painted, decorated dinner set to whoever bought twenty-five dollars' worth of merchandise during the month of August. This amount did not have to be purchased at one time.

The Thompson Shop, New Haven, Conn., once offered (in order to put out truthful and interesting advertising) to give five dollars to the woman who mailed them the greatest number of sane questions about carpets or other floor coverings, before a certain date. These questions were printed and answered in one of the New Haven papers.

Nathan & Skail, Cleveland, O., advertised to give a coupon book to every purchaser of a refrigerator—from eight dollars and a half to thirteen dollars and seventy-five cents. These coupon books entitled the holder to two hundred and fifty pounds of ice, to be delivered any time the holder so desired. With every purchase of a fourteen-dollar refrigerator they gave a coupon book for five hundred pounds of ice.

INSTALLMENTS.

McClain, Simpson Co., Installment House Furnishers, New York, once gave away a handsome footstool pincushion to each visitor.

Ludwig Bauman & Co., New York, once advertised that they would give a seventy-five dollar infant's crib to the person who would send in the greatest number of words made out of the letters which appear in the firm's name.

Friend's Establishment, Pittsburg, Pa., once offered special inducements to their credit purchasers. With every one hundred dollars' credit purchase, on which a payment of fifteen dollars was made, they gave a guaranteed lady's or gentlemen's gold-filled watch. With every fifty dollar purchase, on which a first payment of ten dollars was made, a plush case of Roger s silver tableware, comprising one half dozen each of knives, forks, teaspoons and tablespoons. With smaller purchases. of twenty-five dollars, a parlor rug was the premium, and with purchases of fifteen dollars a framed picture was given.

JEWELRY.

Schrive's, Yonkers, N. Y., once offered to give, without charge, a gold ring to any child under one year of age if taken there by the parent.

The Harris Jewelry Co., Norfolk, Va., once advertised to give away a gold watch to the most popular school teacher of that city. The advertisement stated that no purchase was necessary to entitle one to vote. A coupon was printed in their advertisements, in which the name and address of the teachers were to be written.

H. V. Monahan, Brooklyn, N. Y., once advertised that he would give away a handsome gold ring to any person opening an account of twenty-five dollars or over at his store. These rings were set with " Parisian " diamonds, rubies, turquois, etc.

Reef, the optician and jeweler, Binghampton, N. Y., advertised during a holiday season, that until Christmas he would give free to every purchaser of goods a sterling silver thimble.

Castelberg, the jeweler, Washington, D. C., once displayed a picture of an ace, queen, king, jack of diamonds, and a jack of hearts in his newspaper ad. The heading reads:

Diamonds are trumps at Castelberg's."

LAUNDRY.

Cleaver's Laundry, Los Angeles, Cal., offered five dollars in cash to the boy or girl sending in the best catch phrase containing not over seven words about their laundry work.

The Iroquois Laundry, 86 West Twelfth Street, New York, sent out a blotter which was a very fair representation of a colored cuff. There was a space left on the cuff for the firm's advertisement.

LIQUORS.

R. H. Macy & Co. gave a jug free with every purchase of whiskey.

MEAT MARKET.

In the show-window of Alexander's Meat Market, Oxford, Pa., was once placed a large candle. The customer who guessed the nearest number of hours and minutes it would burn, was presented with his or her choice of any article displayed in the window. Another prize, of " Oxford Star Ham" was given to the person who guessed the nearest number of customers buying in the store, or guesses made in the candle contest, between certain dates.

MEN'S FURNISHINGS.

The Under-Price Store, Peoria, Ill.; gave a collar button free with every one purchased.

Baere & Co., Cohoes, N. Y., gave a linen collar with every purchase of a colored shirt once upon a time.

The Hocker-King Dry Goods Co., Denison, Tex., gave a bristle hair brush with every purchase amounting to a dollar or more in their men's department.

At Cotterell's store, Denver, Colo., was once given during a neckwear sale, a stylish scarf-pin to every purchaser of a dollar scarf. Both the scarfs and the pins were displayed in a show-window.

The Freeman Church Co., Hartford, Conn., once upon a time advertised that they would allow fifty per cent. discount on all half-dollar neckties during a certain period, provided the purchasers brought in the advertisements clipped from the newspaper.

MILLINERY.

Shultz Millinery Store, St. Paul, Minn., once offered to give away any one of six different styles in millinery with purchases ranging from two to seven dollars.

The Paris Millinery Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, gave every purchaser of a dollar's worth of goods a chance on a five hundred and fifty dollar "Franklin " piano.

The Leon Millinery Co., San Francisco, Cal., once held a sale of children's hats. The day on which it was held was called "Children's Day," and a doll's hat was given free with each child's hat sold.

L. S. Plant & Co., Newark, N. J., once sent through the mails dainty miniature hat boxes—announcing a millinery opening. The color of the box was maroon, with gold border, and the name plate and address of the firm were stamped in gold upon the cover. The box was tied with pale pink baby ribbon, and contained a hat supporter, on which was printed the dates of the opening. The address of the recipient was written on the bottom of the box.

MUSIC.

A. D. Matthews Sons, Brooklyn, N. Y., gave one copy of a popular song to every purchaser of three copies of sheet music.

The Bartlett Music Co., Los Angeles, Cal., once upon a time gave a rustic rocker to the first purchaser of one of their " Seville " guitars.

E. B. Guild Music Co., Topeka, Kan., ran an ad in the daily papers, in which they said they had gotten up a novel puzzle. They said they would give a fine " Martin" mandolin worth twenty dollars to the person solving the puzzle. The puzzles could be obtained on request at their establishment.

MUSIC AND MUSICAL GOODS.

The Western Music, Seattle, Wash., once gave a ticket with every purchase, and on it was shown the amount of the purchase. Different articles were given to the holder of tickets. The following pieces were given away according to an advertisement

A harmonica, a kazoo, or a jew's harp for fifty cents' worth of tickets.

A fifty-cent " Mesner " harmonica for one dollar's worth of tickets.

A fine toy piano for one dollar and fifty-cents' worth of tickets.

For two dollars and fifty-cents' worth of tickets, a fine one-dollar music roll. For five dollars' worth of tickets, a beautiful two-dollar music roll.

For fifteen dollars' worth of tickets, a fine Millbure mandolin worth seven dollars and fifty cents.

For ten dollars' worth of tickets, a fine accordion worth three dollars.

For ten dollars' worth of tickets, a good violin worth five dollars.

For twenty dollars' worth of tickets, a good guitar worth seven dollars and fifty cents.

NEWSPAPERS.

The Minerva (O.) News Kodak gave a watch free to every person sending in three new yearly subscribers.

The Daily Herald, Salt Lake City, Utah, offered to give a watch valued at three dollars to every boy who secures four new subscribers to the Herald.

The Weekly Press, Christchurch, N. Z., have sent out some private mailing cards with interesting photographs of people and places in their vicinity.

The San Francisco Bulletin once gave to each want ad patron the choice of three beautiful specimens of Bohemian glassware.

The Charlotte (Mich.) Tribune advertised that they would give a raw-hide buggy whip to every farmer who would re-turn the issue in which the ad appeared.

The St. Louis, Mo., Star sent, free of expense, fifteen thousand boys to see a baseball game between St. Louis and Boston, at National League Park. In a supplement they printed a coupon which was used for that purpose.

The Galesburg (Ill.), Mail offered a beautiful Schaff Bros'. piano to the young lady receiving the greatest number of votes—the contest being conducted on the following lines At the bottom of their announcements they printed a coupon, good for a vote to whoever secured a copy of the Mail.

The Davenport (Ia.) Democrat advertised to send two ladies -one from Davenport and another from outside the city—who are employed as clerks, school teachers, stenographers or in some other occupation, and who reside with their parents on a trip to Europe. A coupon in each issue of the Democrat entitled the holder to a vote for the most popular ladies.

The Charlottesville (Va.) Progress printed a list of eight quotations from one of Shakespeare's plays and gave a box containing five seats for the play, " The Taming of the Shrew," to the person who correctly gave the play and act from which these quotations were selected. The next four successful contestants received two reserved seats each.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Cal., sent some time ago a neat little thermometer accompanied by the following letter: " We send you by mail to-day, with our compliments, a little souvenir of Southern California-a thermometer mounted on the native orange wood and decorated with certain information respecting the progress of Los Angeles and the greater Progress, proportionately, of its representative newspaper, The Los Angeles Times. We trust that you may find a place in your office to hang it where it may often remind you of the fact that, though published in the land of sunshine where temperature varies but little the year round, circulation and advertising in The Times mount ever higher and higher. The record is a remarkable one and will interest you."

The Colorado Springs (Col.) Gazette, once gave away a Spider Stanhope worth two hundred and fifty dollars to the most popular lady visitor in El Paso county. A year's subscription to the Gazette, seven dollars, entitled the sub-scriber to one thousand votes. The lady who received the largest number of votes received the carriage. The Gazette also offered three prizes to the most popular lady employee in El Paso County. They printed an order blank in each issue of the Gazette for subscriptions to that paper. For twelve months' subscription they allowed one thousand votes. The first prize was a magnificent Crown Piano. The second prize was an Edison Triumph Phonograph, and the lady who received the third highest number was entitled to a chainless bicycle.

The Spokane (Wash.), Spokesman-Review offered two thousand dollars in prizes to its advertising patrons. It placed coupons with seventeen of the leading merchants of Spokane, and every advertiser in the Spokesman-Review was entitled to a coupon with a fifty-cent purchase-which allowed him a chance on the various prizes. The contest was an estimate on the number of new classified advertisements that appeared in the Spokesman-Review between August zoth and November loth. There were fifty prizes in all. The first prize of five hundred dollars was a savings bank account with the Spokane and Eastern Trust Co. The second prize was a fine " Weber piano—worth five hundred dollars. The third prize was a three hundred dollar carriage from the repository of the Shaw-Wells Company. And so on through a long list of valuable premiums down to a five-dollar pingpong set.

A coupon was for some time printed in each issue of the Tacoma (Wash.) Ledger, which entitled the holder to a vote as to who was the most popular young lady employee of a Tacoma business house. The contest lasted for two weeks. At the end of that time the young lady who received the largest number of votes received from the Ledger free transportation from Tacoma to Cohasset Beach and return and two weeks' board at Pinehurst, the famous summer resort.

When the Mansfield (Ohio) News gave their ninth annual outing to the children at Mansfield the outing was held at a park near Mansfield, and the News issued tickets entitling children between the ages of five and fifteen to a ride to and from the park. In addition to this they had badges bearing the American flag, also Ninth Annual News Outing, Sherman-Heineman Park, Mansfield O., and the date of the outing. An article printed in the News the day following the outing stated that these badges were seen everywhere. The children had free lemonade served to them while the city band made exquisite music for their enjoyment.

OPENING.

Mentor, Rosenbloom & Co., Columbus, O., gave a pretty floral souvenir to every woman who attended a Pall opening.

Kaufman, Myers & Co., Galveston, Tex., once, during the Raster Opening Week, gave a handsome needle case, which contained a handsome assortment of all kinds of needles, to all ladies who visited their store.

OPTICAL GOODS.

The San Diego Optical Co., San Diego, Cal., once advertised that they would guarantee all corrections in their eye glasses for two years, and that they would make any changes necessary inside this time free of charge.

J. M. Crawford, optician, San Diego, Cal., once offered to examine the eyes and give spectacles free to the poor of his vicinity if they brought a note from, or were accompanied by some reliable person who stated that they were worthy and unable to pay for glasses. Two pairs were also given when required.

PERFUMERY.

The Leader, Spokane, Wash., gave a bottle of "Elysian Quadruple Perfume to each purchaser of a dollar's worth of goods.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES.

The G. D. Scott Co., Nanaimo, B. C., gave away, a " Brownie" camera with every purchase amounting to ten dollars.

PHOTOGRAPHS.

D. Mccarthy & Sons, Syracuse, N. Y., once offered to enlarge a photograph for any purchaser who bought a dollar's worth of goods. Here is an idea, which almost any photographer should be able to interest almost any neighboring merchant in, to the advantage of both.

The Eisfeld Clothing Co., Bloomington, Ill., once gave with each cash purchase a coupon for the amount of the sale. Ten dollars in coupons presented at their store, with a good clean photograph, entitled the owner of the coupons to one 6x6 inch portrait medallion of the photograph submitted with the coupons.

PIANOS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

The Weaver Organ and Piano Co., York, Pa., sent two postal cards to some one person in a country town. They wanted agents to handle their organs. One of these cards had a representation of a wagon being driven, with an organ on the hind part. This is part of the argument which accompanies the illustration:

That horse and wagon idea we hinted at in our last is worth a trial if you are not already engaged in that line of work. It's the ideal way to sell organs. And don't you know that notes from the better class of country people, payable at their nearest bank, are easier collected and more promptly paid than city leases?. You discount them at

your own bank and the banker does the collecting. An occasional note comes back unpaid for you to lift, but these are either renewed for a short term or collected by mail. It is the most satisfactory part of our retail trade. One horse will draw your wagon."

PICTURES.

A framed copy of the picture entitled " The Young Mother," was given with every purchase amounting to one dollar or over during a certain period at the Detroit Art Co., Detroit, Mich.

PRINTING.

The Lotus Press, New York, once issued a little book, entitled " Booklets," in which they brought out some of the advantages of advertising through the use of a booklet. This booklet was accompanied by the following letter from The Lotus Press:

' No matter what you may require in printing, you are likely to find samples here, properly classified in sample books.

The Lotus Press can be a great help to you by designing the work and furnishing the necessary ideas, and relieving you of worry and trouble.

We are fully equipped for doing all kinds of neat and tasteful business and professional printing.

We would like to have a visit from you."

Langley & Sons, printers, London, l;ngland, once sent out some very attractive calendars the first of the year. A space was cut out of the middle of the card and a handsome photogravure was pasted on the back, so that the card made a frame for the picture. A small calendar was fastened in the lower right-hand corner of the card.

RAILROAD.

The Santa Fe R. R. gave free melons to excursionists to Rocky Ford, Colo., on " Watermelon Day."

REAL ESTATE.

The Eastern Land Co., Buffalo, N. Y., advertised to give away five thousand dollars in valuable presents—consisting of tons of coal, barrels of flour, ladies' and gentlemen's watches, etc., in connection with an auction sale of building lots.

H. C. Kinsman, Colorado Springs, Colo., once placed a thousand dollars in three jars. Every purchaser of real estate was allowed a guess as to the amount of money contained in either of the jars. The person who guessed nearest to the amount of money contained in one of the three jars received the thousand dollars.

Wood, Harmon & Co., Pittsburg, Pa., once gave away five thousand dollars in a clever advertising scheme. They sent five hundred balloons up in the air in the down-town districts. A coupon, good for five dollars, twenty-five dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars or two hundred dollars, as part payment on a lot at Westwood, was attached to each of these balloons.

The West Atlantic Land Co., Atlantic City, N. J., sent out an impressive booklet entitled " West Atlantic—Venice of America-the Queen Shore City." The booklet, which was about' six inches by nine and three-quarter inches in size, was printed in brown, on super-calendered paper, had a gray cover, and was tied with a gray silk cord. On the first page of the cover was a scene from Venice, also the title em-bossed in red and gray. The West Atlantic Land Co. intend to make Atlantic City the "Venice of America," and illustrated this booklet by an occasional three-color plate, showing what the city will be like after they have taken hold of it and remodeled it. This booklet reflected great credit on the Weeks Photo Engraving Co., of Philadelphia, whose imprint and work-mark appeared on the second page.

SCHOOLS.

The Kells School, New York, sometime ago got up a booklet about three and one-quarter inches by six inches in size, advertising their method of teaching shorthand, typewriting and office practice. On the outside of the cover, which was of gray paper, printed in black, was the picture of a Remington typewriter. Among the other things in the reading matter was a paragraph telling of the merits of the Remington typewriter, which said that " It is the Remington which is used in the Kells school." Messrs. Wyckoff, Seamans & Benedict, upon inspecting this booklet, immediately sent as a present to Mr. Kells, several thousand copies of a booklet advertising the Kells School. The booklet contained exactly the same matter as that of the original brochure, but was given the benefit of the experience in high-class booklet making of the Remington advertising man.

SHOES.

Holstead & Grant gave a fine red ball with every purchase of a pair of shoes.

The Cyclone Store, Parkersburg, W. Va., gave free hosiery with every pair of men's, women's or children's shoes bought during a specified period.

Woodin's Shoe Store, Great Falls, Mont., gave twenty dollars away to the family who bought the greatest number of shoes during a certain month.

The Rochester Clothing and Shoe Co., Mansfield, O., once gave a pair of men's or women's two dollars and fifty-cent shoes with every ten-dollar purchase.

Furman's Shoe House, Topeka, Kan., pushed business once by giving a pair of rubbers with each cash purchase of a pair of ladies' or misses' shoes over a dollar and fifty cents.

M. A. Krug, Erie, Pa., once gave a coupon with every dollar purchase at his shoe store entitling the holder to a chance on a three hundred and fifty-dollar " Colby " piano.

The Wakefield Cash Store, Bloomington, Ill., printed coupons in the Bloomington daily papers which entitled each holder to twenty-five cents off on any pair of shoes at two dollars and over.

The Dee-Stanford Shoe Co., Ogden, Utah, once gave away a four hundred and fifty-dollar "Schubert " piano. They gave a coupon with every one-dollar purchase, which entitled the holder to a chance on this piano.

Phillip E. Rice, Corinth, N. Y., advertised that he would give away a Chautauqua writing desk and blackboard. With every pair of boys' or girls' shoes he gave a numbered coupon entitling the holder to participate in the drawing. The boy or girl who held the lucky coupon was given the desk.

Shorey & Cutter, Bangor, Me., once gave away one dollar bills to the boys and girls of that city. They gave one dollar in cash with every tenth pair of shoes costing one dollar or more. In order that everyone received an equal chance they placed the bill in the left shoe, and the right one was shown or tried on.

Schlagel's Shoe Store, Pomeroy, O., once got up a very interesting and novel shoe-string sale. A pair of shoe strings were sealed up in an envelope, with a coupon calling for a prize—ranging all the way from another pair of shoe strings to a pair of shoes—and the package sold for five cents. One day one ad in one paper sold six hundred packages.

The "Union Store," Parkersburg, W.Va., once had a coupon shoe sale in order to determine which of the papers in which they advertised brought them the best results. The coupon and the name of the paper it appeared in was duly advertised. This coupon entitled the holder to a discount of twenty per cent, on the regular price of a pair of shoes.

Albert White (shoes), Kansas City, Mo., advertised to give away a pony and cart to some boy or girl on Christmas morning. With every dollar's worth of shoes bought in his store up to December 14th, he gave a coupon ticket upon which some boy or girl could make an estimate upon the number of scholars there would be in attendance in the public schools of Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., Topeka, Leavenworth, Atchinson, and St. Josephs on December 14th. The one who made the correct, or nearest to the correct estimate, got the pony and cart.

During the remainder of a February, every cash customer at the Coxe Shoe Co., Birmingham, Ala., was given a tagged key with each dollar purchase. These keys were to unlock a box exhibited in their window and which contained twenty dollars. There were only three keys that unlocked the box and on March first every enstonier was permitted to try his key or keys. If the first key tried unlocked the box the person holding that key received ten dollars. The remaining six and four dollars were distributed to the holders of the second and third keys.

SILVERWARE.

In Wilbur's store, Pittsburg, Pa., was given once, to each June bride, a beautiful silver tea service, consisting of as coffee pot, sugar bowl and cream pitcher. During this period any bride who applied at their office, with a marriage license, received one of these absolutely free of charge.

SOAP.

Bale's establishment, Los Angeles, Cal., distributed to children in order to popularize this soap—small cakes of " Cadenula " soap. Of course, the children were to visit the store.

SPORTING GOODS.

Mackerrow Brothers, Sporting Goods Dealers, Montreal, Canada, once published in a little square, set apart in their advertising space, the schedule of Saturday's football games.

On the Monday following, the results of these games were printed in the same space.

STATIONERY.

John W. Grahm & Co., Spokane, Wash., advertised to give without charge, a die in any one of ten designs, with a two-letter, provided they were given the work of embossing the recipient's stationery at a 'charge of twenty-five cents per quire.

TAILORING.

The Acme Tailoring Co., Washington, D. C., once offered to give free with every suit or overcoat ordered a pair of worsted trousers. This offer stood for a certain day.

W. Brandt, tailor, Binghampton, N. Y., once formed what he called, " Brandt's Pressing Club." He sold membership tickets to the club for twelve dollars a year and this entitled the member to the privilege of sending his clothes once a week to the Brandt establishment to be cleaned, mended, pressed and buttons sewed on. A messenger called for his clothes, and their pressing, etc., were promptly attended to.

Louis Saks, Birmingham, Ala., once advertised that he would make one, out of every ten suits ordered, free of charge.

Osterman & David, of Columbus, Ohio, once advertised to give away with every suit purchased on Saturday an extra fancy vest, value not less than two-dollars and one-half." All alterations to improve a fit were offered free of cost. This firm also promised to keep all goods bought from them pressed and repaired for two years free of charge.

TOYS.

The Rookery, Jackson, Miss., once offered to give a kite free to anyone who sold twenty-five cents' worth of kites for the store.

Longyear Bros., Lansing, Mich., gave a gamester top to such children as visited their store accompanied by parents or guardians.

TRUNKS.

The Stambaugh-Thompson Co., Youngstown, Ohio., offered to paint free of charge initials on every trunk purchased from them.