Congress, and he'll be heard from. His public life is profitable now,
for it helps to advertise Thurber's business."

"Well," said another, "You've got to get up mighty early to get ahead
of Hoyt in Chicago. They don't sell as many dollars, perhaps, as
Thurber, but they have sand, and they don't put it in their sugar,
either."

"I like groceries. A dealer has to buy them, whether times are good or
bad. Folks must eat."

"And take medicine?"

"Yes, and take medicine. And, by the way, do you know that the grocers
are giving druggists a lively time on medicines? They are. Thurber has
a drug department, and advertises them at 'a grocer's profit.' Lots of
others have gone in, and the day will soon be here when a man can buy
his sugar and quinine in the same place."

"What will druggists do?"

"What have they been doing the last ten years? Sell teas and coffees,
cigars and tobaccos, and fancy goods. Look at a drug store in
holidays, and it is full of plush cases, placques, bronzes, and goods
that were supposed to belong to jewelers. The bars are dropping down
in every line."

"Business is done in queer ways," said a man who was sitting near me.
"Tobacco men give away guns in order to sell their tobacco; coffee is
sold by giving plated ware, baking powder by glassware, boots and