The country shops are flooded with what he calls 'shoddy.' An army of eager commercial travellers pushes showy goods on the shopkeepers and the public at half his price.

Even the farmers in remote districts are beginning to acquire a taste for smartness.

Some things in which he used to do a useful trade are now scarcely worth making.

There is hardly any demand for the checked head-kerchiefs.

The women prefer hats and bonnets, decked with cheap ribbons or artificial flowers; and these bring no trade to Mr.Quinn's mill.