Regular readers of this column know I grew up in a house that wasn’t much more than a stone’s throw from my father’s business. The house was designed so my father could keep a close watch on his business. There was even a switch within reach of his bed with which he could turn off and on lights at his place of business. In the dual purpose building that served as a combination garage and fireworks stand, there was a door bell button so the clerk could summon help. Like a bank’s burglar alarm system, the switch was located out of the customer’s sight. This allowed the clerk to call...