Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-04-13
RULES FOR TR.ADESMEN.

|. Whatever your trade may be, never be
ashamed Of it, or above it.
2. Do not disdain to keep company with peo-
pie of your own class but rather court their
acquaintance, the controversy of men of trade
brings trade-men first talk together, and then
deal together.
8. Without diligence and application, no
trade can be successful, or honorably carried on.
a. Never trade beyond your stock, or give or
take too large credit. Better slip bargain now
and then, than buy greater quantity of goods
than you can pay for.
5. Should your affairs 90 wrong in spite of
all your care and diligence, break in time II
you can pay ten shlings, do not affect to re-
main whole until you can pay ten pence
6. Cruelty of creditors, is always in proper
ton to the dishonesty of debtors.
7. A we'll assorted and we'll chosen collec-
ton Of goods, is preferable to shop entirely
filled with an immense quantity.
8. The retail tradesmen in general, must lay
in very great stock of patience; they must con-
quer their passions, and endeavor to weather
the storm of impotence.
9. Pleasures and diversions, when frequent,
are generally fatal to young tradesmen, especial
ly those diversions which are deemed innocent,
such as horses, and dogs, and races.
10. For the first five or six years of business,
a tradesman ought to consider himself as worth
nothing, or as having no money which can be
taken out of the business and spent in the lux
uries of life.
IL. Profusion in expenses, living like your
neighbors, and mimicking the manners of high
life, are paths which lead directly to bankrupt
cy.
IL. In the employment of holidays, be sure
that exercise only, is your object. He who
rides ten miles, and drinks two bottles of wine,
will not find health greatly improved.
Is. Beware of engaging to be security, for
any sum which you cannot pay without inju-
ring YOURSELF business, or credit
IA. If you marry let it be with one who is
not above being the wife of tradesman it
may be necessary, therefore, to avoid one who
has a boarding school education.
Is. Trust as little to servants as possible, and
this caution may be observed, without depriving
them of a just and proper degree Of confidence.
l6. Idle servants are rarely honest ones. If
a servant has taste for dress, rather correct,
and moderate it, than prohibit it altogether.
IT, Trust nothing to speculation, and avoid
all paper money schemes, to deceive the public
and uphold false credit.
49, In general avoid partnerships at all
times avoid them, if you are not perfectly ac-
quainted with the temper, disposition, and char
acter of your partner.
10. If you discover that your partner is a
schemer or gambler in the funds, lottery, or
otherwise, dissolve partnership directly.
20. Be firm and determined in your price
fix moderate price, and never depart from it.
81. Exposed as you often must be to i'm
proper questions, rather positively refuse to an
swer them than tell such lies as are common on
the occasion.
%. Acquire a neatness and despatch in eve-
ry thing you do; yet avoid the affected hustle,
crnging smile, and vulgarity, Of some trades
men.
%. Talk to your customers like man of
sense and business, and not like mountebank.
"a. BE not over anxious to make great for
tune, nor set your heart upon country house
and retirement.
25. In word be strictly honest, assiduously
digent and frugal. Never break your word
or shuttle; but teach your brother tradesmen
and the whole world, that you are a person in
every possible case to be depended on.