The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-23

That 'tgood wine needs no bush," is maxim
wholly inappicable to the present times The
slow and patient methods which were character
istc of the trader Of the last century, are long
since out of vogue. The modern tradesman, in
the splendor and variety of his wares NAV outvie
his neighbor, and may ndersell his rival; but
this he regards rs q matter of slight Importance,
unless he imprcsses on the world a knowledge
OF these facts In the headlong competition of
our age an early start is everything. Thus origi-
mated the practice of advertising, which has been
gradually developed into q system of putting.
that has been brought almost to perfection. It is
made effective by resort to all the most singular
expedients human ingenuity can devise and is
carried upon a scale hitherto unparalleled.
Travel rs we may, by land or water, we have
ever before us the neatly framed cards, whose
crimson and golden letters remind us of the yir-
tues Of somebody's iron safe, or sugar-coated pills
Huge posters on the corners arrest our attention.
and invite US to sit for our portraits or buy an
india-rubber suit. Twenty miles away from the
great metropolis of the country inscriptions on
the granite rocks bear witness to the tonsorial
skill Of a celebrated artist and on the
walls of our houses we fnd in sombre
colors, earnest recommendations of some newly
compounded ointment. All this is well enough
within certain recognized limits, but there are
bounds beyond which decent regard for truth
ought not TO permit handful to futter.-
We take no account of course of quacll DOCTORS
who are privileged to stray whittier they may
choose in the obscure paths where they profess TO
gather so much knowledge and wisdom We
cannot follow them, but only marvel at the Won
deru merits of these inventors of patent medicines
and their extraordinary discoveries of such magical
properties as they extract from the simplest things
around us. When all the ills that flesh is heir
''to' may be averted for few dollars, and every
human malady be permanently cured" for about
the same sum- we would not inquire TOO curiouslv
into the secrets Of these bcneflctors of our race
But should avaricious tradesmen so far forget
themselves as to forge the certificates which testify
to the exaggerated value of their wares Justice TO
more honorable dealers, apart from all higher con-
sderatlons, requires that protest should be made
against such practices. In many branches of bust
ness, unfortunately, this disreputable custom has
been adopted, but it has nowhere been more unscrr-
pulouSly persevcred in than among some of the
printing and publishing houses of our larger
cities, We could cite many instances in point,
but content ourselves with referring to one which
has attracted some attention abroad. The London
A~endHm, after expressing very natural indig-
nation at the extent TO which this kind of fraud
has been carried both in England and in this
country, says:
Unroubed by scrupes of or shame of face
thp
quote and with AN audacity certainly unknown in Eng
land, fix the fabricated praise the journal which in
their opnion carries the greater weight instance is
before us as we write. A lady, whose we will not
PRINT Tor we cannot say how far she may be free from
blame has written story the title of which We at pres
emit suppress not wishing to do the lady harm
Hshed by IT. B. Peterson & Brothers. No. 306 Chestnut
street. Philadelphia In the advertisements to which
these names are subscribed the public told read
the following opinions of the press Then come two ex-
tracts The first, which is subscribed London Ahenaa'
runs:
Here is work which out amid the fctonal is
sues OF the present season, like pure diamond in the
midst of pary paste 1t is one of the most fervd and
impressive narratives that has ever fallen from the press
with power possessed by female writer of our day
unless be by the lmented Grace Aguilar or the sngu
ariy gifted Ellen Pickering, its fair author strikes on
every page for the hearts and ntelects her readers
and rarely fails to touch the first the latter cap
tive AS picture of the vast power of the great Master
PASSION it has scarcely been
never eXceled What Raphael was among ordinary
artists, this work is among works of fiction and as Int
few ever reached the lofty platform occupied by that great
ARTIST so we can point to but very limited number of
freshness and
gorgeonsness of execution, will compare with - by
-.'-LOndOn AtheneaBI. y
We need not say that word Of this ever
appeared IN me AthenGnnl 1T is pure fabrication
The second extract from the London Times 1t runs:
me fair author Of - has done herself and her
work full justice. If, in writing this book her object
was 10 WIN name and place among the great she
G cor her object is creation which calls
Tor and compels the admiration of all men, and
which will carry the and fame of the writer
ITS latest posterity. London Times III
vi course this is also spurious We answer for it that
nc
which it is made that this wonderful story will
carry down to the latest posterity."
1t is unnecessary TO dwell upon the palpabe dis
honesty of the means thus taken to attract custo-
mers, or to point out the two-fold wrong produced
by them. The unwary purchaser who buys the
DOCK because he sees at hasty glance that The
Times and -AHennum have recommended if is
cheated; aud The AMenGuns suffers in public esti-
nation and, it may be- fails TO extend its circula-
ton here because the trash alleged to be quoted
from its columns has caused readers to underrate
It's worth. Nor we pass from this subject
without abiding to the irretrievable damage done
in cases like this 10 Others than the parties more
Immediately concerned. These "trieks of trade,
have more than all other things earned for the
lankee nation reputation for "cuteness'' not /
altogether enviable. The unavorabIe immersion
with which we are regarded by those foreigners
who remember the list of our peccadillocs, from
reputation down to wooden-nutmegs, is deepened
and strengthened by the exposure of such trans
actions as the English papers complain Of Every
one therefore shonld make common cause against
those who are privy to them and endeavor to
make manifest what we believe to he the truth.
that fair dealing is the rule among us, and not rs
some have commended the exception