The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-10
6eneral Misfellany.
Lies in Trade.

Men Of scr,pulous veracity in the COM
mon relations of life often justify themselves
in deceptions in trade, by the plea that such
deceptions are common, ard it is only by
shrewdness that one can hope for eminent
success. But lying is lying everywhere, and
every man is forbidden to follow the multi
tude in doing evil. The British Mercantile
Courier has some just remarks, which are
worthy of wide circulation
1t is vulgar fallacy that lies are lies only
when spoken. Some persons even assume
that lies are not lies if uttered to push the
sale of merchandise-at least, that they are
only white lies" The essence of lie con-
sists in the attempt to deceive-in making
false representation. Whatever be the mo-
tive, if it involves deception, it is a breach of
the moral law.
There can be no doubt that the shopman
who asserts that print will wash when he
knows it will not, utters falsehood. If he
make the assertion, with the mental reserva-
ton that "all the colors will vanish under the
process" it is still lie and, even if he is
doubtful on the point, it is equally so, be-
cause he attempts to make an impression on
the mind of his customer that may be ad-
verse to the truth. The tickets, with minute
figures and hair-like strokes, too often exhib-
tied in windows-the calling prints "lloyles'
which are not Hoyle's, and tlannels "rea
Welsh" which are not real Welsh, and such
like, are lies of too gross character to re.
quire word of comment.
Concealment of truth comes under the
same category of lying. The publisher who
appends critical notices of reviewers to his
list of books, leaving out qualifying passa
ges lies. So does the shopman who pun
poselv conceals defects-the manufacturer
who sends "a inch cloth for what is usually
36 inches wide, and the shoemaker who sup
plies Northampton made for bespoke
boots.
The sale of adulterated goods, or article:
with false labels, must be condemned by al
as unadulterated lying; but it is said by some
whose moral perceptions are not very clear
that to label 2OO-yard reel of cotton, "War
ranted 800 yards," is not wrong, because it il
generally understood not to measure what i
is called. Then why is it done -? Why no
label it 200 yards, which is the truth ? Sim
ply because there are those who do not un
derstand it, and, placing reliance on the deal
ers, purchase it for what it is called. Lie
consist not in the verbal utterance, but il
the idea they are intended to convey. Tn
footman who says that his mistress is "not a
hone," although he utters verbal falsehood
is not really guilty Of lying, for it is mer
polite form Of expressing her wish not to b
seen, and is recognized in high life as such
1t is, however, an immoral custom, as it IA
= miliarizes the servants to a tampering wit
truth.
1t is possible, also, to speak verbal trut
e which is substantially lie. Horrocks is a
eminent manufacturer Of calcoes. Anothe
man of the same name might start man,
factory of similar goods, but of an inferic
quality and the hadesman who assured hi
, customer that a roll of his calico was Ho
s rocks make, would be uttering lie, whic
at the same time, would be verbally true, h
:, intention being to impress the buyer wit
the idea that it was from the looms ct tt
famous Horrocks-the Horrocks par erce
lence.
Lies may be acted as well as spoken. II
wearing of imitation jewelry is lie; II
physician who directs his servant to call nj
out of church in the middle OF the sermo
acts lie-so does the grocer who has
= cart emblazoned with his name, driven MT
, er and thither-without any other oc)e
than to lead his neighbors to imagine ne
doing large trade-and the draper, vi
tickets goods in his window at fabulous