The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-10-23
LIES IN TRADE.

Meu VI sCTupulOus NeTdcltf ~ TIE common
relations Of life. often justify shemselves in
deceptions in trade BY the plea that such
receptions are common, and il is only by
shrewdness that one can hope for eminent
success. But lying is lying erywhere. and
every man is Forbidden to follow the multi
tude to do evil. The British Mercantile
Courier has some just remarks, which are
worthy OF wide circulation:
Il is vulgar fallacy that lies are lies only
when spoken. Some persons even assume
that lies are not lies il uttered to push the
sale OF merchandise-at least, that they are
only "white lies" The essence Of lie con.
sisls in tie attempt to deceise--in making
false representation. Whatever be the mo.
tive, il it involves deception. it is breach Of
the moral law.
There can be no doubt that the shopman
who asserts that print will wash when he
knows IL will not. utters deliberate lie. If
he makes the assertion, with the mental res.
eryaIion that call the eolors will vanish IN
der the process" il is still lie and even if
he is doubtful On the point. il is equally so.
because he attempts TO make an impression
on the mind Of his Customer thai may be adj
verse to the truth. ne tickets, with minute
figures and hair line strokes, too often rx-
hibitrd in windows--the calling prints
/" HOyle'sD which are not Hoyle's. and fam
nels "real Wesh.' which are not real Welsh,
and such like, are lies Of too gross eharac-
ter to require word Of comment.
Concealment Of the truth comes under the
same category Of lying. The Publisher who
appends critical notices Of reviewers to his
list Of books, leaving out qualifying passages,
lies. So does the shopman who purposely
conceals defects--the manufacturer Who sends
q 81 inch clos for what is usually 80 inches
vide, and the shoemaker who supplies North.
ampton made for bespoke" boosts.
The sale of adulierated goods, or articles
with false labels. must be condemned by al
as unadulterated lying; but il Is said by some
whose moral perceptions are not very clear.
that 10 label coward reel OF cation, I" War.
ranted 500 yards" is not wrong, because II
is generally understood not to measure What
It is called. Then Why is il donei WIZ
not label il 200 yards, which is the irurhi
Simply because there are those who do not
understand il. and. placing reliance on the
dealers, purchase Il for what Il is called.
Lies consist not in the verbal uiteranee, bur
IN the idea they are intended to convey. The
fOotln1n who saws that his mistress is "not
al home," although be ulters verbal false.
hood, is not really guilty Of lying. FOR il is a
mere polite form 81 expressing her wish not
% be seen, and j. recognized in high life as
such. Il j.. however. an immoral custom,
a. il familiarizes the servant 20 iampering
with truth.
1, possible also II speak verbal truth
which Is Substantially lie. Horrocks IL an
enineat manufacturer u calic0es. Another
man u the same name might start manu-
factory d similar goods. bot Of an Inferior
quality; and the tfadesmap who assured his
customer that a roll Of bis calico was Hor-
rocks make. would be utiering lie, which
at the sane time. would be verbally true,
bis intentipn being to impress the buyer with
the idea that il was from the looms Of the
famous HOfrocks--the Horrocks par e<eG
le1ice.
Lies may be Acted a. veil as spoken The
wearing d limitation jewelry il lie; the
physician who dirrei. his servant 10 call him
out u church III the middle Of the sermon,
acts lie-so does ths grocer who has bis
carr emblszOned with BIZ name, driven hifh-
er and thithrr-without any other object
tpan 70 lead his neighburs 10 imagine he il
dong large trade--and the draper, who
tickets goods 10 his window al labulously
low prices. TO induce the supposi,ion that al
his wares are sold al similar prices. Indeed,
10 trade. there are more lies acted than spo.
ken. Placing the best fruit on the top Of
,he baskst-turning 10 the dirty end Of .
piece Of goods-displsying an article IN a
fictitious lght-placlng packages outside the
door addressed with sflstocfatic names-ahd
thousand other false actions which might
be cited, are al acted violations Of the truth;
and although ihey are Looked upon by the
egnmercisl ~OrId - very seniaI peccadiIloes,
az really az much lying ~ the most DELHI
craze fefbal faIsshoeds; and 20 long o. this
systematic deeeptisensn eharacierizes the
English tradssman. the sheer which The First
Napoleon hires 70 our teeth, that We we're q
"nstiou Of shoPksspers." possesses = sting