Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-19
tFrom the New England Farmer.)
CHARACTER is CAPITALIZED US PT,A
THE MAN


CHARACTER IS CAPIrAI.--LET US PLAY
THE MAN.
"Are YOU acquainted with the IL broth
ersP" asked an old provision dealer of me, in
Boston, awhile since.
avery well So" answered I "their farm is
located within couple Of miles of my place,
and often call there
"Well, what sort OF men are they 7" said
he.
"Two hard working thrifty farmers, and hon
est, reliable men,
1Well, that is Just my experience" exclaim-
ed the old man, with warmth land l have
traded with them for many years when | en-
gage a lot of potatoes, or cabbages, or turnips,
don't have to worry myself about being here
when they are delivered; | knoto | shall find
everything all right Then there is A., neigh
Dor of theirs he's Just like them one of the
honest and honorable men that like to trade
with but it amt so with H.; have to look
out tor him the measure is too short, or things
don't come up to what's pro fis9d. l most al
ways have some trouble with him."
SO it is, in the long run, other things equal,
the honest man is the successful man. When
the market is but scantily supplied, the differ
ence between the sharper and the honest dealer
may not be so distinctly drawn but let the
market be hard, the distinction is soon made
evident. smooth tongue may prove pow
err, when brought to beat'on transient, floating
customers; but that permanent patronage,
which subtracts so much from the hardships of
marketing, can be won by those only whose
goods are as good as their promises. But were
there no pecuniary motives to prompt to hon.
est dealing, there would still remain a mans
manhood to be respected--a precious heritage,
worth more than was ever brought forth by the
sweat of the brow-the immortal right to be
maintained, though the pocket book may seem
to suffer.
The practice of putting the best of the pota-
toes on the top of the barrel, (deaconng,' is
the slang term for thisD and the best of the
load on the top of the wagon, is a curious illus
tration of cunning overreaching itself; the prac-
tice, if l am correctly informed, having now be-
come universal being required on the part Of
the purchaser, and consequently anticipated by
the farmer.
But the genus sharper is common to both
producer and dealer. There are men in the
provision trade in the markets of Boston, men
who do business on large scale, too, who hold
their promises very lightly if dollar is to be
made by the breaking of it. Many an honest
farmer has been taught his lesson of the stand
ard of manliness on the part of such, by some
such experience as this:
81 have brought that load of onions for YOU"
"Whot onions?" exclaims the dealer, with
well affected surprise.
"The onions that Mr. B.. of your firm, spoke
for yesterday"
"Mr. B. had no business to speak for the
onions" replies the dealer; 1--WE don't want
them"
After little sharp experience of this kind
our farmer perceives that whenever the article
has fallen in the market, between the time it
was ordered and the time appointed for delive-
ry, Mr.. a. will be very apt to de clare, with well
assured passion that Mr. b. had no right to
order the article; it was not wanted or vice
versa, Mr.. b. will in like manner declare that
Mr. A. had no right to order the article it was
mt wanted 1t is better to keep our manhood
though there be but fourpence in the wallet
than store tens of thousands in the vault, by
such rasCaty.
There are noble farmers | wot of, who have
laid down and observed rule for themselves
In relation to such sharpers, that | would that
all might follow, to the end that the genus
might be extinguished; viz, never after to deal
with such, no matter what inducements they
might hold out. They might thus be taught
that character is capital.
The practise by some of bringing out barrels
OF extraordinary capacity to receive onions po-
tatoes, or other products purchased by the bar
rel, need not say is mean, unmanly act.
uoheslly uuNlse Hieh WIN intenu going through
life on such basis of action to hang or drown
themselves, or in some way stop the record just
where it is.
The effect of such dealing on the relation be-
tween pro Queer and dealer is most unfortunate.
1t produces a want of healthy respect and mu-
tual dstrust, to the disadvantage of each party
concerned. In the long run, neither party gain
by it, pecuniorily, and doubt not retire from
business pretty well satisfied, that after all, such
dealing is no proof Of any great amount of
either sharpness or shrewdness.
JAMES J. II. GREGORY.
Mar6lehead, Mass, 1861