The New York herald., 1869-03-06

vdnal Is designated by letters at the en1 OF the name
whcn symbolixe all the various stages from good
Ior any amount 10 good for nothing.
cANyAssING NEW YORK.
Our city Is canvassed as we'll as other localities to
get at the reliability OF our business men. To show
now our merchants dislike having their own financial
affairs pryed into, though they are eager to avail
themselves of the same pryng propenstes pract sed
extended by one OF our merchants TO a representa-
tive OF one OF their agencies related BY the
merchant: Inc ieiiow commenced MS inquiries win
more zeal tnan Judgment, however, in his mode OF
questioning.
..what do you mean by asking me such ques-
tionsY' the merchant asked his visitor
:. - am get.'ng iacts fors- commercial agency"
.YOa gel out Of here or pn kick you," continued
The Jealous representative OF the - commercial
agency dld not protract his visit or his inquiries
70 new firms IN the city. The sample we have given
Is doubtless faithful exhibit OF the popular sent-
nowithsiandng 80 many take PAINS and 40 S to the
expense to avail themselves OF their supposed
SUDDEN SHIFTING OF SCENES.
country merchant steps into one OF our large
stores and is no doubt frequently startled ut the
greeted with lows and smiles and is kept in agree
able conversation till q messenger wh0 on his in
tlmation OF desire to purchase bill Of goods, Is
immediately despatched to the commercial agency
to get at his financial record, comes back with the
reliable statement. II the statement is favorable to
credit Tor reasonable amount for reasonable time
the smiles continue and the bill OF goods Ii sold and
duly oeDted II the statement Is not favorable then
the smiles relax. and now comes the astOnls lshment.
"How do you wish to buyyn asks the merchant;
'.for cashr'
'.Jn ninety days." answers the unsuspecting
visitor.
SORRY, very sorry" says the merchant "but our
terms are cash."
- not prepared to pay cash." interposes the
rural dispenser OF assorted merchandise, from
handsaw to Honiton lace.
''Good day." says our city merchant.
''GOod day." responds the visitor, and he is very
respectfully but trmiy bowed out OF the place
before he knows 1t. These Things are OF
daily occurrence. There may be an assassin
In the dark-some spiteful correspondent ut
the bottom Of it-as described above. 1t Is all the
same. No one will object 10 take the cash OF our
country merchant. but he can get crealt nowhere.
The commercial agencies have done the business for
hun. Perhaps he merits IT, and perhaps not II Is
just as likely one way Us another.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Having filled the outline OF special observations
regarding special phases and characteristics Of our
commercial agencies, we might indulge to an in
definite extent In general observations this ect
Tue great objection to them Is the almost utter
reliability Of the Information they claim to give.
Another objection Is that through positively
neOus information large sums are continually being
lost by our merchants through extending credits
where none should be gwen. The mischief Is. The
agencies are In no wise responsible for such results
1hey give out their Information, for 1t would not do
to give 1t out otherwise, Its reliability is all that
gives it value. Excepting guides to further in-
tended list OF names to which to send circulars So
Letting trade, these agencies are OF no earthly
except to their managers and 10 these are an emi.
nenty good thing.