The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-07-30
By-paths to Prosperity.


ness devoted to single article is almost
certain in large city. Thus, let man
sell nothing but dolls heads, keeping his
prices well down, and remaining in the
same store for years, and although, per-
haps for long while unnoticed, and
strongly tempted to expand his business
INTO toy-shop or variety store, if per-
sIstent in the one idea, he will eventually
attract an exclusive trade, and draw Gus
toners for dolls heads from distant quar-
tiers; for it is alike the observation of buy
ers and sellers that the best place to buy
an article is that where only that article is
dealt in. But if the dealer in the case SUD-
posed were to include the bodies, the gar
ments, and the furniture of dolls, he might
procure larger business in the first few
years, but with no such prospect Of ulti-
mate increase or permanency.
The specialities of scientific knowledge
give occupation to men possessed of
thorough knowledge of peculiar depart
ments. To enumerate these special call
lngs is but to give the designations appro-
pirate to the divisions of science. The
professions are similarly pursued in indi-
vidual lines; and we have patent lawyers
and divorce lawyers, cancer doctors and
chiropodists. OF the last there was one
who went travelling from house to house,
before the days when citizens bird a corn
doctor" by the year to operate monthly,
whose reputation was founded upon an
alleged capacity for extracting the roots of
corns. After nicely trimming the afflicted
feet, he would affect to pull out the said
roots with tweezcrs. He bored small hole
in the corn, and his legerdemain was very
neat; but gentleman on whom he opera
ted kept root" and examined it under
a microscope. 1t was a piece of fish
bone.
With special reference to human frailty.
there IS business reduced to system in
Paris. employing number. of discreet
deputies, who go around to liquor shops
and places of public resort at night, and
accompany, or otherwise assist to their
homes for consideration, inebriated gen.
tlemen, who would otherwise fall into the |
hands of the police. In that city there is
also, at almost every alternate street |
corner, that most valuable of messengers,
the commissionnare. Licensed, and amen
able to strictly enforced penalties if he
overcharges, defaults, OF even blunders, he
is yet your servant for the occasion, capa-
bic, for reasonable compensation per
hour, of the greatest variety of service
He can procure for you ball-ticket; order
your dinner, and summon your company;
ascertain the whereabouts of book in the
public libraries or the shops; perhaps even
collect bill, or prepare the preliminaries
Of an ataire do occur. He is frequently
employed by jealous husband or wife to
follow and report the movements of the
suspected party; and occasionally the same
agent is hired by both the partners in
domestic infelicity.
A business has grown into formidable
dimensions within few years in London
which it is impossible to regard with COM
'lacency. The nearest approach to it in
his country is the Association for the
of Gambling, which, with
vorthier motive, adopts somewhat similar
means. Private Inquiry" offices are an
INVENTION to the credit of which England is
perfectly welcome; and we devoutly hope
hat nobody on this side of the water will
ither copy OF infringe upon their peculiar
ties. Employing great numbers of young .
zen and women apparently engaged in .
Their pursuits, as house. servants, clerks,
to-, to collect and communicate to a CEN
raj office all the gossip, scandal, and per- i
Qualities that they can pick up and acquire in =
he families or firms where they have such :,
opportunities, these establishments obtain =
lfermation in vast quantities, which is .
lrefully recorded and tabulated. This in ~
these family secrets obtained by >,
famous bribery and espionage, are for Il
lie. To these offices husband or wife q
roceeds in search of evidence when think
lg of applying for a divorce. Thither,
so, 60 morbid wretches in search of food n
II jealousy; partners who doubt each ft
her; employers who suspect their agents Ii
nd SO widely spread are the qualifications
Y which this institution has penetrated a
e privacy of British households, that it is
i'd that an applicant rarely calls at an n
lice without finding that there are at least p
me details already "booked " respecting /"
e object of his inquiries. But no profit OF
hich may accrue to employers or employed pc
IL compensate for the utter loss of self al
spect Involved in such an occupation. al
Harper's Magazine.