New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-14
The Secret of Mr.. Stewards Ner-
camille Success.

Probably the most striking instance Of adhe-
renee to few rigid rules is afforded by the
man who is conceded to lead the mercantile
world of this continent. Men envy his success
who mi ght have stood even with him in the
race had they but intiexibly held to similar
rules.
First and foremost in the stand which Mr..
Stewart took was the rule to permit no misrep-
resentation of goods. Purchasers were not
slow to find out that in his establishment there
need be no fear of imposition. Whether they
were perfectly acquainted with the nature Of
the goods which they wished to purchase, or
were entirely ignorant on that point, they were
sure of having the truth told Mr.. Stewart
had it thoroughly understood by all his clerks
that they must tell the truth and he had the
injunction so conspicuously placed that his en-
ployees were perpetually reminded of the great
rule OF the establishment If clerk was dis.
covered In an OverstatemeDt or falsehood, he
was instantly dismissed. The natural conse-
quence of this course was the rigid selfadver-
Using power of his business. When men and
women say, Go or send there, for you are sure
to get just what the article is represented to
be" then friends and neghbors are not slow
In availlng themselves of such an advantage.
The rigid observance of the zone price sys-
tenn" was a rule necessarily cooperative with
the first. Dealers confess that it is exceedingly
difficult to maintain this rule, and where a large
proportion of business is transacted on credit
it is well-nigh impossible but when the rule
is "pay on delivery" it can be maintained.
Comfort is brought to the household of
every customer when he feels confident that he
can send child or a servant to make pur-
chase, and he will be sure of not only getting
the article he wants, but obtaining it on exactly
the same terms as if he were to 20 himself 1t
is great thing for merchant to discover that
the money OF the poor man is as good Us the
money of the rich-the cash of the stranger as
good as the cash of the acquaintance.
In Mr.. Stewards vast establishment the
clerks have no option whatever in the regula-
ton of prices this, they know, can never be
taken out of the hands Of the employer
Nine ,tenths of the terrors of shopping take
their flight in view of these rules, and husbands
can pluck up courage to go with their wives
when they understand there is to be no badger.
ing and jewiEg
There is still another rule with Mr.. Stewart,
which has immediate relation to the comfort
and advantage Of the customer, and that is his
emphatic prohibition of any importantly to
purchasers. Who is there, having had any
experience of shopping in city, that does not
feel kind of terror of certain class of
stores He retains a. vivid impression Of his
helpless bewilderment amidst babel of recon-
mendations and solicitations, until, at last, in
sheer confusion or from the desire to escape, he
purchased an article he did not want, and went
out of the shop with an inward resolution never
to enter 1t again. But here you may gaze upon
millions OF dollars worth of goods and no man
will interrupt either your meditations or admi-
ration. Among the highest productions of the
cunning skill Of man you make your choice
without fear of the least intermedding impor-
tunity.-Ltpptncot' Magazine.