The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-08-28
Cash VS.. Credit.


lounge away halliday talking with the
storekeepers and the farmers who come
in to edo their trading" Times are
different than when all trade was barter,
as in my younger days-when we had to
save eggs to get tea and sugar with
when a pound of butter would scarcely
pay for yard of the cheapest calico
when letter from out the State cost
two shillings, and was often held by the
postmaster month because the farmer
could convert none Of his produce into
cash enough to pay the postage. These
days were not SO long ago, either. We
used to go to market then with OK
teams and in lumber wagons. There
were no spring wagons then no three
minute roadsters no top buggies for
farmers no ready-made clothing. We
used to wear butternut-colored suits,
homemade, in winter, or tow pants in
summer.
1 say things are different now. But
there must be further change. 1t is
gradually but surely coming. Occa-
sionally, you will find ga cash store. :"
L wish, for all concerned, there were no
others. How L shiver when sit in the
back of a store and hear farmer who
has purchased bill of goods say to the
spruce clerk, with self-confdent tone
and air, as he gathers up the parcels,
Charge it!'' Be sure the clerk docs
"charge It'll" He charges it heavy. 1t
is rarely the case, I notice, that these
"charge it " customers take bill of
their purchases. They have faith in
the merchant who has such faith in
them-until settling day comes, when
there are often disputes and wrangles
over the accounts.
Another thing notice: That whereas
the spruce clerk is permitted to wait
upon Farmer Charge-it," while the
merchant gossips with lounger, like
me the moment Farmer Pay-as-he-
goes enters the store, Mr.. Merchant is
all affability and alertness. He leaves
the lounger unceremoniously. He
greets the farmer with warm cordiality,
inquiring after his family and his crops.
The spruce clerk stands aside defer
entially. The merchant shows the cash
customer a different and better class OF
goods than were shown to Farmer
"Charge-it." The price named on the
same class is ten per cent. lower than is
charged on the books to the other Gus.
toners. Pains are taken to please and
satisfy. 1t does me good to see that
moro discretion is used in buying
Nothing that is not needed is purchased
When the purchases are completed, ou
comes the smooth, shiny leather wallet
and the greenbacks are carefully ant
caressingly handled. The farmer is sure
to see that he has the worth of his
money, and the merchant is equally
careful not to lose a cash customer.
What makes all this difference? The
merchant resumes his seat by th'
lounger who pumps the fact from hin
that he had rather have one such Gus
toner as Farmer Pay-as-he-goes thai
three like d" Charge-it." With cash il
hand he can buy his goods cheaper il
the city. He saves there. He turn
his money and realizes his profits quick
er. He loses no debts, and does no
have to add per cent. to his charges t.
cover such losses nor the interest he ha
to pay on his own thirty to sixty da
bills. He is content with small MAI
gins. He has to take them because
cash-paying farmer buys where he ca
buy the best cheapest. "And yet,
said this merchant, 81 have some Gus
toners who pay only once in three t
six months who are profitable to me
because L make them pay me roundl
for waiting. I must do so if l trad
with them. They are good for their bills
but, if they only knew it, really los
, money every time they say Charge it
That is, they have to pay more tina
they need to for everything they bu.
! OF course, had rather sell to thel
cheaper for cash but L cannot affor
f to on credit and take the risks I hay
, to-"
Talking with an old friend who is
banker, he says his depositors anon
t farmers are, nine-tenths of them at leas
5 (and he thinks a larger per cent are
. the ay-as-you-go class. I cannot 81
, how it can be otherwise nor do ev,
= | expect to.