Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-02-10

There Is q species OF uiseasc VIM"
seizee upon certain classes OF trades-
men during certain seasons OF tne year,
in such a manner and form that IL may
be called an epidemic. 1t Is liable 10
break out at any time and IN any piace,
usually seen and felt in its most viru,
lent form in the fall of the year and
particularly about the holidays.
Should we be asked to name this dis
ease in good old Anglo-Saxon, we
should say it was lying. This disease
generally attacks small tradesmen;
dealers in fancy goods and small
wares, who, i'm order to effect reduc-
ton of an overstOck, purchased, per-
haps, at high prices, resort to a species
of deception, falsehOOd and fraud that
are i'm every way detrimental to good
morals and common honesty. The
evidences of this disease can be seen
about the doors and in the show WIN
dows upon every street In TINS city
where there are places devoted to the
sale of goods. At one place can be
seen huge placards announcing "a
great reduction in prices, when the
fact is that no reduction has been
made, and the goods for sale IN that
store are in reality held higher
lIldu Ut tuc uiOIC fiooCot
across the street or around the corner.
At another place can be seen large
sign, by which the proprietor informs
the passing crowd that he has an I'M
mense stock of goods, just purchased
from q bankrupt sale, and which he
will sell at half price, while the truth
is that the goods are purchased regu-
larly from the city jObbers and at
regular prices, and they can be pur-
chased anywhere else for the same
money, and in many cases for even
less. At another place we are informed
that goods are "given away" while the
truth is that the proprietor of that
store is too peDuriOus to give even
few pennies to the suffering and unfor-
tunate. devote any of his time To the
works of charity, or even sell his goods
at the market price, If by any means he
could obtain more. Another class OF
this kind of vampires and frauds upon
the public are those who advertise 10
sell their goods regardless of cost:
The words upon the signs and placards
are honest enough, and tell the truth
i'm regard to the rules and practices OF
the establishment; but woe to the poor
unfortunate who ventures therein, for
he will find out to his sOrrOw. If he
makes any purchases, that the allurlng
sign at the front was only the device
of a robber by which To allure the I'M
suspectinS victim to his den. These
remarks are true of nearly every city
and town in the country where there Is
competition in the sale of goods. The
practice is also, in a greater or less
degree. indulged in by all classes of
dealers-not always in the exact form
as mentioned above, but in thousand
and one other ways which are intended
to deceive, if not to defraud. The
country merchant practises species, of
lying and fraud when he advertises
immense stocks of goods on hand
stocks that would do credit to jobblng
house. The consequence Is that his
customers know that he lies about the
quantity, and are ready to suspect him
of untruths in regard to the quality.
Many jobbers and manufacturers lie
about the state of trade and their busi-
ness, when the truth well and fifty
spoken would be far better for all par
ties. They cannot excuse themselves
like the boy whistling through the
woods, and say they do it to keep their
courage up. They are supposed to
know better and to be able to face the
truth with an honest countenance, and
give truthful statements for the bene-
fit and guidance of their fellows. The
species of commercial lying so briefly
noticed has become prevalent among
all classes in commerce and manufac-
turing, and is working positive and
Irreparable injury, and ought to be
stopped. Were we a jobber, we would
no more sell goods without the cash
down to retailer who resOrted to the
schemes and tricks referred to than We
would to the veriest thief or hummer
ever sent to Jail. We would look with
suspicion upon the jObber who would
make statements in regard to business
which all others know TO be false, and
avoid him and his house. In eOnelu-
sion, we assert it as fact that dealer
who will lie in the matter and quantity
of his wares willdeceive in the manner
and quality of his transactions, and
that the well-beIng and future success
of merchandising as an honorable busi-
ness demands that deception and fraud,
in whatever guise it may appear, shall
have no place or right therein, and
will not be lightly looked upon by the
honest and honorable portion of the
fraternity.