Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-14
The splrIt OF Rargainlnr.
Saturday Revicw.l

Yetthe love of a bargain lies too
deep in human nature to be sup
pressed for want of a field. If
there was no obvious vent for it, we
might be sure beforehand that in
genpity would find one. Without
entering here into the question how
far the discontinuance of chatter
ing and higgling over the counter
drives persons Of this temper into
that trick of overreaching on a
large scale, which is the theme of
SO many city article in our day,
we may all have observed the crav-
ing which some times seizes people
to get more than moneys worth
for their money in scenes less con-
genial in its indulgence than shop
or market, and precisely where a
little off-hand generosity belongs to
the occasion. Wealthy men pro
NOTED to high place, and conspic-
uous in general observation, will
stickle for petty savings and minute
economies, will forget dignity and
let credit 60 to the wall in a deter
mination to do things cheaply
which the world expects them to
do well. Women, important to
their own eyes, and well to do, will
find their amusement in small par
simonies on the same scene where
their poorer neighbors play at Law.
ish expense; a few shillings or six
pences being sometimes the test and
exponent of either temper. Fol
bargaining, being in its way an in
tellectual pursuit is independent Of
the amount and quality of the gain.
1t is a passion that may be INDUCED
III for its own sake; a game to be
played for threepenny points, an
exercise Of skill so absorbing for
the moment that lookers.on are
forgotten. We cannot have every
thing in this world, and the most
successful woman cannot enjoy hei
triumph and keep her dignity al
the same time. We may hold oul
state without spending our money
SO long as we betray no hankering
longings; but neither state nor
magnanimity is compatible with
certain modes of spending. This
was felt by the grandees Of ole
Spain to a quixotic extent, with
which, indeed, we can feel no sym,
pathy. When they made a purchase
they threw down their gold and left
the shop, not condescending to re.
ceive change, lest in this semblanct
of negotiation they should leve
themselves with their tradesman by
trivial money dealings.
Pride so i'll becomes man, anC
comes to such a bad end, that o.
the two, we prefer the equality tina
accompanies higgling and chatter
ing rather than the slackhande(
dealing which argues contempt fol
ones f6llow-ereatures. Only i
should be understood that the hig
Cling is an equalizing process
fact keely realized on the social.
inferior side, as the anecdotage anC
liturature of the subject clearl,
shows, whether in the language o
compliment or plain speaking
whether it is Bob Jenkins presum
ing to tell Mrs. Glegg that h,
always know'd she was a lady, o
| Luckie Mucklebackit reminding
Monkbarns Of all his nearness,
or Miss Grief and the fish-wif
wrangling together in one tone AM
KEY, like seagulls screaming ant
sputtering in a gale Of wind
Wherever money dealings are dis
oussed with an undisguised vieV
to self-interest and purchase be
come a conflict, there the distinc
tions of rank and station are 70
the time laid aside. Not that W
would regard this as q seriou
objection to traffic for "penny
wortbs /" in any field. We simpl
note it as a fact. There are fey
people who have not felt the pleas
!, ure Of good bargain. Once in
I way it is a useful experience, but
should have a sense of adventur
!. and rarity in it to be harmless
\ Some men are as utterly withou
the spirit of barter as M. Hue dc