The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-04-04
Letter Erosu BuEOrJl.
TO BE CONTINUED

Editor Herald:
Our mercantile law twenty years ago,
and now. When Paris was lost, the
Bow OF the Bourbons was effectually
broken; and the attempts OF Individuals
Of the family 70 make stand against
the evil hour was honorable indeed to
their own gallantry, but Of no alvau>
;age to their causc, twenty years ago.
When our now thrifty and prosper
Gus country was considered very verdant
and rural-when merchants did legiti-
mate business on the twelve month sys~
tern, and mems words we're equivalent to
their notcs-hence the money made.
When you'd fad one store upon an av-
erage every fifteen or twenty miles, |
say that merchants could then place a
very exhorbitant per cent on all classes
Of goods with impuniiy, aud the pur.
chaser would from necessity have to
stand il or go home destitute Of many
articles absolutely essential. The mer>
chant, knowing his power, could estab-
fish either cash basis or credit, and
and force his patron to accept it. Bat
this progressive year, 1871. How chang
ed the scene Large and attSactive
stores meet your eye at every cross roads,
AMI village We have the Eastern mar
ket at our door. And now the reverse
of twenty years ago, dear Tom.
We must now notice the modern mer-
chant: A good customer waits upon his
merchant-Your goods are too high
priced, sir, can't trade, must try the
other house-competition Is the life of
trade, you had US in your financial
grasp once. We are even now. The
next merchant, in order to secure him as
a patron. will offer many inducements,
and the customer really gets many of
his goods less than cost. Merchants are
forced TO accept the terms, and as the
mercantile law is a profession requiring
the most profound thought and calcula-
tions, hence we iiud SO many failures and
inconsistencies. Miscalculations and
bankrupts in the country. Every man
tina; stands behind the counter. is far
from being merchant; but some seem
to husband the idea that all that is nee
essary TO become successful operator
in Nainsook, Bleeched goods. &c, is to
give him a few hundred dollars and put
him behind box counter-then he is
the peer of A. T. Stewart
To establish a cash basis in the coun.
try at this time is fatal to the country
merchant that adopts it-unlsss all mer>
chants become colleagues and make it q
positive law-from the patent fact, that
the farming community is the main prop
end support of the merchant, mechanic,
lawyer and doctor, and as such, they
command money, as a rule but once a
year, hence it is futile to attempt bust
ness unless you are financially able to
meet competition in every sense Of the
term. You have a good trade. the mon
eyed men Of the country deal with you
You sell your goods at reasonable per
cent.-when the great staple of the coun-
try is disposed ot-then the merchant
receives his wages Some contend that
they had rather cry over their goods.
than cry after them. But Pm OF the
opinion that this does not meet the de-
mand. If the merchant should have in
stock an amount of goods, and utterly
refuse to risk a good man for small
amount Of goods--it will coon spread
with lightning velocity, and the conse-
quence is, that the merchant in question,
will certainly have the honor of crying
over his goods-the cash system can be
appropriately applied in the grocery line
in towns, &c. Ny experience is. that
to undertake this step in the country is a
farce. and perfectly detrimental 10 the
merchant engaging in it. My reasons
are, that, in the first place, is, if won't
extent any credit to the good men of the
country my next door neighbor will,
aud, il he extends 10 the people credit
when they have no money, it il but reaa-