The Morning herald., 1877-09-15
wII,m m q TON, Del. sept. 10, 1877,
rA.1x CLOSING OF STORES.

EARLY CLOSING OF STORES.
The pubic are ever encroaching upon
individuals, classes or corporations E1-
treme cases Of such practises give rise toI
special legislation, trade unions and mu~
tual protection associations. The SAFE
guards of any particular or extensive line
of business depend upon uniformity OF
practices, and strict adherence to the
moral obligations imposed by tacit agree
ments or the necessity Of circumstances by
which the business is surrounded. Ihe
tendency of the times is oenslave statesmen
and bookkeepes, rob them Of all opport'@
tuni,ies for literary, social and religious
cul,sre and convert them into automatic
specialties.
To guard against these innovations, the
M, chants of our city have agreed to close
their stores at definite time. But lack
Of sincerity, on the part of any OF these
these firms, to carry out in good faith this
M At reasonable and necessary obligation,
shifts the responsibility from the public to
the merchant, and makes him answerable
or all the evils of the supposed enslave-
ment. We always find some men so mar
row in their views and so careless Of all in
trests except their own that personal OBJ
ligation runs no deeper than personal ad.
vantage, and business honor no higher
than business profit: But merchants gen.
erally combine in themselves the elements
of enterprise and public benefaction with
. spiri. Of iberality and generosity, and
good faith in an obligation or in privste
agreement is seldom violated or disregard
ed. All business should be regulated by
definite rules. The bankers have special
hours, public Offices are strict in opening
and closing, and no one complains or dis
trusts their sincerity. If the public ono e
knew that the stores are all closed at half.
psss seven, there will be no occasion or de-
sire to make purchases after that hour. A
. general tuing, the shiftless or ill-to-do
portion of society are the only ones who
shove their necessities into the late hour
of the evening. For merchants to kee +
their stores open beyond reasonable hour
to accommodate this portion of the com
nunitv is to subordinate the interest O
good, honest apd thrifty salesmen to 'ht
vhims of few "ill-nauaging at-any-
time" who subesrve no better purpose thar
to clog the wheels OF industry and ride
through the world on the patience Of theil
ueishbors. Statesmen must be cut early il
the morning, hurry to their dinner ane
gulp it down unceremoniously, or bring il
With them to the store and eat it at odd in
ervals, repeat the same performance a
supper, and when the time comes for clos
ing he is completely wora out and exhaust
cd. There is no time to take walk fer
breath of fresh air, no time TO visit tn
public library to spend an hour smonl
hooks. and no time to attend the weekl.
p-ayer meetings or any Of the religious op
r2r.un:ties of the season. But the argu
.nt for closing al hali-psst seven 10
ne md we'll considered arrangement, an
Y meet the approval Of all the busines
III 10 the community and Of all the pri
ya,e citizens who will take the pains to e1
anime the necessity in which it has il
I,updation, and will give to statesmen an
bookkeepers some Of the privileges and &C
van,ages ,hst are enjoyed in common b
the rest Of the ci,iztns of the communit.
If merchants will strictly adhere to tn
arrangement and promptly close at II
pecihed time, they will rid their clerks
disagreeable burden, and establish sy
tenn which will be lasting benefit TO It
business and social interests Of the enti
community.-Willismspors lPa.) Dai
Gazette and Bulletin.
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