The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-23

| In these hard times how great is the
indncemept, if not the necessity, 10 get
everything cheaply, and how uniform
is the experience that cheapness means
inferiority? Occasionally, indeed,
through the. nlisfortunes of our fellows,
we are enabled to secure property Of
various kinds at price far below its
value; and so, demoralized have we be
come by the pressure of financial dis
tress, which tends to sel6shness and not
to generosity, as some would have us
believe, that we feel . triumphant ex-
ultation that personal profit has ac-
crued to us through our neighbors' loss
But general cheapness is very differ
ent thing, and we are led to conclude
that a cheap article of any kind is a
very undesirable one, and only to be
accepted through necessity.
| The cost of anything, and conse-
quently it's value, is measured by two
things, quality Of material and the Ia
Dor employed to make it. These in
| turn may be superior or inferior. In
consequence OF the demand for. cheap
articles our stores are full Of inferior
goods Furniture made of unseasoned
wood and hastily glued together; mu-
sical instruments that are mere var
nished cases with the imitation of keys,
strings and reeds for interior mechan-
ism; silverware with vanishing coat
of shining gloss; jewelry that is fair
to look upon, but is hopelessly tarnished
by use; clothing that presents fair ex-
terror, but that rips and fades and loses
| shape when worn; gloves that cape at
! every seam at the first wearing these
and innumerable other constantly-re-
curing instances of inferiority impress
upon us the fact that, ordinarily, cheap
things are the dearest.
1 Excellence and cheapness cannot go
together. and we would save ourselves
much annoyance and disappointment
by recognizing and remembering the
fact. The house which the contractor
builds too cheaply will invariably have
weak walls, woodwork that will shrink
at the corners, plastering that will drop
off, and paint that will crack. How
can it be otherwisep The builder is not
going to make present of good work
and good materials to his patron; cheap
work will be given for cheap pay. The
tailor is not going to put good material
and skilled labor in the suit of clothes
| which looks as good as the best, but is
sold at price far below what is asked
for the genuine article. 1t cannot be
done, and it should not be expected; but
rather those who are compelled to buy
cheaply should philosophically make
up their minds to bear the consequences
that must follow cheap purchases
The individual may learn to estimate
rightly the consequences of cheapness,
and intelligently make choice for him.
self with full knowledge of the inevita.
BILE results. In public affairs it is differ
ent, and here the effort after cheapness
becomes danger of great magnitude
The outcry of the people against heavy
taxation is in danger of resulting in oul
employing cheap teachers for oul
schools, cheap officials for our public
service, putting up cheap public build.
ings, doing business on cheap methods
and the effect cannot but be most dis.
astrous. For public use cheapness is q
fatal quality. We must have excel
lence if we would have satisfactory
service, and for excellence we have got
to pay. 1t is one of the duties of the
citizen who desires to see public money
used to the best advantage and moi
squandered to insist that nothing cheap
shall be purchased with public money
whether of public service or public
property. Only by requiring excel
lence, and paying fair price for it.
can the public escape the loss and dis
appointment that invariably and neces
sarily accompanies cheapness. Chtca
90 Poet.