Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-08-06
A WONDERFUL SUCCESS IN
BUSINESS

of their large workshops were destroy
ed and one Of their largest dwellings
as we'll, involving loss of nearly d
million of dollars. The Shakers felt
very much distressed, for they had
no insurance. The fire had destroyed
their large warehouses, together with
their stock of herbs, plants and roots,
by the sale of which they were en-
abled to support their large commu'
nifty. They felt then that their bus
mess was gone from them. While the
Brothers and Sisters were mourning
over their great and serious loss and
wondering how they were to be pro-
vided for in the future, one Of their
Trustees, Benjamin Gates, entered in
to an arrangement with party in
New York City to undertake the sale
of an article upon which the Shakers
had spent much study and labor to
bring to perfection, but which up to
that time was comparatively but
little known.
With but little capital the enter
prise was started, but the real merit
that the article possessed gave the
new business a standing almost at
once, for everywhere it was intro.
duced the article became a staple
commodity Indeed, the fame of the
Shakers spread like the flames on
burning prairie, and this, too, without
the usual putting and advertising that
is bestowei upon nearly all new pro-
jects. The mode Of conducting the
business was new and novel ons,
worthy of imitation by those who
possess goods that will stand upon
their actual merits. This successful
business plan was as follows; The
general agent advertised for local
agents all over the land, requiring no
evidence of wealth nor any security;
simple certificate Of good character
was sufficient to obtain an agency.
These agents were employed to place
their article in the hands Of the public
on approval, asking for no pay with
out full satisfaction was expressed by
the parties receivingit. Most people
would think that such a course would
have resulted in disaster, but the
Shakers, believing that the mass OF
mankind are honest, were willing
to place their fortunes in the hands
of the people, relying solely upon
their word of honor to pay for the
article when approved. The sequel
shows that his confidence was not
misplaced, for the business has grown
to enormous proportions, beyond all
expectations. The sale Of the article
has spread like magic, not confined to
this country alone; the fame OF the
article has spread over to Europe.
In London alone over fifteen million
packages have been sold. From Lon
don the article has been sent all over
the world, even to India, Australia,
Japan, etc., while it is claimed that
this enormous business has been built
| up without the usual putting and
advertising, there has been a certain
kind of advertising, but of peculiar
character. This business has been
established by one party telling
another until the fame Of the article
has spread all over the land and thou
sands upon thousands are singing
songs of praise of the virtues of the
article. The wonder has been how
such large trade could be built up
| in the sale of aa article recommended
as cure for one disease only. This
was indeed the secret of the great
success, because it was recommended
but for one disease, Dyspepsia. Had
it been put on the market as a cure
fer all, failure would have followed
certain and sure, because the absurdity
of recommending one remedy for all
diseases is too apparent for this en-
lightened age. But this article
possessed real merit and wherever it
went it made hosts of friends. An
other wonder was that the sale of a
remedy for one single disease could
have commanded such large proper
tions; but when we reflect that Indi-
gestion is the cause of nearly all our
ailments it viii. not be 80 surprising.
The fact is that most cases Of so called
Malaria, Liver Complaint, diseases Of
the Kidneys, etc., are simply aggra-
vated cases OF Dyspepsia-mere symp-
toms of the real disease; and the
| ..o.o,, 80 ,,on1 x,bu,;o,oo, $40 ,,no,,o