Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-18
How a Business Man was Converted.

new lork, 10 the village OF M. Among
the business men is hardware merchant, q
good, level-headed man. He, like many
other business men, thought one or two IL
censed hotels was necessary for the good Of
the village. He had voted for license for
years. was honest in his belief. About
three years ago an incident occurred that
opened mis- eyes
One year before this revelation came he
had sold stove for S1S to drinking man |;
the drinker was not worth dollar, but
agreed to pay for the stove in installments,
81 per month. At the end of the year the
merchant had not received even one pay
ment. He knew his debtor had been earn
ing good wages the whole year. lie had
noticed the money had not been expended
for clothes, for the family of his drinking
customer was poorly clad, and the man him
self had only one suit, and that almost in
rags.
Two weeks before the time in question
the drinking man had gone five miles out Of
town to do job of work at SO per day
The merchant knew this, and was waiting
for his return, thinking he might get part
payment on the stove sold year before, If
not the whole amount. just before dark he
made his appearance The merchant knew
the man who had employed his debtor !;
knew he was man of means, and it was
his custom TO pay down for all work done
for him. The merchant said
Hold on, j., want to speak to you.
You remember the stove You were to pay
81 each month; over year has gone by and
you have not made the first payment yet !;
you have been at work for W.; can't
you pay me half p-s5 anyway"
az am sorry l can't but have not got
any pay yet out of W; when | get it
| will call and pay you ALL"
The merchant was not satisfied. He
looked up from his meditation Just in time
to see his customer go into the hotel Zone of
the necessary (2) places for the prosperity
of the village.) His going into the hotel
aroused the curiosity Of the merchant He
thought;
al will Just walk over to the hotel and see
what is going on" He entered the hall
where he could get good view of the bar,
drinker said "Well, landlord, what is my
bill | can pay you up now"
"Your bill may be larger than you think |;
you have not paid up for some time" "Ah
it is more than | thought-S2l5 80"
GAS much as that 1t can't be. / do
not know what my wife will say. had
promised to buy new bonnet for her and
the girl. Twenty-one fifty Well, we'll,
suppose you have kept it right. You
wouldn't wrong poor man who works hard
for his money"
at is correct. Your wife and daughter
must not expect to dress as well as those
who have larger income. | think your
wife is most too dressy, anyway. Have a
| drink, J-W
The merchant saw the man "who had
not got his pay take out of his pocket the
money he had earned, count out S21 so, aud
hand it to the landlord. He went out of
the hotel wiser and better man. He
went TO his desk, took down bundle of
unpaid accounts, and commenced to figure
up the worthless accounts that had accumu-
lated in the ten years of his business life.
He found the sum total to be S1,324,7S. OF
this sum he found that all but Sl14.19 was
against men who had been ruined by drink.
His eyes had been opened.
Three months after this came town meet
ing. The hotel-keeper was busy at the
polls, working for the election of an excise
commissioner who would continue his legal
right to sell. He approached the hardware
merchant and offered him ticket.
"Can't vote that ticket" said the mer-
chant.
"Why2 supposed you were one of my
strong supporters"
So was until three months ago, when
was shown very plainly what you are doing.
You are no better than thief"
"What do you meant"
ado you remember the night j. paid
you s2l.50 for whiskey he had drank at
your bar :"
eyes, / remember it. What Of it 2"
tatl L..
trusted him for stove worth SIS. He
agreed to pay slOo per month. have not
received cent. The night he paid you
s2l.5O asked him for part payment on
the stove. He said he had no money.
saw him go into your hotel, so followed
him. Isaw him pay you that amount. 1t was
my money. [ sold him the stove to keep
him and his family warm, to cook Their
meals, and if it had not been for your bar
would have got my pay. find in ten years
your bar has cost me more than 81 200
Men can't pay me because they spend all
they earn at your bar. Now you ask me 10
vote 10 continue you in your business OF
robbery. Sir, | shall in the future fight
your business as strongly as have defended
it in the past"
This conversation at the polls drew large
crowd, who eagerly listened The result
was the election Of no-license commission.
OF course the hotel keeper and his friends
raved over their defeat. The argument
given by the merchant won the day.
Let every business man look over his
books, put the poor accounts in column,
then see who the men are that owe these
amounts. 1t will open the eyes of every per.
son who has not made the investigation.
The question is: d" Is the hotel and bar
room a benefit to the business man ?" Will
you, as business men, help us to put the de-
mon down ?-Rechdbite.