The Penn's Grove record., 1885-11-21
dGaaamaEcr'S.
rnlLapr1rnlA. November. 70 ISIS.

1t wn't down-the sharpest
point of distinction between the
modern spirit of trade and the
ancient spirit of trade oughtn't
to down. The question comes
to every merchant Which shall
hefollow, honest trade or tricky
trade?
1t isn't a personal custom.
1t isn't a question of morals.
W'n'td do to evade it Evasion
is answer. Putting it off is an
swer. The merchant is blind
that imagines he shirks it.
There is no more practical
question under the testof trade
practice: Does it pay to be
honest in trade?
Nobody wants to champion
honesty. 1t smacks of Phari-
seeism. Honesty is the best
policy" has SO far impressed it
self on public belief as to be a
quotable maxim on Sunday;
but it hasn't taken such root in
the practical side of public be-
lief as to govern the business
tactics even of those who are
quick to quote it.
Test this heretical statement.
How does the maxim sound
taken out of its words? lmag-
inc a father telling his son just
graduating out of Sunday
school into the grocery busi-
ness, for instance; Nov, my
son, lam going to set you up
in business as soon as you
know enough about it and get
a little experience. The first
thing to do is to make up
your mind to be honest through
and thorugh. The next is to
learn the business. Put your
honesty and knowledge into
practice together. Nevermind
the grocer over the way. New
err mind what is customary.
Never mind anything but good
groceries and truth"
If fathers are accustomed to
take their sons out of school
into business with such founda-
ton as this, they believe in the
maxim. If they are not, they
don't. The businessman is
the frankest man in the world,
if you skip what he says and
take what he does.
No; the practical business
man believes in the maxim just
about enough to quote it. He
quotes it possible out of the in
effectual glimpse he has of its
truth, possibly out of the habit
Of paying a certain court to alb
stract goodness, possibly out
of an amiable Difference to
Mrs. Grundy, possibly out of a
disposition to seem to be hon
est when he hasn't the least
intention of making any sacri-
fee in that direction.
No; there isn't much homes.
ty in business. There is a
sort of substitute for it that
passes under the name a fair
substitute, better than none;
so far that you may think it.
hardly polite to penetrate the
disguise.
Complain of a trick-ma-
chine-made shoes 'hand made
for instance. The dealer will
say they are just as good as
handmade and nobody knows
the difference. Everybody
calls them handmade but Wan
amaker-he makes capital out
of not lying; but he liesas much
as the rest of u.s."
Split-leather calf for anoth-
er instance. The dealer will
say.
Everybody calls it calf why
shouldn't |? Besides we don't
always know which is which
ourselves nowadays Leath-
err hash heels and soles for
another instance. The shoe
man will say Everybody
knows we can't get good leath-
err for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.!
Who expects it? Why the
making ought to cost more
than | get for this shoe" Cot
ton-and-linen lined for anoth-
err instance. The merchant
pleads guilty ofnothing. "Ev-
erybody knows" says he that
linen costs money; but if | tell
people there's cotton in it
they'll only go to somebody
else that'll lie with a straighter
face" So Of Atwood in cloth
ing. So of every thing else in
trade.
These examples betray the
accepted standard. Do as 9th,
IT, = A. .to-I,-I