Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-04-10
Commercial Lying.


\ well-known minister Of the gospel
some time since went into the store OF a
leading merchant-taiiOr In the city Of
-, and, looking at some cloths, asked
the cost of a suit from apiece that pleas
ed him. When the price Sas stated, he
'It is somewhat high, said the tailor.
"Tbese fine English cloths cost ms high
prices, but they wear so much better
and longer to make up for II that we
think them, in the end, cheaper than
American goods"
"lIow much less" asked the minis
ter, "is the cost Of suit from your best
American cloth ?"
ave do not keep American goods"
said the tailor. "Most Of our customs
ers are particular and like the bes, kind
of goods, and so We Keep only English
cloths" and, as illustrating aud inn
pressing his remarks, he pointed the
minister to the labels and wrappers
bearing the names Of the English man
ufacturers and dealers, who were some
of the first in Great Britain.
After some further talk the minister
ordered suit, which in due time was
sent home. Soon afterward, having it
on, hc called at the counting house OF
Mr.. B., large manufactures with
whom he was well acquainted. and,
while sitting in conversation with him,
Mr. b, looking at the suit he had
on, remarked pleasantly,
"l'm glad to see, Nr. -, that you
are patronizihg our factory"
"To what do you refer?" asked the
minister.
"'ro the suit Of clothes you have on"
said Mr.. B. 81 see they are from
the CLOTH we make at our mills"
"why, no." said the minister; 81 got
them from Mr.. C--"Uhe tailor), ''and
he deals only in English goods, and
therefore charged me an extra price for
his work"
"'English goods :" said Mr.. B,
with smile; "why, Mr.. C buys all
his cloths from us. He has none other
in his store. should know them any
where"
The minister, greatly surprised, said,
"You must, I'm sure, be mistaken,
for Mr.. c. not only told me that he
kept only English goods, but saw the
wrappers and labels, with the English
marks and the manufacturers names
on them, every piece MS | looked at
them"
eyes" said Mr.. B; eve prepare
all those wrappers aud labels: We
have them printed by the ream; there"
pointing with his finger "you see
pile of them; and, as said before, Mr..
c. buys all his cloths Of US, and he
has not yard Of English goods in his
store"
Here, then, was leading merchant
tailor in leading city Of our land de-
liberately and habitually working with
leading manufacturer to pass of
American goods as English, the tailor
deliberately lying TO his customer and
saying the cloths were English, the
manufacturer preparing the labels TO
help on the lie, the tailor exhibit
ing these labels TO make his lie pass for
the truth, and both doing this as an
everyday business; and yet both men
would feel outraged If any one hal
called them to their face what they re-
ally weTe-cbeats and liars. Thus men,
In the way Of business, are debauching
their consciences and teaching their
clerks and dependents to be deceiyers
and cheats, undermining the morals OF
trade, and laying mp for themselves a
fearful account against the day ofjudg-
ment.
In view of such facts, we would asx
one or two questions, which we COM
mend to the thoughtful consideration
of businessmen.
/. Are there two standards Of truth,
of integrity, Of honesty-one for the
ways Of business and another for other
spheres ofIifef
2. Are your example and your teach
ing in the ways Of business likely TO 90
good to young men or to corrupt their
principles-to keep them out OF the
kingdom of heaven or to lead them TO 1t
8. Il not commercial lying as bad as
any other kind oflyingf At the day OF
Judgment will not the business liar 20
down TO death under as deep eondem-
nation as any otheri
An engraver's mistake lately caused
LC nj ri