The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-09
Curious Money! Making
Schemes.
WHO By GIVING TIPS MANAGE
TO SECURE GOOD CUSTOMERS.

'EOlLE WHO ia CIV lNN IlIo MANANA
TO SECURE GOOD CUSTOMERS.
TO be in the commission business
S considered an honorable calling,
out it has come to pass that there IS
l class of commission men who are
not only a nuisance to their employ
ors, but they are an ulcer on the
nose of honest dealing, quite often
sive.
at happens almost every week"
said a well-known butcher, shat |
am approached either by stewards of
private families, hotels or steam
boats, who give me to understand
that for a quiet tip once in a while
they will turn their employers trade
to my market"
"What do you do?"
"If think the trade is worth hav-
ing | give the fee. Why notY Others
do it, and the only way I can fight
'em is with their own weapons. Why,
only the other day l had the meat
cook in one of the largest and most
fashionable boarding-houses in the
city tell me that if | would bring
me the trade of the house, which
probably amounts to $40 or s25 per
week."
"And you didn't take the bid?"
"No; because | have reason to
know that she couldn't fill the con-
tract"
The reporters next visit was to
one of the leading grocery stores in
the city, and when the object of his
visit was made known the proprietor
remarked: Yes, | hear of such
things once in awhile. In fact |
kicked great mealy-mouthed man
out of my store one day last winter
who had informed me that unless I
did the square thing with him he
would take his employers trade to
another store. asked him what he
would take his employers trade to
another store asked him what he
thought would be square, and he re-
piled that ought to furnish him
with what groceries and canned
goods would be used by his family"
"That was modest enough"
eyes, that was cheap, but didn't
like the check of the fellow. These
cases are rare, but III tell you sys-
tenn not so rare. Cooks and stewards
often make bargains with butchers
and grocers through the drivers OF
the delivery carts and wagons.
That's common, and I've even heard
where the drivers make quite Il little
commission in this way"
Next visit was paid to a pros
porous carriage builder and repairer
who didn't hesitate to say that coach.
men and hostlers tapped him fol
tips. "Only this afternoon hostlel
came il and asked me for 80 cents
l knew that he wanted it to get {
drink, bnt | gave it to him withou
question, because I know he has the
placing Of the horseshoeing of
man who owns three horses"
Glow about coachmen p
"Well, Il little over year ago
sold a carriage to gentleman ant
got s425 for it. True, l made tn
sale somewhat through the inhuenc
of the coachman, and would hav
been willing to pay him Il Sigh
commission.
"What did he dcmand|
"IIe called around and said h
wanted s25. | offered him SO, an,
he appeared insulted. Then l 60
mad, words followed, and the meet
ing ended by my saying | woul
smash his nose
"Scrvcd him right"
"But that didn't end it. About
month later the man who bougt
the carriage came around and him
cd that had cheated him; that tn
wheels wouldn't track, and that
pulled great deal harder tina
when he first bought it. / asked hir
to bring the buggy around to tn
shop, and when he did so l took tn
wheels OF and found that the aXl'
tree had been wrenched, and b
main force, so that the wheel did NJ
set squarely on it. In this way fri
ton had ground the axletree jul
where the box hits the shoulder"
"How do you know that it VIZ
done by main force? ?"
"Bccause, suspecting that, tol
the employer of the demand Il
coacmmm had made on me, and !
taxed the fellow with it, at the san
time charging him with having bel
the axle. Then the man co
fcsscd. That's how l know."-F
Press.
.... .,.,,..,..'......-,.'',..'.r
The wcalthicst colored man in Il