The Opelousas courier., 1886-11-27
GIVING TIPS"
Cunning Money Making
Schemes OF Some People.
How Tradesmen Secure Good Customers
by Paying Commissions.

Dy raging VemW1SSlouSA
To be in the commission business il
considered an honorable calling, but it
has come to pass that there a class of
commission men who are not only a
nuisance to their employers, but they
are an ulcer on the nose of honest deal
ing, quite offensive.
'It happens almost every week." said
a well-known butcher, ''that I am app
preached by stewards either of private
families, hotels, or steamboats,, who give
me to understand that for a quiet tip
once in a while they will turn their en-
ployer's trade to my market"
"What do you dop
Eff 7 think the trade is worth having ]
give the fee. Why nota Others do it,
and the only way / can fight 'em is with
their own weapons. Why, only the
other day I had the meat cook in one OF
the largest and most fashionable board
ing-houses in the city tell me that if
would give her 5 per cent. commission
she'd bring me the trade of the house,
With probably amounts to $40 or $$25
a week"
Sand you didn't take the bid|
"No; because I have reason to know
that she couldn't fill the contract"
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 re-
marked: "Yes, / hear of such things
once in awhile. In fact I kicked a
great mealy-mouthed man out of my
store one day last winter, who had in
formed me that unless / did the square
thing with him he would take his en-
ployer's trade to another store. / asked
him what he thought would be square,
and he replied that I 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 I didn't
like the check of the fellow. Those cases
are rare, but Tll tell you a system not SC
rare. Cooks and stewards often make
bargains with butchers and grocers
through the driver rs of the delivery carts
and wagons. That's common, and Pvt
even heard where the drivers make quite
a little commission in this way"
Next, a visit was paid to q prosperous
carriage builder and repairer, who didn't
hesitate to say that coachmen and host
lers tapped him for tips. "only this
afternoon a hostler came in and asked
me for so cents. KNEW that he wantedi
to get a drink, but I gave it to him with
out question, because / know he has tht
placing Of the horseshoiGSg of a man who
owns three horses"
How about coachmen 2"
"Well, a little over a year ago I sold
carriage to a gentleman and got 1926 fol
it. True, / made the sale somewha
through the influence of the coachman
and I would have been willing to pa,
him a Sigh commission"
"What did he demand 2"
"He called around and said he wanted
$50. / offered him $40, and E9pearee
insulted. Then I got mad, WordsSI
lowed, and the meeting ended by m,
saying I would smash his nose"
"Served HIM righ."
"But that didn't end it. About
month later the man who bought tn
carriage came around and limited that
had cheated him; that the WHEELS
wouldn't track and that it nsafed
great deal harder than when he frs
bought it. / asked him to bring tn
buggy around to the shop, and when b
did so / took the wheels off and I found
that the axletree had been wrcnched, AMI
by main force, so that the wheel did no
set squarely on it. In this way friction
had ground the a~xletree just where tn
box hits the shoulder"
slow DO you know 1t was done b,
main force2'
Because, suspecting that, / told til
employer of the demand the coachmal
had made on me, and he taxed the fel
low with il, at the same time chargin
him with having bent the axle. Then til
man confessed. That's how I know
Detroit Free Press.
The Dudes affection.
Ienioyed the distinguished privileg