Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-01-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
Merit is the Trade Mark OF
Success.
Quality the True Test Of Values
Practical Philosophy Of lNercan-
tile Prosperity.

1t is the mistake of most wholesale
concerns to urge upon their dealers
the unfortunate policy of big, unpop-
ular, and fatal profits, and it is true
that consumers who buy upon pay
day principle, rarely ask the price,
and rarer still expect to pay. 1t has
ever been the policy OF the author of
Net Spot cash to press upon our pa
irons the absolute necessity of MAX
ing an advertisement of every item,
little or large, that passes over their
counters. 1t is nothing less than
these tell-tale values. always under
the market, that finally set at rest the
question of supremacy-it is not as
the old regular has it, = big profits
upon what yOn seli;' but rather as
the true master answers, close,
quick margins on everything, large
| aggregates at the closest minimum of
percentage will command the masses
with the money, and drive credit
competition with its unfair prices be-
yond the dead line and bury them
there. In the fatal avarice for steep
profits many merchants far above the
mark of mediocrity lose sight of the
incalculable advantages of winning
patrons, and popularity, for at last it
is the close profits and real bargains
that bring the trade, and, in turn, it
is the big volume of business that
plies up the final colossal aggregates.
And following the idea up we find
great men wasting their prime in
swall places of restricted and limited
trade, instead of launching their
splendid abilities out upon city
commensurate with their character,
capital and calibre, where the results
of a whole year may be accomplished
in single week by turning on the
necessary force of brain power, nerve
and gold"
The closing of this, the most de-
cisive year of our eventful and
changing history. will witness rhe
disappearance of one of the most his
toric landmarks of Broadway. He
came to this city thirty years ago
comparatively poor, and after Il bus
mess that was only third from the
top, he retireS from business with
fortune beyond the million line. Had
l.. NJ. Bates, with his extraordinary
ability, his far-reaching sagacity,
backed by integrity OF the high order
had he, with his tireicss energy and
battle under tie 6anhGr ot Bullion
(the old regular characterizcs it as
the black flag of no quarter), be it so
but had lie gone into the arena
where the giants were struggling for
mastery, with that dOub!e-edgcd Dl-
mascus blade, that potent stun-next
to brains the mightiest lever on earth
with gold instead of that alloy.
called credit; by the iron rule of net
spot cash, instead of thirty and sixty
days and four months, running out
into eternity, then this magnificent
merchant would be piling on addi-
tional power for still greater triumphs,
and would be found somewhere near
that high water mark attained only
by those two perfect mercantile mas
ties of the world-A. +. Stewart and
II. B. CIafin-whcn the Eternal Law
givcr called time. Were it permitted
Mr.. Bates to live over again these
years, dating back to the day when
he reached the Metropolis with twen-
ty-eight dollars Cor just twenty-eight
more than this writer had when he got
back from AppomatoX)-had he his
history to write over again, the Upas
of credit, nor the drag-wheel of un-
limited time would mar or lessen the
spIendor of his triumphs, but upon
the silken folds of his banner, in i'm
perishabIc letter, you would read
something after this
- Stick to the casli-iold fast to the
money-do not part with your goods
for friendship or favor, for paper or
promises: ali is unreliable but the
money. Even the endorsed note,
after constant renewing and constant
increase, eventually becomes worth
less, whilst the almighty dollar car
rics everything, conqucrs all things,
changes prophesy into history. Gre
ates realities out of impossibilities,
buys the plebian and President alike,
and is beyond question. next to brain
power. the mightiest lever on earth.
But place your fairI in the faithle5s
promises of your fellow-maE-in the
dulusive negotiables that bear the lie
on their face, and you will be eaten
up before you know where you stand
swallowed up like the ancient As
syrians in the Valley Of Tophet, or
the prehistoric race that lived, -four
lshed and perished a million years
back in the dead arcades of time,
leaving no trace, no landmarks or
monuments to perpetuate their histO-
ry as they lay buried beneath the
dust, the mould and waste of eternal
| time"
Mr.. Bates is still comparatively
young in years with prescient abil-
ity and practical enterprise as bright
as a silver dollar. and the sudden halt
in long and brilliant career may be
/ but the prelude to change from the
tracks of unlimited time" to that
short, quick, near way, in mercantile
play, called cash before delivery. 1t
would be a misfortune to,tbe Metrop-
oils to have this remarkable.m man, with
his brains and bullion. disappear from
! tho Rroadwoy haftinfipIds II would