The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-07
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER :, 1890.
nm srrrLY TnE TRADE.

To >lFfLt hin
The very first idea OF merchandising Is
plainly to supply the wants OF customers
10 be ready to sell them what they come
after and not let them 80 elsewhere. 1t is
no, agreeable or 5usincss-likc TO have to
confess that you have not what is asked Tor
To avoid such an accident and embarrass-
ment IL is not an uncommon thing for men,
more enterprising than wise, TO endeavor TO
provide all sorts Of things, good, bad, and
Indifferent, bogus and real, pure and poison
GUS. that they may bc call things TO all
men" and supply the trade. The question
Of sclf-respec,, of an honest reputation,
good name, and the establishment Of high
brand, does not press itself in all business.
The idea is "to supply the trade" Whether
you are aiding and abetting fraud, Guilt
waiting thieves, and gathering around FOL
lowing Of knaves, is not considered. The
same fountain must play filthy or clean, as
the case requires.
There are even druggists who think 1t
Cuisines" TO keep quack medicines known
10 be dcleteri0us or worthless to supply the
country trade. They have paregoric, lauda-
nun, magnesia, and the like. cheap, TO
cheat the sick and suffering, rob the help
less and dying, and sow disease. And vet
they must do this or they Will lose the
trade of some live, enterprising, pushing
customer. II is an easy conscience That
makes his stock in trade all mixed and
that is willing to live by the wholesaling
and retailing Of frauds and authorizations.
All along the line, from the man that makes
them to the last retailer that knowingly
sells them, those who have anything to do
with hurtful things are responsible for the
damage and death that come from them. II
is idle TO say. "Behold, we knew IT not; :
at is no funeral Of mine
But these ways OF trade are not confined
10 the market. Talk with the teacher about
education; tell him of the essentials Of an
education, thorough acquaintance with
the principles, familiarity with high
standards Of character, the forming and
chershing Of pure tastes, and discrimi-
mating love Of the good, the true, and the
pose Of geography 10 make man citi-
zen OF the world. aud Of history TO
extend his life and sympathies through the
ages and partake OF the eternity of God.
Tell him that physical an. intellectual
yigor and health are dignifed only as ele-
ments Of virtue; and that large and perfect
manhood is the end Of all education, and be
will be apt TO tell you all that is very well,
will do for an essay or "A speech, but that
ne has got 10 make his living and supply
the trade by teaching the scholar all sorts
% tricks and vain shows and superficial
parents. And the professor Will tell you
that he is making teachers who have got TO
be up to all the methods to supply their
trade.
Call in q doctor, and he dare not contnc
himself 10 plain dealing. He must pre-
scribe for the caprices and expectations Of
the patient,-eyen If he be compelled 10
mysteriously formulate for his fool-"COm-
munis pants ct quantulum aquae purae.
Pill: Dec" And he must supply his trade
They must have physic to take. The law
yer knows that his client is set upon law
suit; he gives him 1.-THE benefit ofthe doubt"
andNll the litigation he desires. He must
supply his trade. How the minister
in JOY and sorrow, has to supply
his trade, how delicately he has to adjust
the robe of his righteousness TO the abnor-
malisms of his leading members, and dilute
the ten commandments into a wash Tor the
sore places or his big contributors, and har-
monte the "colours of good ana evil" with
his memorial window he best knows. But
be must supply the trade.
The case explains and argues itself. If
the only test of the valuable is profit; if the
grand criterion well-spent life is accu-
mutation; and purse full and stomach
fulfills the bill Of creation: then let's con-
tinue to supply the trade. But if or the
other hand, self-respect, essential honor and
"A good name are more 10 be desired than
great riches-and are really the things with
out which lie is not worth living then il
the trade is supplied by us, let Us, as far a.
possible, 'prOyide things honest in the
sight Of all men," and such only.