The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-05-01
REV. DIR. HALMAGE.
The Noted Brooklyn DiVine's Sunday
Sermon.
Subject, "Duties and Rcspcnsibilitie. Of
Business Men,"


ircagines If YOU think that the only time
kings and queens come forth from the royal
gates IS in procession and gorgeously at
tended, YOU are mistaken. Incognito, by day
or by night. and clothed in citizens apparel
or the dress OF working woman. they come
cut and gee the world as it is. In no other
way could King Solomon, the author OF my
text, have known everything tat ives going
op. From my text l all sure he must, IN
disguise, some day have walked into store
OF ready made clothing, in Jerusalem, and
stood near the counter and overheard con-
verSaticn between buyer and seller. The
merchant put a price on the coat, and the
customer began to dicSer and said: Alb
surd, that coat is net worth what you ask
for it. Why, Just lCoE at the coarSeuess OF
the fa'r."' See thot spot on the collar! Be-
Sides that ltdoeS not fit. Twenty dollars for
that? Why, il isn't worth more than ten.
They have better article than that. and Tor
cheaper price down at Cloathem, Fitem &
Brothers. Reside that. | don't want it at
any price. Good morning" '6od," says
the merchant; ''tlon't go of in that way. |
went to sell you that coat. have some pay
ments to make and want the money. Come
now, how much will you give for that coat"
well. says the customer, Il will split tue
difference. Ypu asked twenty dollars. and
said ten. Now, l will give you fifteen"
"Well. says the merchant, Its great sac
rifce; but take it at that price Then Solo
mon saw the customer with roll under his
arm start and 60 out and enter his own place
of business; and Solomon, in disguise, fol
lowed him. He heard the customer as he
unroiled the coat say: Boys, have made
a great bargain. How much do you guess
gave for that coat:" "Well," says one, wish
ing to compliment his enterprise, you gave
thirty dollars 10: it, Another says, Il
should think You got it cheap If you gave
twenty-five dollars No" says the buyer
in triumph; II got it for fifteen dollars. 1
beat him down ana pointed out the imperfec-
tions until really made him believe 1t was
not worth hardly anything. 1t takes me to
make bargain Ha. Ha"' On, man, yoI
got the goods for less than they were worth
by positive falsehooi and no wonder, whe1
Solomon went back to his place and had put
Off his disguise, that he sat down at his writ
ing desk and made for all ages crayon
sketch of you: ut is naught, it is naught,
saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way,
then he boasteth.'
There are no higher styles OF men i'll all
the world than those now at the head OF
merchandise in Brooklyn and New York AMI
in the other great cities OF this continent.
Their casual promise is as good us bond
with piles Of collaterals. Their reputation
for integrity is as well established as that
OF Petrarch residing in the family OF
Cardinal Colonra, and when there was great
disturbance in the family the cardinal called
all his people together and put them under
oath to tell the truth, except Petrarcb, for
when he came to swear the cardinal put
away his book aud said: LAS to you,
Petrarch, your word is sufficient"
Never since the world stood have there
been so many merchants whose transactions
can stand the taSt OF the Ten Command
-ments Such bargain makers are all the
L. fhax-h how with
stood year after year temptations which have
flung many so fat and flung them SO hard
they can never recover themselves. While
all positions in life have powerful besetments
10 evil there are specific forms OF allurement
which are peculiar to each occupation and
profession, and it will be useful to speak Of
the peculiar temptations Of business men.
First, as in the scene Of the text, business
men ara often tempted to sacrifice plain
truth the seller by exaggerating the value OF
goods, and tue buyer by depreciating them.
We cannot but admire an expert salesman.
See how h, first induces the customer into
mood favorable to the proper consideration
Of the value Of the goods. He shows himself
to be all honest and frank salesman. How
carefully the lights are arranged till Chey
fall just right upon the fabric!
Beginning with goods Of medium quality,
he gradually advances toward those or more
thorough make and Of more attractive pat
tern. How he watches the moods and wbims
of his customer, With what perfect calm
ness he takes the order and bows the pur-
chaser from his presence, who goes away
having made up his mind that he has bought
the goods at q price which will allow him a
living margin when he again sells them. The
goods were worth what the salesman said
they were, and were sold at price which
will not make it necessary for the house to
t<NG
But with what burning indignation We
think OF the iniquitous stratage.ns By which
goods are sometimes disposed Of. A glance
ut the morning papers shows the arrival at
one OF our hotels of young merchant from
one of the inland cities. HeiS comparative
stranger in tne great city. and, of coursp, he
must be shown around andit will be the duty
of some Of our enterprising houses to escort
him. He is a largepurchaser and has plenty
OF time and money, and it will pay to bevery
attentive. The evening is spent at placeof
doubtful amusement Then they go back to
the hotel. Having just come to town. they
must, of course, drink. A friend from the
same mercantile establishment drops in, and
usage and generosity suggest that they must
drink. Business prospects are talked over,
and the stranger is warned against certain
dilapidated mercantile establishments that
are about to fail, and for such kindness and
magnanimity of caution against the dishon-
esty OF other business houses, of course, it is
expected they will, and so they dc, take a
drink.
Other merchants lodging in adjoining
rooms find it hard to slee.) for the clattsr Of
decanters and the coarse carousal Of these
mail fellows we'll metz wakes louder. But
they sit not all night at the wine cup. They
must see the sights. They s.agger forth
with cheeks flushed and eyes bloo1shot. The
cutter gates of hell opsn to let in the victims
The wings of lost souls fit among the lights,
and the steps of the carousers sound with the
rumbling thunderS of the damned Farewell
20 all the sanctiteS of home, Could mother.
sister, father sicm6ering in the inland
home, in some vision of that night catch n
glimpse OF the ruin wrought they would
rcnd out their hair by the roots and
bite the tongue till the blood spurted,
shrieking out: God save him"
What, suppose you will come upon such
business establishments? and there are hum
dreds of them in the cities. They may boast
of fabulous sales, and they may have an un-
precedepted run of buyers and the name of
the house may be a terror to all rivals and
from this thrifty root there may spring up
branch houses in other cities, and all the part
ners OF the firm may move into their man.
slows and drive their full-blooded span, and
the families may sweep the street with the
moSt elegant apparel tnat human arG ever
wove or earthly magnitccnce ever achieved.
But curse is gathering somewhere for those
men, and if it does not seize hold of the pill
lars and in one wild ruin bring down the tenn
pie Of commercial glory, it will break up their
peace, and they will tremble with sickness
and bloat with dissipations, and, pushed to
the precipice of this life, they will try to hold
back and cry for help, but no help will come;
and they willclutch their gold to take it along
with them, but it will be snatched from their
grasp, and voice will sound through their
soul mot ferthing, thou beggared spiritm
And the Judgment will come and they will