The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-01

tile anXieties, the brain is consumed
In the next place we notice mercantile
lies, those before the counter and behind
the counter. / will not attempt TO specify
the different forms % commercial false
hood. There are merchants who excuse
themselves for deviation from truthful
ness because of what they call commercial
custom. In other words, the multipiica-
ton and universally of sin turns it into
a virtue. There have been large for
tunes gathered where there was not one
drop OF unrequited toll in the wine; not
one spark OF bad temper flashing from the
bronze bracket; not one drop OF needle
woman's heart-blOOd in the crimson
plush while there are other great estab-
lishments IN which there is not one door
knob, not one brick, not one trinSet, not
one thread of lace, but has upon it the
mark of dishonor. What wonder if,
some day, hand of toll that had been
wrung, and worn out and blistered until
the skin came off, should be placed against
the elegant wallpaper, leaving its mark OF
blood-four fingers and thumb; or that,
some day, walking the halls. there should
be a voice accosting the occupant, saying,
'Six cents for making shirt and, flying
the room, another voice should say,
Twelve cents for an army blanket" and
the man should try to sleep at night, but
ever and anon be aroused, until getting up
on one elbow, he should shrek out,
who's there?"
One Sabbath night, in the vestibule of
my church after service, woman fell in
commissions. The doctor said she needed
medicine not so much as something to
eat. As she began to revive In her deilr-
lum, she said gaspingly: Eight cents
Eight centsl l wish l could get it done;
am so tired! | wish | could get some
sleep; but | must get it done. Eight
cents! Eight centsw We found after
ward that she was making garments for
cents apiece, and that she could make but
three of them in day Three times
eight are twentv-four Hear il, men and
women who have comfortable homes
Some of the worst villains of the city
are the employers of these women. They
beat them down to the last penny and try
to cheat them out of that. The woman
must deposit n dollar or two before she
gets the garments to work on. When the
work is done it is sharply inspected, the
most insignificant flaws picked out and
the wages refused, and sometimes the dol
lar deposited not given back. The Wom-
ans protective union reports case where
one OF these poor souls, finding a place
where she could get more wages, resolved
TO change employers, and went to get her
pay for work done. The employer says:
Il hear you are going to leave me-"
YES" she said, "and l am come to get
what you owe me-" He made no answer.
She said. "Are you not going to pay me-"
eyes" he said, al will pay you )" and he
kicked her down the stairs.
There are thousands OF fortunes made
in commercial spheres that are through
out righteous. God will let his favor rest
upon every scroll, every pictured wall,
every traceried window; and the Joy that
flashes from the lights, ana showers from
the music, and dances in the children's
quick feet, pattering through the hall,
Will utter the congratulations of men and
the approval OF God.
A merchant can, to the last item, be
thoroughly honest. There is never any
need of falsehood Yet how many will,
day by day, hour by hour, utter what
they know to be wrong. You say that
you are sc ling at less than cost Ii so,
then it Is right TO say it. But did that
cost you less than what YOU ask for it?
Ii not, then YOU have falsfed. You say
that that article cost you S25. Did it? III
so, then all right. 1T it did not, then you
have falsifed. Suppose you are a pur-
chaser. You are Cheating down"
the goods You say that that
article for which s. is charged is not
worth more than 81. Is it worth no more
than 81? Then ali right. Ii it be worth
more, and for the sake of getting it for less
than its value, you willfuily depreciate it,
you have falsified. You may call it sharp
trade. The recording angel writes it down
on the ponderous tones of eternity: Mr..
So and So, merchant on Water-st., or in
E.iZabeth-st, or in Safest; or Mrs. So
and So, keeping house on Beacon-st., or
on Madispn-ave., or Rittenhouse square,
or Brooklyn Heights of Brooklyn Hill,
told one falsehood" You may consider it
insignificant, because relating to an insig-
nificant purchase. You would despise the
man who would falsify in regard to some
great matter. in which the city.or the
whole country was concerned but this is
only box OF buttons, or row of pins, or
a case OF needles. Be not deceived. The
article purchased may be so small you
can put it in your vest pocket, but the sin
was bigger than the pyramids, and the
echo of the dishonoT will reverberate
through all the mountains of eternity.
You throw on your counter some speci-
mems of handkerchiefs. Your customer
asks, 'Is that all silk no cotton in it?
You answer at is all silk" Was it all
silk? If so. all right. But was it partly
cotton? Then you have falsified. Moreo-
yer, you lost by the faisehood. The Gus
toner, though he may live at Lynn, or
Doylestown, or Poughkeepsie, will find
out that you have defrauded him, and next
spring, when he again comes shopping, he
| will look at your sign and say Il will not
| try there. That is the place where l got
that handkerchief" So that by that one
dishonest bargain you picked your own
pocket and insulted the Almighty.
Would you dare to make an estimate of
how many falsehoods in trade were yes
terday told by hardware men, and cloth
iers, and fruit dealers, and dry goods es-
adjustments, and importers, and Jewell
ers, and lumbermen, and coal merchants
and stationers, and tobacconists? Lies
about saddles, about buckles, about rib
| bons, about carpets, about gloves, about
coats. about shoes. about hats, about
watches, abont carriages, about books
about everything. In the name OF the
Lord Almighty 1 arraign commercial
falsehoods as one of the greatest plaques
in city and town.
In the next place, / notice mechanical
| lies. There is no class of men who ad-
minister more to the welfare of the city
than artisans. To their hand we must
look for the building that shelters us, for
the garments that clothe us, for the car
| that carries us. They WELD a widespread
.,G l.