The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-19
The Installment Plan.

Inc lnStallmenl BIan.
There is one trait in which people of the
present day have departed widely from the
example of their forefathers Without
giving the latter credit for all the virtues,
1t is safe to say that, generally speaking
they didn't buy things until they had the
money with which to pay for them. They
were not victims of the installmcnt" hab-
1t, which now numbers its thousands in
New York and every large city.
An Irishman who kept little store in
Barclay street some 30 years ago has the
credit of being the first man to grasp the
fact that there We're unnumbered people
In this city who would be glad to buy
merchandise of all sorts pertaining to
homemaking, but whose circumstances
would not allow them to pay cash down
for 1t. They were ambitious to have more
Clothes more furniture, more bric-a- brac,
to rise to a higher plane or to keep pace
with their better to do neighbors; but,
alas their income would not allow It,
They had never been taught to save, which
IS slow, uncertain, old fogy method any
way, and SO they sighed and longed in
vain.
This long headed man realized this fact
and sat him down to cogitate. He had
little capital which was not turning over
as quickly as he could wish, and he wisely
reasoned that these people who wanted all
sorts Of things so badly might be willing
and glad to buy them If they could have
little accommodation. OF course
these good citizens had been allowed lit
tie occasional credit at the grocers' and
butchers shops, and perhaps even at the
tailors where they were known. But he
would do better than that He would sell
them almost anything reasonable person
might desire and deliver it to them, and
he would allow them to make payment at
such intervals and of SO small amount
cash that they would not feel it''-magio
words
He commenced In small way-en-
gagged half dozen good men, gave them
some samples and list of the different
goods he would furnish on this plan, and
before long the returns began to come in.
1t was Immediately evident that this
"flled long felt want" People at last
saw a way to satisfy their longings for
fine things without bankrupting them
selves to pay for them. The goods first
sold in this manner were neither large nor
costly-lamps, clocks, albums, Bibles,
rugs and the like. But the business has
been gradually systematized until now q
man can step into an immense shop, select
from large stock furniture, carpets
stoves crockery, kitchen utensils, pictures
everything wanted to furnish his house or
fat completely then supplement his own
wardrobe with whatever Is lacking, and
that Of his wife and children. More than
that, he can buy the house which Is to oon-
tain all this on the same plan, can insure
his and their lives, and last Of all, can ar
range with funeral director (the I'M
dertakers are all dead) to bury him, all on
this beautiful installment plan.
But, II you are the intending purchaser,
don't fancy that the goods you have select
ed will be Immediately loaded on van
and sent to your house. You must go
through the hands of an investigator -
This interesting person takes your name,
address and place of business at the office
and goes out on still hunt to find out
what he can in relation to your income,
your habits, your moral character, etc.
He is an important factor In the scheme,
and a good man commands good salary
His report being satisfactory, then are you
soon made happy with house filled with
new goods and your duty and pleasure
now consists only in having the weekly Oh
monthly payments ready when the col
lector calls.
Don't imagine that he will forget you
or be bashful in claiming his money, Oh
can be thrown off the scent by moving
away. He has ways you would never
guess at of following your movements anC
will stick to you closer than your shadow
until he has extracted the last cent due
For a man who has horror of being dun
ned the plan is not an unmixed good.
Then there Is the ironclad mortgage
which Is an interesting accompaniment
~ 4.,-N
the right to replevin his goods whenever
the payments are not prompt and accord
ing to contract. This Is practically never
enforced, except In the case of sales of fur
niture sewing machines safes and the
like. Clothing, carpets, boots or shoe,
and bonnets, it can readily be seen, would
be useless to offer for sale a second time
1t Is said that the commissions of gooC
oanvasser for safes on this plan are enor
nous. 1t Is hard to effect much damage
on an iron safe. When the purchaser geti
tired of the never ending payments ant
says he will pay no more and his safe il
Gifted and returned to the warehouse
unkind people hint that it is very easy tt
apply little putty, paint and varnisf
and send it out as new article to go tn,
rounds again. But this is probably Sian
der.
The number employed in the business
as canvassers, Investigators, deliverers ant
collectors is enormous and increasing
They can be seen on every car and ferry
boat pulling out their books and slips
making memoranda calculating expenses
and worrying their brains over the ingrat
itude of some one they have just come IL
contact with who has possibly received
them coldly, has frowned at them, has NJ
money, doesn't know when he will have
any, and wishes from the bottom of Mi
heart he had never listened to the entreat
les Of the siren who sells her blandish
ments by installments.-N. Y. Tribune.