Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-21
INSTALLMENT PLAN.
{ COMPARATIVELY MODERN WAY or
 DOING BUSINESS.

its Blessings and Its Bane-How tho Gus
 tom Started Thirty Years Ago In New
 York-Grown to Enormous Proportions
 In All the Cities of the Country.
 There is one trait in which people of the present day have departed widely from tho example of their forefathers. Without giving tho latter credit for all tho virtues, it 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 'installment' hab- it, which now numbers its thousands in New York and every large city.
 An IrishInan who kept little store in Barclay street some 80 years ago has the credit of being tho first man to grasp the fact that there were 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 it. They were ambitious to have more clothes, more furniture, more bric-a- brac, to rise to 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 longcd in vain.
 This long headed man realized this fact and sat him down to cogitate He had U 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 "acccommodation" Of course these good citizens had been allowed q lit tie occasional credit at tho 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 1t to thom, and he would allow them to mako payment at such intervals and of so small amount cash that they "would not fcel it"-magio wordsl
 He commenced in small way--en- gagged half a 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 cSme in. It was immediately evident that this filled long felt want" People at last saw 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 man can step into an immense shop, select from a large stock furniture carpets, stoves, crockery, kitchen utensils, pictures, everything wanted to furnish his house or flat completely, then supplement his own wardrobe with whatever is lacking, and that of his wife and children. More than that, he can buy tho house which is to con- tain all this on the same plan, can insure his and their lives, and last of all can ar range with funeral director" (the un- dcrtakers are all dead) to bury him, all on this beautiful installment plan.
 But, if you arc 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 good man commands good salary. His report being satisfactory, then are you soon made happy with a house filled with new goods, and your duty and pleasure now consists only in having the weekly or monthly payments ready when the col lector calls.
 Don't imagine that he will forget you, or be bashful in claiming his money, or can be thrown off the scent by moving away. He has ways you would never guess at of following your movements and will stick to you closer than your shadow until he has extracted the last cent due. For 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 of the installment plan, giving the creditor 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 shoes and bonnets, it can readily be seen, would be useless to offer for sale second time. It is said that the commissions of good canvasser for safes on this plan are enor- nous. It is hard to effect much damage on an iron safe. When the purchaser gets tired of tho never ending payments and says he will pay no more and his safe IS 'lifted' and returned to the warehouse, unkind people hint that it is very easy to apply little putty, paint and varnish and send it out as a new article to go the rounds again. But this is probably slan- der.
 The number employed in the business as canvassers, investigators, deliverers and collectors is enormous and increasing. They can be seen on every car and ferry hoat pul1inp ont their books and slips. making memoranda, calculating expenses and worrying their brains over the ingrat- itude of some one they have just come in contact with who has possibly received them coldly, has drowned at them, has no money, doesn't know when he will have any, and wishes from the bottom of his ha..t ha had raeuar listcnad to tha antreaf-