The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-04
THE PASSIVE GROCER.

Here is the American Grocers excellent
pen picture of tradesman that all OF
US know and come into daily contact
With:
He is patience personifled His soul
is free from ambition and his nature un-
tainted by an aggressive spiritg He gives
no thought for the morrow, nor concern
for yesterday and is content with to-
day. He Is not a believer in enthusiasm;
shows little emotion and is willing to let
the store run itself Just so long as
liabilities are met without special ex-
ertion he is satisfied. New ideas, pro-
gressiveness, keeping up with the times,
style, system and a mastery over de-
tails occasion no concern, nor Is he moved
when his easy-going, Indifferent policy
is brought into contrast with his go,
ahead. contented competitor.
He moves in ruts and Is satisfied so
long as his condition is not materially
changed from what it was fifteen, twenty
or more years ago. A few years since
we met one of these passive fellows who
kept his books in pound, shilling and
pence, as was the custom in this coun-
try forty years ago, simply because he
was satisfied with that plan and didn't
care whether the decimal system was bet,
ter or not, Just so long as the passive
grocer has his living Ne is satisfied to
let matters take their course. He claims
that he has outlived many a competitor,
seen some of them fail, and that his con-
dition is better than the average; that
he is free from excitement, worry and
risks.
His beat is between his home and his
store, to which habit has chained him.
so much so that a trip to New York or
oil iaft AF rt.VN fc t., L. L.
life. This passive fellow is content to
order by mail or through drummers, by
which course his mind is not disturbed by
conflicting quotations and market
changes.
Trade papers are never read because
they tax his mental powers and are too
suggestive. Advertising In any manner
is foreign to his thought. He claims
that consumers know best what they
want and where to purchase; that for
many years he had served them in his
way, been lenient as to credit, and
that if they want to trade anywhere
else, why let them CO." He is very ac-
comodating and is always quick to re-
spond to the request of an old patron,
but he never attempts to suggest a new
line Of goods, or to educate his trade to
new standard of quality. In short, he
allows himself to be led instead of be-
coming leader. Long hours never worry
him, for he is as happy in his store aA
his home and with his family as with
his merchandise. Occasionally he is
aroused from his passiveness by some
heavy loss through over confidence in ex.
tending credit or by reason of theft, fire
or carelessness.
He is unfrlendly to the Groeers' associ-
alton, the board of trade or other or
ganizations, claiming that 1t is as much
as he can do ito attend to his own busI-
ness without trying to regulate other
folks affairs. 1t never enters his mind
that he Is a unit in society and is re-
sponsible for the effectiveness of that
unit. To entertain such a thought might
paralyze him were he to be receptive to
modern methods or new ideas.
Being passive, this sort of a grocer does
little harm He is never accused OF cut
ting prices, making Innovations meddling
with his neighbors, and therefore is left
to pursue his inoffensve way peaceably
until death takes him from the scene ana
his estate goes to the surrogates court
for settlement. All his life long he was
fond of verse;
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be
proud?
Like a fast-h!tting meteor, a fast-hy-
ing cloud,
A flash of the Tightening, break Of the
wave,
He passeth from life to his rest in the
grave.