The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-08-03
WAYS OF BUSINESS.
t,E MERCHANT WHO coRRecTs
ONLY ONE KIND OF MISTAKE.

Pie MERCHANT WHO coRRecTS
ONLY ONE KIND OF MISTAKE.
10 Severe Criticism Of the ways OF shop
Keepers ard CashicrsA-The Steamboat
Clerk who ssil, I'VE Never Rectify Mis-
takes Here"
h No one perceives the wisdom, and in
deed the necessity, Of accurate book
keeping more fully than your humble
servant, who can't keep books to save
her life and who finds herself approach
ing denentia every time she endeavors
to balance cash account. But why In
all bookkeeping systems, from banks to
the smallest retail shop, is 1t invariably
the customer who gets cheated II any
body? Tell me, ye winged winds, which
DER my pathway rolll It is useless to
contradict and say that 1t isn't. The
one exception in a thousand years does
not count against the millions Of oppos-
ing instances. I have lately read the
pathetic account by some recluse, who
never goes shopping, Of the bloodthirsty
monsters who take more change than ID
due them and stalk out, leaving no ad-
dress behind them, little rocking the
snfferings Of the poorly paid employee
who has to make good the deficit out Of
his or her own pocket Tudgel No such
mistakes occur, or, If they do, they are
rarer than fresh vegetables on country
table. In all large establishments there
is hawk headed Horus ut the desk"
waiting to pounce on mistake in the
customers favor Of cent, and many's
the time every one Of us can testify the
little slips have been returned to be COR
rected Of mistakes to our credit, while
we fumed.
Thank goodness, there are instances
in which the sharpshooters have wound
ed themselves. Once was Oh q "sound"
boat going from New York to Fall River,
and the man at the desk gave me $5
bill too much in change when paying
after supper. There was something of
crowd, but that mistake would have
made itself evident to me in a mob. I
dashed back and said, you've made a
mistake in my change"
"Can't help that, Z" said the lordly
clerk. "We never rect.fy mistakes here.
"Oh, you don't?' retorted the head Of
the party. "Well, twill cost you some
thing this time, for you have given us
&5 too much. But if you never rectify
mistakes you are the loser for once -
It is foolish to dwell on the sequel,
and 1 have forgotten it. only remem-
ber that the young man, pale and agi-
tated, danced in supplication around the
unmoved figure Of tho stern admonisher
for some minutes. suppose he got his
money, and I dare say there was no law
upholding one in keeping it, but hope,
at this distance of time. he didn't. One
day, not long ago, was at furnishing
shop in State street, Chicago, buying a
tie. The price was 81. 90, and / present.
ed the man with a 50 bill He swung
over the little birdcage on a telegraph
line and it came swiftly back with so
cent piece. Seeing another tie for that
price, I handed back the change and
was about to leave, when voice came
from the elevated desk at the other end ]:
"Hi! This half dollar is counterfeitv"
Although it was q public place and
am a retiring lady, I burst wildly forth
into clarion shout Of joy. It is SO sell
dom q modest customer has the chance
Of beholding natural enemy caught
with his own quicklime. The mortifca-
/ ton of the salesman serving me was
something to see. It did me good for a
| whole day. Sending counterfeit half
dollar cheerfully and with promptitude
in change and repudiating it on its re-
turn the next minute! 1t was sharp
game and little too sharp.
Everybody who shops much knows
that it is next to impossible to get a
returned" article credited, or, indeed,
called for. If Hyou take two rugs on ap-
prevail mention rugs because you
can't very we'll return them by hand
and state clearly and plainly and ovel
and over the price Of the one you have
kept and tho one you wish returned
you are more likely than not to find
both on your bill the next month, and
q you are likely to find the rug day after
day littering your hall unless you tele
phone twice day and end by douncinG
down yourself in rage and demanding
its instant removal. OF course il it il
kept long you are charged with 1t, any
; way. The other night, when it was very
hot, some friends Of a lady in moderat,
circumstances dining with her suggest
ed drive in the park. One Of the mel
telephoned for q landau, and at the enc
Of the drive paid for it. The next weel
the bill came into the lady. Now o
, course this was an accident. But VIII.
doesn't the other accident ever happen
, Why should thousands Of bills come il
to be paid twice, while by no Oversight
/ or bad management does q bill ever GO
forgotten or overlooked? Money getting
grasping, greedy generation Of shop
keepersl Business is business, il yol
) like, but business need not be q cut
throat, bloodthirsty system Of demand
ing what is not due, need it? Must it b
in this way that men grow rich?
It is because only one kind Of mis-
takes occur that one is justified in think
ing that only one kind is guarde'
against. Tie customer has to look on
. for himself and the shopkeeper too. Th
J, shopkeepor only looks out for himself
As for the breaking Of promises, tn
:. calm delays and the superb independ
ence OF "puryeyors, "~words fail nj
3 when / attempt to depict their aggraya
i tions Success breeds contempt, it secini
q aud the only way to get a thing dol,
3 49,