The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-18
STICKS AND TESTIMONIALS.
a Stick In Itself IL Nothing, But il

Editor Press and Banner:
In reading your article on testimonials In
your paper OF November the 4th, the writer
noticed that you were correct In one point,
but mistaken In another.
You say "nen 10 whom the people look as
safe guides and trusted counsellors. should be
slow to give teStirn on ials on subjects Of which
the average citizens are ignorant, elc." Here
You are exactly correct The writer has often
found that men selling certain wares or
quack doctors with slick tongues. going from
town TO town. will first enquire when coming
To n new place who are the most infinen tial
business men. who is the best doctor. and
perhaps the best preacher. These men will
be beseiged first, he tell them all sorts Of nice
things. hatter them, and tickle their vanity,
10y telling them they are smart aud he would
do anything Tor them IN his power for The
mere chance As he wants their influence.
Any man likes u have "influence," and be-
fore he knows IL Il testimonial iS given, before
one hardly realizes. that we have done some
thing for mere stranger, that we would not
do for an Old acquaintance. We perhaps
never find out that we have given TO d
stranger the chance TO hurt our best friend in
his business or to cheat our next door neigh
Dor. Why a gentleman In this town. only a
lew days ago paid large sum for an article
he could have bought from regular dea Ter
In this town for one half the money, simply
because he was told Il whole lot of things,
that were far from the truth, and because the
| individual selling the goods had "testimon-
ials" from some good towns people who
ID
clated with unfair dealings.
1t Is the writer's experience that men who
have to come around, get testimonials from
| mere strangers and trade on the strength OF
these, have no confidence in their own ability
| and know their methods are such that they
could made no Impression without these les.
| tlmoniais.
But now to the testimonials" You say 1t
| is writing or certificate. Well, 30 IL Is, but
Webster may have used another description
and said it is ~ silent witness" Now If a
stick is bought. and Inscribed, from whom 1t
| is, to whom and what for as would be under.
stood by properly inscribed Is this not a "tes
| tlmonial"? IL II necessary to write all this
on Il piece Of raper or parchment to make II
| 4 testimonial? Anything inscribed es above
would certainly be q testimonial But be-
sides the usage of words changes with Time,
| suppose this word WAS never used in this
same sense, at Webster's time. hut is used by
| the very best living writer's and authors now
| this would. in our opinion. make it Also late.
| ly correct no matter what Webster says
| The usage OF a word by good authors makes
! IL correct. This Is the rule in every language
There are lots Of words not only in the En-.
giSh, but in other languages that were used
in q different sense tIOm what they are now
and am sure the editor will agree to this
without our quoting words aS proof.
| We hope the editor Will acknowledge that
a "teStimonial with proper inscriptions" is
| Whether this was observing testiinonial
or not would be subject for a new chapter
| We wish every one that bought goods from
US at the same rate Of profit won i'd presen
the writer with a stick and am sure we cou Id
give the editor one half and a dozen ant
have enough left for every preacher In the A
r. L. synod. Graham.