Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-27
TRICKERY IN TRADE.
REV. DR.. TALMAGe CONTRASTS 1T
WITH FAIR DEALING.
Condemns business Processes by
which values Are Misreprcscnted.
Many of Our Merchants Are Models
of Integrity.

copyright, Louis Klopsch, 1901
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Integrity and
trickery in business life form the sub.
Sect of DR.. Talmage's sermon today, and
the contrast he establishes between the
two is striking one. The text is Prov
erbs Xxx, ia, 1t is naught, 1t is naught,
said the buyer, but whc:, he is gone his
way. then he boasteth."
Palaces are not such prisons as the
world imssines. If you think that the
only time kings and queens come forth
from the royal gates is in procession and
gorreously attended, you are mistaken
lIpcognito, by day or by night and cloth
cd in citizens apparel or the dress of a
working woman, they come out and see
the world as il is. In no other way
could King Solomon, the author of my
text, have known everything that was
going on From my text ! am sure he
must in disguise some day have walked
into a store of ready made clothing in
Jerusalem and stood near the counter
and heard a conversation between buy
er and n seller. The merchant put n
price on a coat, and the customer began
to dicker and said: Absurd, That coat
is not worth what you ask for it. Why,
just look at the cOarseness of the fabric!
See that spot on the collar. Besides
that. it does not fit. Twenty dollars for
that? Why, it is not worth more than
$40. They have better article than
that and for lower price down ut Cloth
EN-, Fitem g. Bros Besides that, don't
want it at any price Good morning"
Hold" says the merchant, do not go
off in that way. | want to sell you that
coat. l have some payments to make
Ia I ha bn,
much will you give for that coat?''
"Well," says the customer II will split
the difference. You asked 500 and
said $40. Now, l will give you So"
"Well," said the merchant, "it is "A great
sacrifice, but take it at that price"
Then the customer with roll under
his arm started to go out and enter his
own place of business, and Solomon in
disguise followed him. He heard the
Customer as he unroled the coat say;
Boys, i have made great bargain
How much do you guess l gave for tina,
cont? Well says one, wishing to
compliment his enterprise you gave $50
for it," Another says, Il should think
you got it cheap il you gave SO" mo,
says the buyer in triumph; Il got it fol
SIS. I beat him down and pointed out
the imperfections until | really made him
believe il was not worth hardly anything
1T takes me to make n bargain. Ha
FaW o man, you got the goods for les,
than they were worth by positive false
hood, and no wonder, when Solomon
went back to his palace and had put off
his disguise, that he sat down at his
writing desk and made for all ages q
crayon sketch of you, 1T is nanght, it l:
naught, saith the buyer, but when he i:
gone his way, then he boasteth."
Word as Good ms bond.
There are no higher styles Of men II
all the world than those now at the heat
OF mercantile enterprises in the grea
cities OF this conthent. Their casua
promise is as good as bond with piles
Of collaterals. Their good reputation fol
integrity is as well established as thai
of Petrarch residing in the family Of
Colonna. 1t is related that when Their,
WINS great disturbance in the family tn,
cardinal called all his people together
and put them under oath to tell tn,
truth, except Petrarch. When he came NJ
to swear, the cardinal put away his bool
and said, LAS for you, Petrarch, You
word is sufficient" Never since tn,
world stood have there been SO man!
merchants whose transactions can stan,
fhe test of the Ten Commandments Sucl
bargain makers are all the more to b,
honored because they have withstooC
year after year temptations which hav,
flung SO many hat and flung them So
hard they can never, never recover them
selves. While all positions in life hav,
powerful besetments to evil, there ar,
specific forms of aNurement which art
peculiar to each occupation and profes
sion, and it will be useful to speak o
the peculiar temptations of business
men.
First, as in the scene of the text, bust
ness men are often tempted to sacrihc,
plain truth the seller by exaggeratin,
the value Of goods and the buyer by de
preciating them. We cannot but admire
an expert salesman. See how he first in
duces the customer into mood Favorable
to the proper consideration of the valu
of the goods. He shows himself to be al
honest and frank salesman. How care
fully the lights are arranged till they fal
just right upon the Fabric Beginnin
with goods of medium quality, he gradu
ally advances toward those Of more thor
ough make and of more attractive pat
tern. How he watches the moods an
whims Of his customer With what pei
feet calmness he takes the order an
bows the purchaser from his presence
who goes away having made up his min
that he has bought the goods at a pric
which will allow him n living marg
when he again sells them. The good
were worth what the salesman said the
were and We're sold at price which wi
not make it necessary for the house t
fail every ten years in order to fix u
things.
Practices Condemned.
But with what burning indignation W
think of the iniquitous stratagems b
which goods are sometimes disposed OF
A glance at the morning papers show
the arrival at one Of our hotels Of youn
merchant from one of the inland cities
He is n comparative stranger in the yrea
city, and of course he must be show
around, and it will be the duty Of some c
our enterprising houses TO escort hin
lie Is a large purchaser and has plent
of time and money, and 1t will pay to /
very attentive The evening is spent
a place of doubtful amusement The
they go back to the hotel. Having iu'
come to town, they must, OF course, drinl
A friend from the same mercantile @
Establishment drops in, and usage an
generosity suggest that they must drin
business prospects are talked over, an
the stranger is warned against certaI
dilapidated mercantile establishment
that are about to fail, and for such kin,
ness and magnanimity Of caution again
the dishonesty Of other business house
of course il is expected they willard ,