The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-09-23
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON
HE NOTED DlvlNEs SUNDAY SERMON.

Subject: Buyers and Sel1ers-Novel Views
on tho business Life-High Compli-
Inent to Commercial Integrity--rrick-
cry In Trade Denounced.
Copyright, Louis KIopech. 1891
WASHINGTON. D. C.-Integrity and trick
cry In business life form the subject OF DR..
Talmage's sermon, and the contrast he
establishes between the two Is a striking
one. The text is Proverbs Xxx, IA: at Is
naught, 1t Is paught, saith the buyer, but
when he is gone his way then he boasteth."
Palaces are not such prisons as the world
Imagincs. II you think that the only time
kings and queens come forth from the royal
gates Is In procession and gorgeously at
tended, you are mistaken. IDcognito by
day or by night and clothed in citizens ap-
parel or the dress Of working woman,
they come out and sec the world as 1t is.
In no other way could King Solomon, the
author Of my text, have known everything
that was going on. From my text am suro
he must, in disguise, some day have walked
into store Of ready made clothing In Jeru-
salem and stood near the counter and heard
a conversation between buyer and a SELL
er. The merchant put price on coat,
and the customer begun to dicker and said:
absurd That coat is not worth what you
ask for 1t. Why. just look at the coarse
ness of the fabricl See that spot on the
collar! Besides that, 1t does not fit.
Twenty dollars fer that? Why, 1t Is not
worth more than so. They have a better
article than that for lower price down at
Clothem, Fitem & Bros. Besides that, 1
don't want 1t at any price. Good morn
Ing" "Holdr' .ays the merchant. "Do
not go off in that way. I want to sell you
that coat. I have some payments to make,
T h.
much will you give forthat coat2" "Well,"
says the customer, 81 will split the differ
eDce. You asked $40, and l said $40. Now,
will give you S15." "Well," Gays the
merchant, at is a great sacrifice. but take
1t ut that price,"
Then the customer with a roll under his
arm started to go out and enter bis own
place of business, and Solomon In disguise
followed him. He heard the customer as he
unrolled the coat say: "Doys, I have made
great bargain. How much do you guess
/ gave for that coat?'' ."Well," says one,
wishing to compliment his enterprise,
"you gave $50 for it," Another says, 81
should think you got 1t cheap II you gave
s25." NO." says the buyer in triumph,
pointed out the imperiectioDs until
really made him believe 1t was not worth
hardly anything. 1t takes me to make n
bargain. Ha, hal'' Oh, man you got the
goods for less than they were worth by
positive falsehood, and no wonder, when
Solomon went back to his palace and had
put off his disguise, that he sat down at
bis writing desk and made for all ages u
erayon sketch OF you, cit Is naught, 1t is
nsught, saith the buyer. but when he is
gone his way then he boasteth."
There are no b CHER styles OF men In all
the world than those now at the head OF
mercantile enterprises in the great cities
OF this continent. Their casual promise is
as good as a bond with piles of coiiaterals
Their reputation for integrity is as we'll es-
tablished as that of Petrarch residing in
the family Of Cardinal ColonDa. 1t is re-
lated that when there was great disturb
ance In the family the cardinal called all
| his people together and put them under
oath to tell tho truth except Pstrarch;
| when he came up 10 swear, the cardi lal
| put awny his book and said, "As for you
| Petrarch, your word is sufficient" Never
| since the world stood have there been SO
many merchants whose transactions can
! stand the test OF the Ten Commandments
| Such bargain makers arc all the more to be
| boDorcd, because they have witlstood year
| after year temptations which have flung
30 many fat and flung them so hard they
| can never, never recover themselves.
While all positions in life have powerful
besetments to evil there are specific forms
| of allurement which are peculiar to each
| occupation and profession, and it will be
| useful to speak OF the peculiar temptations
| of business men.
First, as in the scene OF the text, business
| men are often tempted to sacrifice plain
truth, the seller by exaggeratfng the value
| OF goods and the buyer by depreciating
| them. We cannot but admire an expert
! salesman, See how he Drst induces the
customer into mood favorable to the
| proper consideration Of the value of the
| goods. He shows himself to be an hoi est
and frank salesman. How carefully the
| lights are arranged till they fall just right
upon the fabrici Beginning with goods OF
medium quality, he gradually advances
toward those OF more thorough mako and
! OF more attractive pattern. How he
! watches the moods and whims of his GUS
tomerl With what perfect calmness he
takes the order and bows dhe purchaser
| from his presence, who goes away, having
made up his mind that he has bought the
| goods at price which will allow him q
| living margin when he again sells them.
| The goods were worth what the salesman
| said they were and were sold ut a price
which will not make it necessary for the
| house to fail every ten years In order to Ak
up things.
But with what burning indignation we
think of the ubiquitous strategems by
which goods are sometimes disposed of. A
| glance at the morning papers shows the
| arrival at one OF our hotels OF young
| merchant from one OF the inland cities.
| He is a comparative stranger in the great
| city, and, of course, he must be shown
| around, and it will DO the duty OF some of
our enterprfsing houses to escort him. He
| IL large purchaser and has plenty OF time
and money, and it will pay to be very at
tentive. The evening Is spent at place OF
doubtful amusement. Then they go back
to the hctel. Having just como to town
! they must, OF course. drink.
lishment drops in, and usage and generos-
| iiy suggest that they must drink. Bush
ness prospects are talked over, and the
stranger is warned against certain dilapi-
dated mercantile establishments that arc
about to fail and for such kindness and
magnaDimity Of caution against the dis
honesty of other business houses OF course
| it Is expected they willard so they do
take drink. Other merchants lodging in
adjoining rooms find 1t hard to sleep for
| the chatter Of decanters, and the coarse
carousal OF these 'hafl fellows we'll metz
| wakes louder. But they sit not all night
at the wine cup. They must see the sights.
They stagger forth with cheeks flushed
and eyes bloodshot. The outer gates Of
hell open to let In the ,ctims. The wings
| OF lost souls fit among the lights, and tho
steps of the carousers sound with the rum
| bling founders OF the lost. Farewell to all
| the sanctities Of home! Could mother,
sister, father, slumbering in the inland
home, Tn some vision Of that night catch a
| glimpse CT the ruin wrought they would
rend out their hair by the roots and bite
the tongue till tho blood spurted, shrtek-
| Ing out, "God save himI"
What, suppose you, will come upon such