Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-07-29

The outer gates of hell open to let in the
victims. The wings Of lost souls fit
among the lights. and the steps Of the
carouScrs sound with the rumhing
4 thunders Of the lost. Farewell Ia all the
sanctities Of home, Could mother. sister.
father. slnmhering in the inland home.
in some vision of that night catch a
glimpse of the ruin wrought they would
rcnd out their hair 10y the roots and bite
the tongue till the blood spurtcd. shrek
ing out. God save him
Dishonesty.s Reward.
What. suppose You. will come upon
such business establishments: and there
are hundreds of them in the cities They
may boast Of fabulous sales. and they
may have an unprecedented run of buy
ers. and the name of the house may he
terror To all rivals. and from this
thrifty root there may spring up branch
houses in other cities. and all the part
ners OF the firm may move into their
mansions and drive their full b!noded
span. and the families may sweep the
street with the most elegant apparel
that human heart ever wove or earthly
magniticcnce ever achieved
But curse Is gathering surely for
those men. and il il does not seize hold
Of the pillars aud in one wild ruin bring
down the temple Of commercial glory il
will break mp their peace. and they will
trcmblc with sickness and bloai with dis
sipations. and. pushed To- the prccipice of
this life. they will try 10 hold back and
cry for help. but no help will come. ana
they will clutch their gold To take II
along with them. hut il will be snatched
from their grasp aud voice will sound
through their soul. Not farthing. thou
bcggared spirit Aud the Judgment will
come. and they will stand aghast before
II. and all the business imqnitics Of Il
lifetime will gather around them. say
ing. do You remember thiS:" and DO
you remember thatf" And clerks that
they compelled Ia dishonesty and runners
and draymcn and hookkccpers who saw
behind the scenes viii bear testimony In
their nefarious deeds and some virtunus
soul that once stood aghast al the splcn-
dor and power Of these business men will
say. ALAS. this j. all that j. left Of that
great firm that occupied block with
their merchandise and ovcrShadowcd the
city with their influence and made
righteousness and truth and purity fall
under the CALLING fire Of avarice and
crime
While we admire and approve Of all
acutencss and tact in the sale OF goods.
we must condemn any process 10y which
n fabric or product is represented ms
possessing n value which il really does
not have. Nothing but sheer falsehood
can represent rs perfection boots that
rip silks that speedily lose their luster.
calicoes that Immediately wash out,
stoves thar crack under the first hot fire.
books insccurely bound. carpets that IN
rnveI. old furniture rcjuv-nated with
putty and glue ami sold as having been
recently manufactured. gold watches
made of brass. barrels of fruit. the big
gcst apples on the top. wine adulterated
with strychninc. hosiery poorly woven.
cloths of domestic manufacture shining
with foreign labels. imported goods rep
resented as rare and hard to get, because
foreign exchange is So high. rolled out on
the counter with matchlsss display. Inn
ported indeed. hut from the factory in
the next street. \ pattern already I'M
fashionable and unsuitable palmed of as
new print upon some country merchant
who has come to town 10 make his first
purchase OF dry goods and going home
with n large stock of goods warranted Ia
keep.
wont Stnnu Light
Again. business men are often tempted
TO make the habits and customs OF other
traders their law of rectitude. There are
commercial usages which will not stand
the test Of the last day. Yet men in bust
ness are apt TO do as their ncighbors do.
4 IL the majority of the traders in any 10
cality are lax in principle. the CONNER
cial code in that community will be Spuri-
Gus and dishonest. Ii is u hard thing To
stand close 10y the law Of right wnen
your next door ncighbor. 10y his lonseness
( of dealing. is enabled To- sell goods ut n
I cheaper rate and decoy Your customers.
/ OF course you who promptly meet all
4 your business engagements. paying when
you promise Ia pay. will iini il hard Ia
I compete with that merchant who is hope
lcssly in debt To- the importer for the
I goods aud To- the landlord whose store he
occupies and to III. clerks who serve him.
There are Il hundred practices prevalent
I in the world Of traffic which ought never
To become the rule for honest men. Their
wrong does not make your right Sin
never becomes virtue by being multiplied
and admitted M brokers board or mer-
chants exchange Bccause others SNUG
/ gle few things in passenger trunks. be-
cause others take usury when men are
In tight places. because others deal IN
fancy stocks. because others palm of
worthless Endorsements. because others
do nothing but blow bubbles. do not
therefore. he overcome Of temptation
Hollow preteniions and fictitious credit
and commercial gambling may awhile
prosper. hut the day Of reckoning cometh
and in addition To- the horror aud con.
demnation Of outraged communities the
curse Of God will come. blow after blow
Gods law forever and forever is the only
standard Of right and wrong and moi
commercial ethics
! Young business man. avoid the first
! business disbonor. and you will avoid all
fhe rest. The captain or vessel was
walking near the mouth Of 4 river when
the tide WAS low. and Their" was "a ien.
stout anchor chain. into one Of the great
links Of which his foot slipped. and il hc-
gan to swell. and he could not withdraw
il. The tide began 10 rise. The chain
could not lee looscncd nor filed of ia time.
aud surgeon WAS called 10 amputatc the
limb. but before the work could he done
t:.e tide rolled over the victim. and his
lie was gone. have 10 tell you. young
man. that just one wrong into which you
slip may be link 81 long chain Of cir
camStances from which you cannot be-
eSiricated by any ingenuity of your own
or any help from others. and the tides
wall roll over you rs they have over many.
When Pompey. the warrior. wanted Ia
take possession 81 city and they would
not open the gates. he persuaded them To
admit n sick soldier. Bnt the sick soldier
after awhile got well aud strong. and he
threw open the gates and let the levas-
t.ting army come in. One wrong admit
fed into the soul may gain in strength
until after awhile il filings open all the
gates 20 the attack Of sin. and the ruin is
complete
individual Responsibility.
Again. business men are sometimes
tempted to throw off personal responsible
ity. shifting il 10 the institution 10 which
they belong. Directors IN banks and rail
road and insurance companies sometimes
shirk personal responsibility underneath
the action ~ the corporation. and how
often. when some banking house or finan-