The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-09-08
TRICKERY IN TRADE.
Rev. Or. Talmage Contrasts It with
Fair Dealing.
Condemns business Processes by
which Values Are Misrepresent-
ed-Many Merchants Mod
els of Integrity.
copyright. Louis Klopsch, 1871

mon to-day, and The contrast ne ts-
iablishcs between the two is q striking
one. The text IS Proverbs 20:ll: "ltis
naught. IL is naught, said the buyer, but
when he is gone his way, then he
boasteth."
Palaces are not such prisons as the
world imacines. If you think that the
only times kings and queens come forth
from the royal gates is in procession
and gorgcously attended you are mis-
taken. lncognito, 10y day or by night,
and clothed I'm citizens apparel or the
dress of a working woman, they come
out and see the world as II is. In no
other way could King Solomon, the
author of my text. have known every
thing that was going on. From my text
am sure be must I'm disguise some day
have walked into a store of ready-made
clothing in Jerusalem and stood near
the counter and heard a conversation
between q buyer and seller. The mer-
chant put a price on q coat, and the
customer began to dicScr and said;
Absurd That coat is not worth what
You ask for it. Why, just look AT the
coarseness of the fabricl See that spot
ON the collar Besides that it does not
ft. Twenty dollars for that? Why,
| II is not worth more than ten dollars.
They have a better article than that
and for lower price down at Clothem'
Titcm q Bros. Besides that, / don't
want ii at any price. Good morning.
Hold" says the merchant; do not go
ofT I'm that way. want 10 sell you that
coat. I have some payments TO make
and want the money. Come. now, how
much win YOU give for that coatY
"Wen." says the customer, 81 will split
the difference. You asked $40 and !
said $40. Now, I will give you Sl5.'
Well" said the merchant, "it is great
sacrifice, but take it at that price
Then the customer with a roll under
h,s arm started 10 go out and enter
his own place Of business, and Solomon
I'm disguise followed him. Tie heard
ihc customer as he unrollod the coat
say: "Boys. I have made a great bar
cain. How much do YOU guess ] gave
for that coat?" "Well." says one, wish
ing TO compliment his enterprise, "you
oave $50 for H." Another says; 81
should think you got it cheap if you
rave s24." "No," says the buyer, in tri-
umph: 81 got it for SIS. ] beat him
down and pointed out the imperfections
until I really made him believe il was
not worth hardly anything. 1t takes
me TO make a bargain. la, hal o
man. You got the goods for less than
ihev were worth 10y positive falsehood,
and no wonder, when Solomon went
back to his palace and had put off his
disguise. that he sat down at his writ
ing desk and made for all ages a crayon
sketch of you. 1T is naught, it is
naurht. saith the buyer, but when he
is gone his way, then he boasteth."
There are no higher 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 niles of collaterals Their good
reputation for integrity is as well es-
fablished as that of Petrarch residing
in the family of Colonna. 1t is related
that when there was great disturbance
in the family the cardinal called all his
people together and put them under
oath TO tell the truth, except Petrarch-
When he came up to swear the car
dinal put away his book and said: "As
for you, Petrarch, your word is suiii-
cient." Never since the world stood
have there been so many merchants
whose transactions can stand the test
Of the Ten Commandments. Such bar
gain makers are all the more to be
honored because they have withstood
wear after year temptations which have
flung so 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 10 each occupation and
profession. and il will be useful TO speak
Of the peculiar temptations of business
men.
First. as in the scene Of the text, busl-
ness men are often tempted TO sacrifice
plain truth. the seller by eXaggeratine
the value of the goods and the buyer 10y
depreciating them. We cannot but adj
mire an expert salesman. See how he
first induces the customer into a mood
favorable TO the proper consideration
Of the value of the goods. lie shows
himself TO be an honest and frank sales
man. How carefully the lights are ar
ranged till they fall just right upon
the fabricl Beginning with goods o
medium quality, he gradually advances
toward those Of more thorough make
and OF more attractive pattern. How h'
watches the moods and whims of hi'
customer With what perfect calm
ness he takes the order and bows th'
purchaser from his presence. who goe'
away having made up his mind that h'
has bought the goods at price whicl
will allow him to make living margin
when he again soils theml The good
were worth what the salesman sai'
they were and were sold at prize
,hich will not make it necessary ioI
The house to fail every ten years III or
der to fix mp things.
But with what burning indignation
we think OF the iniquitous straiagem
bv which goods are sometimes disposed
of A glance at the morning paper
howe tho arrival M one of our hotel