The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-02
.fRICEERI TRADE.
Rev. Dr.. TaImage Contrasts 1t
With Fair Dealing.
CONDEMNS BUSINESS
Processes by Which Values Are
Misrepresented. Many OF
Our Merchants Are
Models of Integrity.

lie f0rm the SuUJeCt VI ~
sermon today, and the contrast he
establishes between the two IS stflk-
ing one. The text is Proverbs Ky, II,
TT is naught, it is naught, said the
buyer, when be is gone his way, then
he boasteth.
Palaces are not such prisons as the
world imagines. If you think that the
only time kings and queens come forth
from the royal gates is in procession
and gorgeously attended, you are mis-
taken. Incognito, by day or by night,
and clothed in citizens apparel or the
dress of working woman, they come
out and see the world as it IS. In no
other way could King Solomon, the
author of my text, have known every
thing that was going on. From my
text I am sure he must in disguise some
day have walked into I srcre OF ready
made clothing in Jerusalem and stood
near the counter and heard a conver5a-
tion between buyer and a seller. The
merchant put 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 ooes
not fit. Twenty dollars for that? Why,
it is not worth more than so. They
have better article than that and for
lower price down at Clothem, Fitem &
Bros. Besides that, l don't want it at
any price. Good morning. Hold,
says the merchant, do not go of in
that way. want to sell you that coat:
I have some payments to make and |
want the money. Come, now, how
much will you give for that coat.
well" says the customer, i vii
split the difference. Yeu asked $50
and l said so. Now, I will give you
SIS" WE'LL" said the merchant, 1T
is great sacrifice, but take 1t at that
price"
Then the customer with roll under
his arm started to go out and enter his
-ewn place Of business, and Solomon IN
disguise followed him. He heard the
customer as he unrolled the coat say:
''Boys, have made a great bargain.
How much do you guess gave for that
eoat?" Well" says one, wishing to
compliment his enterprise, you gave
$50 for it" Another says, Il should
thiak you got It cheap if you gave $50. =
'sNo," says the buyer in triumph; l
got it for SIS. l beat him down and
pointed out the imperfections until |
really made him believe it was not worth
hardly anything. It takes me to make
bargain. Ral Ha!" 0 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 of his disguise,
that he sat down at his writing desk and
made for all ages crayon sketch OF
you, 'It is naught, it is naught, saith
the buyer, but when he is gone his way,
hen 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 bond with
piles Of collte1als. Their good reputa-
ton for integrity is as well established
as that OF Petrarch residing in the faml-
ly of Colonna, 1t is related that when
there was great disturbance in The fami-
ly the cardinal called all his people to-
gether and put them under oath to tell
the truth, except Petrarch. When he
came up to swear, the cardinal put away
his book and said, Gas for you, Pet
rarch, your word is sufficient" " Never
since the world stood have there been
80 many merchants whose transactions
can stand the test of the Ten Command.
ments. Such bargain makers are all
the more to be honored because they
have withsood year after year teupta.
tions which have flung so many fat and
flung them so hard they can never,
never recover themselves. While all
positions in life have powerful beset-
nents to evil, there are specific forms
of alluement which are peculiar 10
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 sac
ri6ce plain truth, the seller by exagger.
ating the value Of goods and the buyer
be depreciating them. We cannot but
admire an expert salesman. See how
he first induces the customer into a
mood favorable to the proper considera,
tion of the value Of tie goods. He
shows himself to be an honest and
frank salesman. How carefully the
lights are arranged till they fall just
right upon the fabric! Beinning with
goods Of medium quality, he gradually
advances toward those of more thor
ough make and or more attractive pat
tern. How he watches the moods anc
whims of his customer! With What
perfect calmness he takes the order anc
bows the purchaser from his presence
who goes away having madeup his mine
that he has bought the goods at price
which will allow him living margiI
when he again sells them! The good:
were worth what the salesman said they
were and were sold ata price which vii
not make it necessary for the house tt
fail every ten years in order to fix VI
things.S
But with what burning inaignatio,
we think of the iniquitous stratagem
by which goods are sometimes dispose'
Of! A glance at the morning paper
shows the arrival st one of our hotels
young merchant from one Of the IN
land cities. He is comparative stran
ger in the great city, and Of course h
must be shown around, and it vii
be the duty Of some Of our enterprls
ing houses to escort him. He IS
large purchaser and has pleht
of time and money, and it will pay t
be very attentive. The evening