The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-09
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON.

OlN A&AAu4&ANAo NSASOnSA"
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE Blythe NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject: Buyers and seIlers-Novel Views
Oh the Business Life-Hich Compli-
1nent to Commercial Integrity:Trick-
cry in Trade Denounced.
Copyright, Louis Klopsch, 1891
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Integrity and trick
ery IN business life form the subject OF Dr..
Talmage's sermon, and the contrast he
establishes between the two Is q striking
one. The text Is Proverbs Xxx, IA: "It is
naught, 1t Is naught, saith the buyer, but
when he 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 at
tended, you are mistaken. Incognito by
day or by night and clothed In citizens ap'
parel or the dress Of a 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 everything
that was going oD. From my text am sure
he must, in disguise, some day have walked
into store OF ready made clothing in Jeru-
salem and stood near the counter and heard
q conversation between buyer and SELL
er. The merchant put price on 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 coarse
ness OF the fabric! See that spot on the
Twenty dollars for that? Why, 1t is not
worth more than S10. They have better
article than thet for lower price down at
Clothem, Fitem & Bros. Besides that,
don't want 1t at any price. Good morn
Ing" Hold" says the merchant. "Do
cot 60 of In that way. I want to sell you
that coat. I have some payments to make,
and I want the money. Come, now, how
much will you give for that coat2'' "Well,"
says the customer, II will split the differ
euce. You asked s2O, and said $40. Now,
merchant, "it is great sacrifice, but take
1t ut that price"
Then the customer with roll under his
arm started to 20 out and enter his own
place of business, and Solomo on in dlsguise
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 ,coat?' "Well," says one,
wishing to compliment his enterprise,
"you gave $50 for It," Another says, II
should think you got 1t cheap il you gave
s25." "No," says the buyer in triumph,
~ got 1t for SIS. I beat him down and
pointed out the imperfections until I
really made him believe 1t was not worth
hardly anything. 1t takes me to make q
bargain. Ha, hal' Oh, man you got tho
goods for less than they were worth by
positive falsehood, and no wonder, when
Soln hon m nj
put off his disguise, that he sat down at
his writing desk and made for all ages n
crayon sketch Of you, 1T is naught, 1t Is
Daught, 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 u bond with piles Of collaterals.
Their reputation for integrity Is as we'll es-
tabllshed as that of Petrarch residing in
the family Of Cardinal Colonna. 1t Is re-
lated that when there was great disturb
nnce in the family the curdina!! called all
his people together and put them under
oath to tell the truth except Petrarch;
when be came up 10 swear, the cardiaal
put away his book and said, "As for you,
Petrarch, your word Is sufficient" Never
since the world stood have there been 80
many merchants whose transactions can
stand the test OF the Ten Commandments.
Such bargain makers are all the moro to be
honored, because they have witbstood yeur
after year temptations which have flung
30 many fiat 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 ali1rement which are peculiar to ench
occupation und profession, and 1t will be
useful to speak Of the peculiar temptations
of business zen.
First, as In the scene OF the text, business
men are often tempted to sacrifice plain
truth, the seller by exaggeeating the value
OF goods and the buyer by depreciating
them. We cannot but admire an expert
salesman, See how he first induces the
customer into mood favorable to the
proper consideration Of the value OF the
goods. He shows himself to be al hor est
and frank salesman. How carefully the
lights are arranged till they full just right
upon the fabricl Beginning with goods Of
medium quality, he gradually advances
toward those Of more thorough make and
OF more attractive pattern. How be
watches the N oods and whims OF his Gus
tomer With what perfect calmness lie
takes the order and bows the purchaser
from bis presence, who goes away, having
made up bis mind that he has bought the
goods ut price which will allow him a
living margin when he again sells them.
The goods were worth what the salesman
said they were aDd were sold Mt a price
which will not make it necessary for the
house to fail every ten years in order to fix
up things.
But with what burning indignation We
think Of the iniquitous strategems by
Ii taL do ~ no nP
glance at the morning papers shows the
arrival ut one OF our hotels OF young
merchant from one OF the inland cities.
He is comparative stranger in the great
city, and, of course, he must be shown
around, and It will be the duty Of some Of
our ente; ,'rising houses to escort him. He
is large purchaser and has plenty OF time
and money, and it will pay to be very at
tentiTe. The evening is spent ut place Of
doubtful amusement, Then they go back
to the hctel. Having Just como to town
they must, OF course, drink.
A friend from the same mercantile estab-
lish.nent drops in, and usage and Generos.
ity suggest that they must drink. Busi-
ness prospects are talked over, and the
stranger is warned against certain dilapi-
dated mercantile establishments that are
about to fail, and for such kindness and
magnAnimity Of caution against the dis
honesty OF other business houses OF course
1t is expected they willard so they do
take drink. Other merchants lodging in
adjoining rooms find 1t hard to sleep for
the clatter Of decanters, and the coarse
carousal Of these hail fellows well met"
wakes louder. But they sit not all night
at the wine cup. They must see the sights.
They s.agger forth with cheeks flushed
and eyes bloodshot. The outer gates Of
hell open to let In the ctima. The wings
OF lost souls fit among the lights, and the
steps Of the carousers sound with the rum