Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-27


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 bloodcd
span, and the families may sweep the
street with the most elegant apparel
that human heart ever wove or earthly
magniicence ever achieved.
But curse is gathering surely for
those men, and il it does not seize hold
of the pillars and in one wild ruin bring
down the temple Of commercial glory it
will break UP their peace, and they will
trcmble with sickness and bloat with dis
sipatiens, and, pushed to the precipice of
this life, they will try to hold back and
cry for help, but no help will come, ana
they will clutch their gold to take it
along with them, but it will be snatched
from their grasp and voice will sound
through their soul, mot farthing, thou
beggared spirit" And the judgment will
come and they will stand aghast before
1t. and all the business iniquities of
lifetime will gather around them, say
ing, DO you remember this?" and DO
you remember that?" And clerks that
they compelled to dishonesty and runners
and draymen and bookkeepers who saw
behind the scenes will bear testimony to
their nefnrious deeds, and some virtuous
soul that once stood aghnst Mt the splen-
| dor and power OF these business men will
say, ALAS, this is all that is left of that
great firm that occupied n block with
their merchandise and overshndowed the
city with their influence and made
righteousness and truth and purity fall
under the CALLING fire of avarics and
! crime"
| While we admire and approve Of all
| acuteness and tact in the sale OF goods,
we must condemn any process by which
fabric or product is represented as
possessing value which it really does
not have. Nothing but shee' falsekocG
can represent as perfection boots that
rip. silks that speedily lose their luster
calicoes that Immediately wash out,
| stoves that crack under the first hot fire,
books insecurity bound, carpets that un-
ravel, old furniture rejuvenated with
| putty and glue and sold as having been
recently manufactured, gold watches
made of brass, barrels OF fruit, the big
gest apples on the top, wine adulterated
with strychnine, 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 matchless display. I'M
ported indeed, but from the factory in
the next street. A pattern already I'M
fashionable and unstable palmed of as
q new print upon some country merchant
who has come to town to make his first
purchase of dry goods and going home
with large stock of goods warranted TO
keep.
Won't stand Light.
Again, business men are often tempted
TO make the habits and customs Of other
traders their law of rectitude. There are
commercial usugcs which will not stand
the test Of the last day. Yet men in bust
ness are apt to do rs their neighbors do.
If the majority OF the traders In any To-
cality are lax In principle, the CONNER
cia code in that community will be spuri-
Gus and dishonest. 1t is n hard thing to
stand close by the law Of right when
your next door neighbor, by his looseness
of dealing, is enabled 10 sell goods at a
cheaper rate and decoy your customers.
OF course you who promptly meet all
your business engagements, paying when
you promise TO pay, will find II hard to
compete with that merchant who is hope
lessly in debt to the importer for the
goods and to the landlord whose store he
ooo,,r,iao ord n tho cIorLc who serve him
Tbore are a brndred nractces nrevalent
In tho world ~ traHic which ought never
o., haoom. Tho rrlo for honest mon Tbeir
r.rnny doo. not mako vorr richt Sir
nevor becomes virtua nv beiny mnltinlied
ana odrn;ttod az hrolers, hoard mr. ner.
chont., oxcbar,e Recsuse others smuo.
Gle a few things in messenger trunks. be.
corco otbars t,ke rsrrv whom NOV arc
In ti,,b+ nl,cee hecorse otbers doaI in
fancy stocks hecause others nalm of,
worthless Inducements hecause othors
do nothing but blov bubbles do NOT
therefore he overcome of termination
Hollow, nretentions md fctitious credi,
and comm,rcial gambling NAV awhile
nrosner hnt tho da1 NJ RECKONING cometb
md in addition r. tho horror and con.
demn,tion of OUTRAGED conuunitie. the
curse Of Cod will come. blow after blow
Gods law forever and forever Is tho only
standard Of right and wrong and no,
commercial ethics.
YOUNG husin.ss man avoid Oh. Gre
business dishonor, and you will avoid al
the rest. The captain of vessel wa
walking near the mouth Of river wher
the tide was low. and there was long
stout anchor chain, into one of the grea
links Of which his foot slipped, and it be
gan to swell, and he could not withdraw
it. The tide began TO rise. The chair
could not be loosened nor filed off in time
ana surgeon was called to amputate thu
iihD' put betore the work could De don'