Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-07-29
TRICkERY IN TRADE.
REV. DR.. TALMAGE CONTRASTS 1T
WITH FAIR DEALING.
Condemns Busincss Progresses by
which values A=c TisrcpFcsented.
MaRs al oar Mere. nt> Are Models
80 Integrity.

which values Arc Tisreprcsented
80 Integrity.
copyright. LOU. Z -as,.i ISal
WASHINGTON. July -. Integrity and
irickery in cuisines, life form tn" sub
Jcct 81 DIR. TalmaEc's Sermon today. and
the contrast he establishes between the
two l. a striking one. The text is Prov
cribs w. IL. 1T i naught. II Is naught.
said the buyer. but when he Is gone his
way. then he boastrih
Palaces are not such prisons as the
world imagines II you think that the
only time kings ana queens come forth
from the royal gates Is IA procession and
gorgeously attended. you are mistaken.
lncoguita. 10y day or 10y night and cloth
81 In citizens apparel or the dress ~ n
working woman. they come ont AMI see
the world ns il is. In NO other way
Iould King solomon. the author Of my
text. have known everything that was
going on. From my text ! am sure he
must In disguise some day have walked
into a store Of ready made clothing in
Jerusalem and stood near the counter
and heard conversation between a buy
ar aud seller. The merchant put n
price gu n coat. and the customer began
To- dicker and said: Absurd, That coat
Is not worth what you ask for H. Why.
just look al the coarsenesS 81 the fabric.
Sec that spot on the collar. Besides
that. IL does not III. Twenty dollars for
that Why. IL Is not worth more than
$40. They have better article than
that and for lower price down at Cloth
en-. Fitem \ Bros Besides that. ! don't
want il az any price. Good morning. ="
Hold. says the merchant. do not 20
on IN that way. ! want Ia sell you that
coat. have some payments 10 make
and ] want the money. Come now. how
much will you give for that coat -
We'll. says the customer. II will split
the difference. You asked $50 and
said $40. Now. ] viii give you SIS"
VEL gail tho merchant Ill j. great
sacrifice. but take 1t at that price"
Then the customer with n roll under
his arm started 10 10 out and enter his
own place of business. and solomon in
disguise followed him. lie heard the
customer as he unrolled the coat say:
Boys. ] have made great bargain.
How much DO you guess ! gave for that
coatT' Well" says one wishing Ia
compliment his enterprise. won gave S30
for IL" Another says. Il should think
you got il cheap II you gave So. mo. .
says the buyer in triumph. II got IL for
So. | beat him down aud pointed out
the imperfcctions until really made him
believe IL was not worth hardly anything.
IL takes me to make bargain. Ha
Is. . man, you got the goods for less
than they were worth by positive false
hood. and no wonder. when solomon
went back TO his palace aud had put of
his disguise. that he sat down nj his
writing desk and made for all ages a
crayon sketch Of you. 1T is nanght. il is
naught. saith the buyer. but rnen he is
gone his way. then he boasterh."
word as Good ns Bond.
There are no higher styles Of men in
all the world than those now nj the head
Of mercantil enterprises in the great
cities of this continent. Their casual
promise is as good as a bond with piles
Of collaterals Their good reputation for
integrity is rs well established as that
Of Pctrarch residing in the family OF
Colonna. IL 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 M
10 swear. the cardinal put away his book
and said. AS for you. Petrarch, youI
word is sufficient" Never since the
world stood have there been SO many
merchants whose transactions can stand
the test OF the Ten Commandments. Sucl
bargain makers are all the more Ia b.
honored because they have withstood
year afaer year temptations which hav,
Hung 50 many Hat and flung them :,
hard they can never. never recover them
selves. While all positions in life hav,
powerful bcsetmcnts 10 evil. there ar,
specific forms of alluremcnt which ar,
peculiar Co each occupation and profes
sion. and il will be- useful 10 speak 81
the peculiar temptations OF cuisines:
men.
First. as in the scene Of the text. bust
ness men are often tempted Ia sacrific,
plain truth. the seller 10y cxaggerating
the value 81 goods and the buyer 10y de
preciating them. We cannot hut admir-,
an expert salesman. See how he first in
duccs the customer into n mood favorahl.
To- the proper consideration Of the valu,
Of the goods lie shows himself To- be- ar
honest and frank salesman. How care
fully the lights are arranged till they fal
just right upon the fabric, Bcginnin.
with goods Of medium quality. he gradu
ally advances toward those Of more thor
ough make and of more attractive pat
tern. How he watches the moods an,
whims Of his customer, With what per
feet calmness he takes the order am
bows the purchaser from his presence
who goes away having made up his min,
that he has bought the goods nj n pric,
which viii allow him n living margin
: whom he nraiD sells sh~rn, The soods
were and WIRE sold nj 4 price which will
not make il necessary for the house to
fail every ten years in order 10 fix IN
things
Practices Condemned
But with what burning Indignation we
think Of the iniquiious stratagens by
which goods are sometimes disposed Of
A glance AT the morning papers shows
the arrival at one of orr hotels 81 a young
merchant from one Of the inland cities.
Tie is n comparative stranger in the great
city. and Of course he must he shown
around. and il will be- the duty Of some ~
our enterprising houses 10 escort him.
He is large purchaser and has plenty
IF time and money. aud il will pay To be
very attentive. The evening is spent al
a place Of doubtful amusement Then
they 20 back 10 the hotel. Having lust
come to town. they must. Of course. drink.
4 friend from the same mercantile es-
adjustment drops in. and usage and
generosity suggest thai they must drink
business prospects are talked over. and
the stranger is warned against certain
dilapidatcd mercantile establishments
that are about to fail. and for such kind
ness and magnanimify Of caution against
the dishonesty Of other business houses.
~ course IL is expected they will 81
they do-iake a drink. Other merchants
lodging in adjoining rooms find il hard
60 sleep for the CHATTER Of dccanters. aud
the coarse carousal If these hail fellows
well met" WAKES louder. But they sit
not all night at the wine cup. They