The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-09
WARY BAReAlNERS OF CHINA.
ENTS ~ A CONTEST or INTEL
LECT.

The Keenest Wins the Prise-Both
Try TO Cheat and Sometimes Both
Get Chcnted-some Chinese Com
mercinI Trick.-Foreigners Are
Regarded ~ Easy Prey-The Re
markablc Dialogue between the
British Minister and the Too Ac-
auisItiVe silVersmith-Fair Prices
for Prayers.
Washington. Dec. The Chinese are
What may be termed natural traders An
English or American merchant studies
the cost OF his merchandnsc. It's quality
the conditions O. the market " ner
The supply 10 IN the excess OF the dem mi
or the reverse. and from this fixes his
price accordingly. The Chinese trader
studies all these points with equal care
hut he also studies each customer in
dividually. lie looks him over from head
to foot. makes hasty. bur generally
accurate estimate as 10 his gulnblty.
his closeness or generous hand In max
/ ing a bargain. his knowledge or ignorance
Of the market. and only whom he has
completed his studies on these ponte
does he name his price Thus II is that
the price Of an article in China always
depends more or less upon the person who
goes 70 make che purchase.
An illustration OF the fact that the
would be given by an examination Of
the prices paid by foreigners Ia Pekin
[ for such common articles as beet ana
mutton. II would be found that every
/ foreigner pays more Tor Pougt Of
meat than any OF his Chinese ncighbors.
and that no two pay exactly the sans
I price. or. II any two did pay ia same
that they ala cot get the same number
OF ounces 90 the pound The SOLITARY
barber In Pekin who understands dress
I Ing the hair IN the European style charges
an ambassador two shillings secretary
Of legation one shilling and an ordinary
foreigner sixpence Water-carries grade
their monthly bills IN the same way
Battle of Brains over Prices.
a bargain IN China no matter how
trivial the subject may be. is really an
Intellectual duel What eloquence. what
vlgor Of expression and freedom o.
gesture the writer has seen expended
over the price 81 two pounds OF cabbage.
or a couple Of cold boiled potatoes. que
tations from the classics. impassioned
appeals 10 bystanders. arguments based
I on Justice and reason. and irreverent
illusions 20 the ancestors OF she other
man, all these come la = ay over che pay
ment Of 1--WE certs or less. Bach party
10 the transaction Is seeking 10 cheat
the other. and frequently each Is sue
/ cessful, the buyer paying less than he
ought, and the seller cheating him 60
the weight or measure.
Ny first experience IN this sort o. elo-
quence was in purchasing, Tor s65. q
pair Of porcelain vases Tor which. az the
( outset OF the two hours Of very amusing
struggle the dealer demanded $3.50
which was net cost have often be-
trapped into the purcase OF articles whicf
did not want Ia the following manncf
A dealer In "curSs" they are calico
ola procelains. coins. bronzes. etc
would come aud offer some object e.
sale. making little speech abous 50
rarity beautiful form and color. and clos
by saying that the price was only s
Not wishing the article At any price. }
would say:
TN give you a quarter Of a dollar"
"oh. look AZ 81. See how fine Il is
says the Merchant
Cant. I'm busy: don't want Co.
say
sell Il 70 you very much. Give me three
dollars"
NO Go away"
AN right. 10 is yours for a quarter
The prices Tor cabs Chinese cartsl In
Pekin Is very generally fixed az Y cents
an hour. Yet one can never be engaged,
n the price IL discussed IN advance.
without az least hnlf an hours argument.
n one IL taken without previous arrange
ment as 20 price. md At the conclusion
cf the service the proper fare be offered
tho driver he will invar'hy demand
more II this Is refused. the driver Will
gem rally so quietly away. But n through
ignorance or mistaken generosity larger