Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-12
The Fakir and the Farmer.

The farmer. because of the nature of
his work. is not always very well in
formed in regard to the business
world: hence he is an especial mark
for sharks. fakirs and confidence men.
These fellows drive over the country
dressed up TO kill. and with winning
smile and eloquence profound. unfold
their scheme for lettering the poor
farmers condition. show short road
and surer way to success than an in
vestment in government bonds. All IL
will cost the farmer is few dollars
a very small trifle compared with the
rich reward sure to come.
And the farmer bites at the tempting
bait Who among us has no patent
stock-waterer. feed cooker or fence
machine thrown back in some dark
corner of the barn where we seldom
look ourselves and avoid taking a
neighbor or friend? Who among us
has not purchased from some smooth
agent i machine that would do Won
dprs-allnost tend and raise crop
without assistance? Who has not pur-
chased poultry food. stock medicine
and health foods? Hut that day is
an occasional fakir growing fat off
the farmers. The fence man still is
not wholly extinct. and the papers still
chronicle the sWindlinE Of some man
by the liehtning-rod sharks. Only last
wear a fellow selling an egg producer
aid big business in our neighborhOod.
This spring there We're many of his
customers calling for more powders,
They declare that the results with
their poultry We're what the agent
claimed.
| happened to know just what the
stuff was and what il cost the agent.
The powder was sifted ashes. salt,
sulphur and q little bone meal. This
was done up in pound and two-pound
packages, selling at SOC. and 75c. re-
spectively. to be put in the feed of the
hens at the rate of three tablespoons
fuls per dozen hens three times a week.
The hghly-colored wrappings We're the
principle expense in putting up the
stuff-about Sc. AS he worked the
country in the spring of the year, OF
course the hens. in nine cases out of
ten. commenced laying within two or
three weeks. OF course the powders
not nature, got the credit for it.
Then there is the man selling the $50
or 500 bill of dry goods. He can show
you the figures to prove that you are
getting twice the worth of your money.
Should you buy, however, you would
never maintain aftcrward that figures
would not lie. The grOceryman is not
50 bad, although he will bear watch
ing.
Probably one of the greatest fields
for swindlers is in the nursery line.
Every season there are new men COM
ing around representing some famous
institution the farmer never heard of
before. He is only introducing his
stock The nursery is working the
territory with a view to future profits.
They could not afford to deal dishon-
estly with their customers. Honest
dealing is the best of advertising. So
says the agent. The agent shows a
lot of highly -colored plates. and per-
haps some jars of preserved fruit of
unusual size. He gets the order for a
bill of trees. When they are delivered
you find that they are far from what
was represented to you. And in later
years you will probably find that they
are not true to name, either. AS the
man had no intention of ever appear
ing in the country again, he filled the
orders with the cheapest trees he could
find regardless of quality or species.
There are exceptions to ali rules; but
the safe one to follow in dealing with
these fellows is Punch's laconic advice
TO those about to wed-"Don't'' In
vestigation will nearly always prove
that the home merchants will do as
we'll by YOU as the agent. and if they
will not. there are mail-order houses
that will do better. PatroniZe the
home dealers whenever you can. Thi:
is especially true in regard to nursery
stock PatroniZe an honest dealer sc
long as it is to your advantage. but if
il is necessary to deal with other firms
do so direct by correspondence rather
than through an agent.-The Country
Gentleman.