The Washington times., 1901-12-26
PROFESSIONAL sUBTLETIEs.
Tricks and Devices Resorfed to for
BOoming TrnIe.

The tricks of trade or to put It more
politely and couprehensively. perhaps,
professional subtleties. are manifold. and
rarely acknowledged by those who prac-
tice them most successfully. Readers o.
that immortal work, "Pickwick," will re-
call the ways and means resorted to by
those two lights Of the medical profess
sion. Messrs. Sawyer and Allen. for the
development Of their practice and the as
tonishment OF the unsophis,icated Mr.
winkle at the mysteries OF the art OF
medicine as unfolded to him by those gen.
tlemen.
The bottle which was left at half the
houses Of Bristol by mistake. the beauti-
full expedient of always leaving the medi-
cine at the wrong house, the paying of the
watchman for ringing the night bell upon
his rounds; the boys rushing into church
at the most impressive part OF the service
and summoning the two young practi-
TONERS. with dismay and CONSERVATION
upon his visage. these and other a-tfuI
advertising devices may all be classeG
under the general head OF professional
subtietics. and serve to explain the mean
ing OF the phrase.
Two Young men who started in the hotel
business some time ago out West. resort
ed to the following method for attracting
the notice Of a discerning public. Sew
eral hacks and furniture carts were hired
and all day and far into the night. the
ncighborhOod was startled by the evil
IDENTIFY constant stream Of guests who ar
rived with immense quantities Of luggage
at the new hostelry. Needless to say. as
IN the case of the Barmccide's feast, the
imaginary was soon supplemented by the
real.
Speaking OF professional subtleties in
connection with the hotel business recalls
proprietor Of fashionable establishment
in New York, whose apartments are very
expensively furnished. the carpet in the
dining room being worth fabulous sum
of money. The owner when he engages
walters, looks first at their feet and,
should these be large the applicant has
no show for the place. All the walters in
that hotel have remarkable small feet.
and they have not the conventional shuttle
OF walters. either, but step daintily-and
all because of the carpet.
An economical trade device OF a like
nature. but having also commercially
humane side Of II, is the treatment of the
great English dray horses. The men who
drive these splendid auimals-which are
such surprise to American visitors to
London and the large English towns-are
cautioned neither to use a whip nor ride
upon the van themselves upon pain of
immediate dismissal The men walk be-
side the horses, who are treated with
every possible care and attention. the
result being breed OF equines that is
absolutely unique.
The device resorted TO by the manu-
facturers OF famous backing for ad
vertising their wares when starting out in
business was notably clever \ number of
men were engaged to make tour of
the principal establishments for the sale
Of that kind OF goods in the British me
tropoIis asking for the then unknown
bIacking and stoutly refusing all other
kinds The result was an immense order.
for the commodity, and the founding
Of the fortunes OF the famous manuiac-
turcrs.