Middletown transcript., 1901-06-29
-NICATED.
ON EARLY CLOSING

EDITOR MIDDLETOWN 1RANSCRlP1,
DEAR SIR Having noticed in the col
umns Of your valuable paper several
articles in regard to early closing Of stores
in our town, beg space for few words
on this subject.
There seems to be two points OF view
taken on this subject We might term
them the humane and the dollar views.
A short time ago an article on this
subject appeared in one Of our town
papers which advocated what we may
term the dollar view. The argument
advanced against the early closing Of
stores was that it would not afford ample
time to the farmer in which to spend his
dollars. Now our town is situated in the
midst Of the finest agricultural sections to
be found in Delaware, and occupied by
progressive and up-to-date farmers. The
business Of our town depends very largely
upon the farmer and we could not very
well afford to establish any rule in regard
to the closing Of stores that would place
them at an inconvenience. The question
now arises, would the closing Of stores in
our town at $50 P. M, during the sum
mer months, put the farmer to an incon-
venience.
Now we cannot as matter of fact see
the same thing through the same pair Of
glasses, and have every respect for the
views Of the man who differs with me on
this question; but after having spent
eighteen years in business relations with
the farmer Of this community, my exper-
fence and observation teach me that
ninety per cent. Of the business done in
the stores Of our town with the farmer, is
done before $50 p NJ, during the sum
mer months. The summer evenings are
short, and as rule the farmer prefers to
spend them under his own vine and
] fig tree.
Now the Delaware farmer is the best
man in the world to adapt himself to
conditions, and if ninety per cent. Of
them find ample time to do their trading
before $50 P. NJ, am quite sure that
the remaining ten per cent. would kindly
adapt themselves to the $50 closing. So
much for the dollar view Of the question.
Now for the humane view. Ten hours
is considered a days work for all me
chanical laborers. The merchant puts
in sixteen hours, five days in the week,
and on Saturday nineteen hours, making
ninety-nine hours every week against
sixty hours which the mechanic serves.
This fact alone among humanitarians
should carry a unanimous vote in favor Of
early closing. Because Of the fact that it
has always been the, custom to serve SO
many hours in the stores, does not make
it right, and reform along this line is
greatly to be desired.
I heard a business man Of our town
advance the argument that it was neces-
sary that the merchants work more hours
than the mechanic, in order that the
mechanic be given an opportunity to
have his needs supplied. This man hap
pened to be barber, and admit that
in bis case this is true; for the mechanic
cannot before be goes to his work in the
morning leave an order for ready-made
shave or hair cut to be delivered at his
house during the day. However, we are
not talking for the barber, we fully real
ize that he is able to do his own. His
reputation is worldwide on that score.
But let us return to the subject, and for
the sake Of humanity, if for no other
reason, let us have $50 P. M. closing Of
the stores during the heated term.
am yours most respectfully,
One OF THEM.