The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-11
Not Alwaps Damaged.

'It does not follow" said the buyer for
one of the sections OF one OF Washing
toms big department stores. that goods
which are known to the public and to the
trade. and especially to lady shoppers as
seconds are damaged goods.
Goods of all classes are known to the
trade under three great subdivisions-the
absolutely perfect. the seconds and the
short ends-and their importance and
value are regulated accordingly.
THE manufacturers or goods of all de-
scriplons, from locomotive to spool
of thread, do not try TO dispose of their
products as perfect unless they really are
such. however light the consciences OF
some retail dealers may be on this point
Woolens and cottons at the mills and all
goods sold by the yard and down TO bi-
cycle tires are carefully inspected for
flaws and defects OF the minutest descrip-
ton. Such as are not up TO the stan
dard OF merit placed thereon by the house
turning them out are laid aside by tho
experts and classed as seconds. These
are disposed of to the trade under this
name and at a greatly reduced price as
compared with the perfectly made ar
ticle.
''For instance. let us take. the case of
mems collars, and especially the high
they are examined for defects. the most
prominent of which is slight break in
the linen on top in front where they
button. 1t may be scarcely perceptible,
but IL is enough to cause it to be thrown
aside. and the name of the maker Is not
stamped thereon, as would be the case
4 II were perfect .,,y Hery , orten m one teepa oa
is a little scratch in the linen on the
outer side. Some firms sell thousands OF
dozens OF these collars a year at a very
low price. while some Of the defects are
not perceptible to the eye OF the pur-
chaser. who buys the goods at retail at
less than half the cost of the perfect ar
ticle. The same Is true with bicycle
tires, the makers cutting their names on
the rubber. Dealers are careful not to
have their names go on seconds, as the
public would Judge their perfect articles
by the imperfect, relying upon the name
OF the manufacturer TO buy perfect
article.
or a loose pin or a few dfGps Of oil from
the loom will make half a dozen or more
yards imperfect. yet salable as short ends.
These are cut of from the bolt and sold
cheap to dealers who make specially
OF handling such goods. Some mills viii
have at the end OF the season thousands
OF these short ends. The retail buyers
and jobbers secure them at low prices,
the public very often supposing that they
are getting bargains" I'm the perfect
goods at less than known market rates.
Usually they receive full value for their
'The loss 10 the manufacturers and
the mills from seconds and short ends
makes big hole I'm the profits at the
end of the season. and this loss is taken
into consideration I'm the wholesale price
asked for tho perfect goods. In some
mills they have a system OF making the
operatives pay for any difference In the
damaged goods where the loss may be
traced 10 their personal fault and not
that OF the machine. This system makes
rally affects their wages. II n manu-
facturcr attempted 10 put on the market
seconds for perfect goods the retail deal
crs would not buy from him. and the pub
lie would likewise withdraw Its patron
age e"--Washington Star