Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-19
LOVE OF SHAM AND HUMBUG.
A Defense of Tricks Common in Many
Trades.

Packers OF cherries select the largest
fruit and make a neat layer of It in the
bottom Of the box, relates the San Fran
cisco Bulletin. They then tumble smaller
cherries upon that layer and so fill up the
box. The box is then turned upside down
and the bottom layer becomes the top.
When exposed for sale on a fruit stand the
closely packed. symmetrical rows Of large,
handsome cherries are very attractive. But
1t costs the farmer about 10 cents to pack
a box in that way, and a box, so packed, is
sold for about 80 cents more at retail In
the city than a box which has been filled by
throwing the cherries into 1t haphazard.
Exactly the same quantity and quality Of
cherries are In each box. The only differ
ence between the box which costs so
cents and the box which costs 30 cents
is the arrangement of the top layer. Every
buyer Of cherries is aware that below the
symmetrical layer OF large cherries are
the smaller cherries. Nobody is deceived
by the packing. But the majority Of people
insist on buying the carefully packed box
for so cents, and they resent an attempt by
a fruiterer to sell them the 30-cent box,
although they know It is just as good.
This fact touches upon a curious trait
OF human nature. Social philosophers de-
plore the tricks of trade and rail against
the fraud and deceit which are the every
day sins Of commerce, but they do not
possess the salesman's knowledge OF men
and women. Social philosophers will not
recognize the truth that the public not only
likes to be humbugged, but insists on being
~humbugged, and will not patronize a dealer
who is too scrupulous to lie about his goods.
Even in cases when the humbuggery does
not deceive, as in the packing Of cherries,
the public requires the tradesman to pre-
tend. at least. to deceive II and is willing
TO pay a double price on account Of the pre-
tense.
Most wine dealers nnd Il necessary to
nave two or three different prices for the
same quality OF claret. A customer will
ask them for q sample OF good elaret, and
they will give him a glass Of excellent
wine. How much a gallon Is this ?" he will
inquire. Fifty cents" the statesmen will
reply. "oh, I must have something better"
the customer declares. II have a special
elaret here for rs cents says the dealer.
1t may be rather costly, but It is a marvel
Gus wine. Try this" and he gives the
customer a glass from the very san bottle.
The customer sips, rolls his eyes, smacks
his lips and pronounces the claret wouder-
ful and worth the difference in price. Send
me a barrel Of H." he orders. This may be
sharp dealing. but what can the tradesman
do? II he were frank with his customer
he would lose a sale and a less conscientious
rival down the street would get the CUSTOM
er's business.
All tradesmen know that the packing OF
goods has much 20 do with their sale. Hair
the price Of most articles is for the box or
the wrapper. A manufacturer who markets
good cigarettes in a plain packet for 10
cents Will not sell as many as the manu-
taeturer who packs the very same cigarettes
In a gorgeous and expensive box and charges
20 cents for IL. II buyers will have goods
done up In tissue paper, tin foil ana fine
pasteooard they must expect to pay for the
qualification of their taste. Modern manu-
faeturers in all the trades have been blamed
for making articles for sale rather than for
use, but what else can the manufacturer
aol II he makes substantial goods nobody