New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
LOSSES BY WORK OF PETTY PlLfEkEho.
EVERY DEALER HIS no SUFFER = MEN WHO MAhH
pEcy71 4R BUSINESS OF TAKING LITTLE THINGS.

other chap | worked with him for years ne
was hard on supplies He used more pens
more stamps, holders. pencils. stationery, etc.
than any three other men in the office together'
At last he got through and he started little
store over in Jersey. | dropped into his place
one day and in the course of his remarks ne
told me that he had taken enough stuff from
the office to stock up several articles TOT
wears TO come! why, man alive. / said, That
was rank stealing <Oh. no.. the scoundrel
said with consummate gall. Il never took more
than a dozen pens "A few holders pencils at
a time But little things pile up l was
amazed at this fine distinction as to where
stealing began. And he member of the
Church too"
The group of listeners had increased, and
wholesale grocer stuck in. Don't leave out the
Christmas present CRATER" he said. About
a week before Christmas regular and irregular
visitors come to see me. Merry Christmas MI
Scales they say. Hope you'll be even more
prosperous next year than you've been this, but
your prosperity for this year would suit me-
That is a touch. II don't come up they ask
plump and plain for something to remember me
by Once Memo who was gem among them
asked for a gift. l was tired OF him, so
said: Can't give you anything. but that pack
ing case and 1 pointed to big one at the de-
livery door. He thanked me, went out and ne
filed in a lot of smaller cases, boards etc, and
then had it sent over to his place by one Of my
teams. He said he was building a henhouse
and II was just what he wanted
Yes and there is chap that comes from
color house" remarked hardware man..
About the middle of November he came into
my place and after he had finished his business
he told me that he didn't expect he could get
around at Christmas. and would L give him
something then? l was foored. and he picked
up a gun metal inkwell handling and
said that was just the thing. I'm rather good
at standing surprises. but stood back like the
new boy at school, and he got away with the
prize"
But you fellows don't get it half as hard as
1 do" said a notion dealer II handle thou
sands of articles where you handle They
are usually small. and SO visitors seem to
think it pleases me to have few taken off
my hands. They ask for the defective ones, but
their good nature does not stop there; they will
take perfect article any time l don't care to
call them thieves, but they make you an I'M
willing contributor"
We'll" remarked a provision dealer, II have
a very respectable scavenger. who comes from
a house that supplies with imported articles.
He is a 'sticker'. and this year, joke, pre-
scented him with fine drumhead cabbage worth
Il cents. 1t was a monster. and L expected he
would be indignant Was he? I rather think
he wasn't. He entered into the spirit of the
joke and surrounded the cabbage with celery.
turnips, apples, sweet Car'linas. murphys, cram
berries carrots and then. to make good weight.
he threw In two artichokes that cost me eight
cents apiece I never saw a fellow enjoy a
joke more than he did or less than 1 did. He
had over 50 worth of truck before he stopped"
But why" asked the questioner, do you
not stop it?"
Opinions varied. Some, said it was too long
established; others said those who guilty
worked under cover of their house and IL was
too much to complain of them. All agreed,
however that if the habit of sampling could be
stopped and if>the petty CRATER could be
carried beyond Sandy Hook and gently but
firmly dropped overheard. ii would mean a saw
ing of hundreds of dollars a week to each OF
thousands of merchants in this and other cities