The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-07-26
HONESTY IN BUSINESS.

circumvent his brother in business
I Thes. iv, 6.
St. Paul's Epistles are full of sub
lime doctrines, heavenly concepts, di-
vine truth, and just as full of prac-
tical rules of conduct. Among the
latter that which my text enunciates
has daily applications. In fact, there
is no point upon which mems atten-
ton should be more frequently called
than that which regards their busi-
ness intercourse with their fellow
men, For in none do more offend. 1t
is of hourly occurrence that We take
advantage or try to take advantage OF
others in business transactions. We
may hesitate at murder and palpable
robbery, scruple at gossip and de-
famation of character, and hold up
hands of holy horror at the many acts
Of selfshness which We observe; but
there are seemingly no qualms of
conscience at the tricks which are
played to get the better of others
when a bargain is to be made, sale
to be effected or a bartering in a
commercial transaction. Honesty in
business seems to be lost virtue.
Notwithstanding the effort of t1g
public to buy articles at as low
price as they can, it is rare thing
for the purchaser to receive the worth
of his money. Even what one picks
up at "a bargain seldom equals the
price paid. Though We may be on our
guard against high prices and extor-
ton, We are never completely salts
fed that We have not after all been
cheated.
Builders who erect modest houses
Or more pretentious temples are
known to use unseasoned timber, or
inferior cement, or poor materials;
OhACSS O14O ID CfOL O11 IAS w Gull, hC
is sure that some cheap stuff will be
mixed with that which has been put
to the test and admitted as good. Con-
tractors will do their best to avoid
fulfilling their contracts to the let
ter and spirit. Hotel keepers charge
Is cents for an orange you could buy
from a dealer for 1-2 cents. Doc
tors and lawyers send in large bills
to those who seem able to pay be-
cause they lose a great deal from
others who will not pay. The shoes
one buys as good anG solid will soon
be found to have paper soles. Ma
terial with avowedly fast colors will
run as soon as it gets a chance. A
lot of rotten apples are purposely
mixed with a barrel whereof the top
layers are fine and attractive speci-
mems.
Trade is rotten and there seems to
be no honest, square and fair deal
ing. Banks lend you money at 6 per
cent. A book is purchased today for
in the bank you will get only 8 per
cent. A box is purchased today for a
dollar and tomorrow you can't obtain
twenty-five cents for it. A magnif-
cent side-board, which costs a hun
dred dollars when bought, will not
bring one-fourth of that when sold. A
poor woman has a lot of solid jewelry
and precious stones and gems; ad-
versity and poverty force her to Of
fer them for sale; what she receives
is mere pittance and in no way
equals their just value. Thus on all
sides advantage is taken of the broth
er's necessities, ignorance or guile
lessness. The aim of merchants and
contractors of every kind seems to
be to strike as shreWd a bargain as
they can without regard to honesty,
value and justice.
Tradesmen who have a conscience
and would abide by it and sell their
at only a just price are
apt to meet the scorn of their neigh
bors and open hostility and in the
end fail. They will be regarded as
was antonio by Shylock-hated "for
tat, in low simplicity, he lends out
money gratis and brings down the
rate Of usance here with US in Ven
ice."
Cheating in business does not seem
to be punishable Yet there is a high
law against it. The practice comes
under the condemnation of the COM
mandment which says, "Thou shalt |
not steal" If it beca crime to take |.
a dollar out of a mans pocket surrep-
it is also a crime to take !
the same or less from him in a busi-
ness transaction in which he is made