The Washington herald., 1914-12-20

Three rules for Christmas buying-and
buying at other seasons, by the wtay-are
outlined for housekeepers by John H.
Sherman, Superintendent Of Weights,
Measures, and Markets. They are:
]. Be proud of your job. 2 Buy as
nearly as possible from the producer
5. Shop, don't just buy"
"A person cannot be made economical
or efficient in buying unless he wants to
be- said Mr. Sherman. My rules are
these:
First, be proud of your job as house
keeper, and provider for the family. You
have the most important and complicated
of all duties to perform. Did you ever no.
tice how little a man employed in Dig
business establishment, or a government
clerk really knows about any other work
besides his own little job? Inquire OF a
sales manager and fnd out how little ne
knows about the manufacturing depart
ments. INQUIRE Of me, as market superin-
tendent, and see how little know about
the Health Department, but go into a
home and inquire into what the woman
of the house is doing.
You will find that she is health off,
Ger, purchasing officer, disbursing clerk,
storekeeper, manufacturing superintend-
ent, superintendent OF education, chief Of
police and truant officer-an in one.
She should BE Boss.
in fact, there probably is no job in
the complicated city machinery which is
not duplicated in the work of the average
mother as housekesper in the home. This
work cannot be done unless there is pride
in doing it. l am one OF those who be-
hat hn hnnEpkaaanF iS
important person in the house, and should
be actually the boss OF the house and
ought to be in the fullest measure an
equal partner in the family interests.
Second, when you start out to buy
your food, or anything else, buy as nearly
as you can from the fellow who originally
produced the goods. This is not because
you object to buying from any one else,
but because in the long run the fewer
people that have been handling the goods
before you get them land each under the
necessity of meeting the normal expense
of going business), the lower the price
which will be quoted TO you. Notice
say will be quoted to you, for most SELL
ers are out to get as high a price as they
can. 1t is natural and right that they
should, and often the farmer who raised
the goods is able to get just as high a
price as the dealer himself. But as a gen.
eral rule when prices are close and
plenty Of goods are on the market. the
farmer will be able to quote a little bet
ter price than can anybody else.
Cash Basis Best.
Third. when buying. shop. Don't get
into hard and fast habits OF buying in
certain places. The man who can give
the best bargain today may not be able
TO give you the best bargain tomorrow.
This is because his supply fiuctuates both
in quality and price II you go to him
tomorrow out of habit without inquiring
elsewhere and take what he gives you,
you will not get so good a bargain. This
is not because he is taking advantage of
you. He is probably doing tomorrow the
best he can for you. and he falls short
simply because he is unable to give you
such a good bargain. This is not his
fault, and is no reflection on him that
good as on other days But you owe 1t
TO yourself to go where you can get the
best values for your money.
You may find out after shopping
around that you get the best bargains in
other places, and you may do most of
YOUR purchasing at one place, but il so
you must do it because you have found
out il absolutely is the best place for you
and not by force Of habit
This means pay cash. You have no
right to take credit OF a dealer unless
you are willing to give him your regular
trade in return. Besides this YOU should
pay cash for other reasons. People who
run accounts must pay for those who fail
to pay their bills. A grocer came TO me
the other day and said that bad debts
owed him during the past ten years
amounted to $4,000. and yet he was not
doing a big business"