The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-26
women
Are More Honest Declares A
Merchant

(Ellicotville, N. Y, Cor. N. Y. SUM
How many people would return a
dime that was given to them at store
in excess of their rightful change?
A merchant here interested in hu-
man honesty in small matters has just
carried out test, which shows these
results: That two thirds of, the per-
sons who notice the extra dime pocket
1t and walk away; that btween the
men and women a little over 30 per
cent Of the former are honest, while
the women are divided evenly. half and
half, and that 80 per cent of the per-
sons who set small change at a coun-
ter do not bother to count It.
This Ellicotville merchant struck up
on the dime as the coin which when
added to customers change would
excite the least suspicion. and at the
same time be Of enough value TO test
unconsciously his or her honesty. So
25 of these silver pieces were given
to the clerk to give to the first rs
customers getting back change.
The first person to buy. q woman,
gave bill Of large denomination. In
the considerable change she received
was the extra dime. She took her bun
die In one hand and, stnffing the
change into her pocketbook with the
other. hurriedly left the store.
A man came next, who laid down n
half dollar for ten-oent cigar. Five
dimes were his change. He counted
them surely enough, but seeing the
clerk engaged In other work, walked
away without further words.
These two customers had been
watched by the merchant himself. who
was not visible. Neither of the next
two customers was careful enough to
examine the change, and they went
away without knowing they were hon
estly dishonest.
The ffth, however, a woman, count
ed her change as carefully as though
she were often cheated. and perceiv-
ing the unexpected dime made her eA
1t quickly. 1t was only the sixth per
son, this time woman, who counted
the change and returned II.
OF the 25 customers tested only Ave
others besides this woman went back
to the clerk to tell him he hpismade a
mistake. OF this total of six. four were
men. Opposed to the six we're IL Gus
toners who knowingly walked off with
the extra dimes, nine of them men and
two Of them women. One started al
hrst to return his coin. but with a sec
ond thought arranged things with his
conscience and walked Off without tell
ign.
The character of the eight custom
ers who hustled away without glanc
ing at their change Interested the In
visible merchant. Three were young
men who wished to make an impress
sion of carelessness with money. -Four
were business men who were hOnestl,
in hurry. The eighth. a woman, was
evidently a thoughtless and careless
one.
The merchant was personally ac
quainted with each of his customers
All had regulations for integrity ant
honesty. He is convinced that had tn,
amount been larger cone would have
failed to return II.
Another example Of petty dishonest,
In another part Of the store was bein,
observed at the same time. A woman
about to buy candy saw that tn,
clerks attention was elsewhere. From
an open pile OF candy she put severa
pieces into a bag already weighed ou
from II. When her turn came to bu
she was careful to select her extr,
filled bag. for which she paid 10 cents