Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-04
HE PROBLEM OF THE Law.
ENDER BLOSSOMS
tCopyright)


TIME one delightful thing about work.
L ing for Bruno Duke is the never
ending variety of interesting problems.
Some are fascinating because of the re-
markable results obtained through few
simple changes, as was the case in the
problem of the returned furniture.
Some are exciting and even danger
Gus, like the Problem of the Smuggled
Jewels"
Others provide entertainment and sat
lsfaction, as did the Problem of the
Empty Mansion"
Some are simple but valuable because
of the lesson they teach In getting down
to fundamentals. The Problem of the
Lavender Blossoms" belongs to this
category.
One or two problems are remarkable
for their ever-presence-and the Prob
lem of the Red-Headed Girl" Is such
a one for--but I'll tell of that later
THE Problem of the Lavender Bios
SONS" was this
A Philadelphia druggist bought n tre-
mendous lot of lavender some few years
ago. 1t was cheap" and bargain.
but like many such low w-priced, tempting
offers, it proved to be a liability rather
than an asset, for it would not SELL
In discussing it Bruno Duke said to
me:
"If a thing is a Job and cheap the
general reason is because 1t is unstable.
| " the jobber or maker has almost given
1t away, the retailer will have even
more difficulty In disposing of 1t, be-
cause his market is much less prescribed
than the makers. If retail merchants
| would first consider the STABILITY OF a
thing and then the price, they would
save themselves from being loaded with
much dead stock.
And even the STABILITY of the thing
must be considered in relation to the
class of trade they want to reach"
Just what do you mean by THAR
inquired somewhat puzzled.
"I'n illustrate-suppose l had very
high grade exclusive dry goods store ap
pealing to the wealthy and to societ!
folks. Now, suppose salesman oHere.
me a line of tub print dresses to retai
at S119. These dresses would be excei
lent value and big seller-put not ''
the class of trade I cater to. Therefore
~ bought those dresses I would hav'
the right goods, but in the wrong store.
l have often gained a valuable busi
ness knowledge such as this from thes
"side discussions" as 1t were, of Brun'
Dukes.
Now our Philadelphia druggist frlen.
has made that error" he continued
"He bought the goods at low price
but he bought more than his norma
patronage could use in fifty years. an
in consequence he has tied up In laven
der all that money which should be use
in buying goods that will sell readil
and thus keep that capital active. 1t
lust as Important to keep your none
working hard and to a schedule as
is to see that your help does the wor
planned for them.'
While talking he had been fixing
new L string on his violin. He nov
laid II down and came through to Tn
living room where l was working o
some reports.
Seating himself in his big leathe
| chair, he lit his hookah and said:
"Of course, Peter. you have som
ideas on the best way to dispose OF Una
lavender"
..Tve some general ideas, of course
| I replied, but I'm afraid they are TO
| expensive ,,, ,,s, wos
TO look over the ground ana 10 get III
facts. What are they?"
| Every few, so far as we are cor
cerned," began. This druggist has
| little hit of a two-window store. II
store Is not at all up-to-date. He sti
has the pharmaceuticals at the rear
| the counter. He has an old soda foui
/ tain. The showcases on top OF II
| counters are used for storing good
| rather than displaying them. He sci
| magazines, and one window has nothir
| In 1t but a score or SO weeklies ar
monthlies laid fiat on the floor or u
! window-such a dead-looking anair'"