Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-09

| become liable 10 these so numerous and.
to many more. bad names?"
" "
Cicero then tells how Pythius put
one over" on Caius Canius, a Roman
| knight, the sucker" Of the deal. Evil
IDENTIFY there was no code of ethics"
among realtors in those days. Cicero
says:
But IL those who keep silence de-
serve Censure, what Is to be thought Of
those who employ absolute falsehood?
"Caius CaniuS. Roman knight, q
man not without wit and of respectable
| literary culture, having gone to syria =
c'1se for rest, as he used to say. not
for business. wanted to buy a small
| estate. to which he could invite his
friends and where he could take his
| own pleasure without intruders.
when his wish had become general
ly known, certain Pythius. who was
doing bankers business at Syracuse,
told him that he had country-seat,
not. indeed, for sale, but which CaniuS
was at liberty to use as his own II he
he invited the man to supper at the
country-scat for the next day
'He having accepted the invitation,
Pythius who. as being a banker. was
popular among all classes. called the
fishermen together. asked them to fish
the next day In front OF his villa and
told them what he wanted them TO do.
"Canius came to supper at the right
time. a magnificent entertainment was
prepared by Pythius; multitude Of
| little boats was in sight: every fisher
man brought what he had taken: the
| fish we're laid down at the feet OF
Pythius.
Then Canius says, 'Prithee. what
does this mean? So many fish here?
So many boats?'
And he answered. What wonder?
| All the fish for the Syracuse market
are here; they come here to be In fresh
water. The fishermen cannot dispense
| with this villa
"Can,us infiamed with longing, begs
pythus to sell the place. He hest
tates at first To cut the story short.
Canius overpersuades him. The greedy
and rich man buys the villa for as
high a price as Pythius chooses to ask
and buys the furniture. too. He gives
security: he finishes the business.
"Canius the next day invites his
friends He comes early: he sees not
a thole-pin He asks his next neighbor
whether 1t Is fishermen's holiday, as
he secs none OF them.
mot as far as I know was the re-
ply No fishermen are In the habit
OF fishing here. therefore yesterday
could not think what had occurred to
bring them
"Canius was cnraged. But what was
he to do? My colleague and friend
Auuillius. had not then published his
forms of legal procedure In the case OF
criminal fraud, as to which, when he
was asked for definition Of criminal
fraud. he replied. When one thing Is
pretended. another done.
This is perfectly clear. as might be
expected from a man skilled In de-
fning Pythius. then. and all who do
one thing while they pretend another
are treacherous. wicked. villainous. II
the definition OF Aquillius Is correct
pretense and concealment should b
entirely done away with. Thus a good
man will neither pretend nor conceal
ANYTHING for the sake OF buying OF
selling on better terms"
Here some 1000 years ago, was q
business ethics which men are shooting
at today-and often missing. Reason
Cicero said. flat-footedly. demands
that nothing be done ensnaripgly
nothing under false pretense. nothing
deceitfully
"Yet Is 1t not ensnaring TO spread
nets. even II you do not start and
hunt your victims?" he asks. For
beasts themselves often fall into nets
without being pursued. Is II not thus
| that you advertise house--put up q
notice of sale as a net sell the house
| on account Of its defects. and some
unwary person runs into the net?
There should b. an end OF chicanery
/ and of that cunning which means. In
deed TO pass for prudence. but is an
| entirely different thing and at the
| widest distance from 1t; for prudence
| has Its proper place In the choice be-
tween good and evil while cunning
, II whatever is immoral Is evil-prefers
Gull thipoS n uNod