Year: 1878

Terms cash." repeated Philip Markham,
in a half contemptuous tone as he read the
above words placed in conspicuous posi-
ton in a new grocery sotre recently opened
in Aourishing town of which he was resi-
dent Terms cash; that will not bring
them many customers, reckon, that is II
they are al of my way of thinking. | am
too fond of having the present use of my
money. But l suppose that notice is only
meant as a bug-bear to frighten away a GER
tain class OF undesirable purchasers; no
doubt they would be glad to let me have
any amount of goods on six months credit"


IL think not" replied the friend to whom
these remarks were addressed. II am well
acquainted with the partners in the concern,
and know them to be strongly opposed to
the credit system. They are resolved TO do
a cash business"


s.It will not succeed" was the confident
reply. "They are attempting an impossible
ity. Opposed to the credit system. Why,
my good friend, let them stop that and they
strike the death blow to the best interests of
society. All the brilliant speculations of
these modern days would be at an end. Our
mechanics would no longer be set OF enter
prising and energetic men, but would
dwjpdle into petty and Insignificant trades
men, counting their pennies and half pen
nies with scrupulous care, and well satisfied
with the six penny profits OF the day"


Your picture is oyerdrawn, Markham.
You take but one side view OF matters and
things. 1 will not deny that in the present
state OF the world there are great advantages
resulting from the credit system, and /, as
well as others, avail myself of them; but,
nevertheless my eyes are opened to the
numberless evils which are the result of this
mode of doing business. You will not deny
that warfare and contention, hard times and
its long train of attendant woes would in a
great measure be ooviated. were all men to
adhere to those two little words strictly that
have given rise to your displeasure"


II am not so sure of that replied Mark
ham. Some classes of society might fare
better. but others would have cause toregret
the change. There are lawyers for instance;
you would take the very bread from their
mouths


ssThey must seek some other way OF earn
ing their bread then The fact that their
services are now so constantly required is
not very strong argument in favor OF your
position"


I'VE will not dispute the matter" was the
somewhat impatient reply. Neither you
nor I Will ever live to see the credit system
abandoned. and we may well, therefore,
use it to cur own advantage. To my mind
it is as absurd for man to post up that sign
in his newly opened store as lt would be for
the landlord of a hotel to appropriate one
room for the accommodation of passengers
for balloons. 1t is altogether in advance of
the age. The time has not yet Gomez


Small beginnings, Markham, are said to
make great endIngs. In every change some
one must lead the way. But, as you say, we
will not dispute the matter. Indeed / my
self am not prepared to suggest a remedy for
the existing evils, which l feel are the in
evitable result of the present way of doing
business but my own experience has taught
me that the old saying, "Out of debt, out of
danger" is no less true now than formerly,
and on a small scale l am resolved to act
upon il"


and my own experience has taught me
to keep my money in my hand as long as
possible" was the reply. THE longer the
credit given. the better for my interests. The
ten dollar bill which l owe to-day may, if
retained a few months, become q hundred
and then while my creditor is equally salts
fed, my own pocket is vastly benefited"


But il the ten dollar bill should slip from
your grasp, where would you be then?" was
the laughing rejoinder, as the friends parted
for the morning.


'sWhere should / be, indeed?" repeated
Markham to himself, as he proceeded toward
his place of business. There is some truth
in that last remark. The fact is my affairs
are in rather a peculiar position at this time.
III my expectations are realized this will be
profitable year for me, but il should be
disappointed, il will be hard to meet my
engagements. / must husband my resources
with the greatest care, until the result OF my
speculations are known"


At the door of his Office an unwelcome
face presented itself. A laboring man who
had for some months been employed by him
as porter and in various other capacities,
and waiting his arrival with a meaning in
his face that was but too well understood.


"Good morning to your honor. / am after
waiting for We an hour or more. Will it be
convenient TO settle our little account, If ye
pleeseg'


Money is as tight as drum, my good fell
low. It will be impossible for me to let you
have anything to day. Did | not give you
an order on my grocer a few days ago? Sure
ly that is sufficient for the present"


"B1t it is ready money that is wanting,
yer honor Credit is but poor thing for
poor folks; for do we not have to pay more
S,r every article we buy than If the cash was
sn our hand? A dollar to-day Is worth more
than two dollars some months hence"


The fellow is in the right" thought the
employer, land for that very reason | must
keep the dollar. The money due him is in
my pocket, to be sure, but there are more
advantageous ways of using it than to pay
him the amount he demands Call again
next week, Patrick, and will see what can
do for you" he continued


''It is always call again." muttered the
disappointed men, as he took leave. In
troth an wish the rich could change places
with the poor for the space Of day. Would