Year: 1876

Ih0 Result OF AOVerC1SluS.


CHAPTER I.


Anything over. Ben?'


Not dollar; just paid the Journals
bill for advertising, which has pretty much
cleaned me out


How much p


Forty two dollars and twenty five cents


Ben, | don't like to tell you that you
are the biggest tool on the street but you
are


Wait, Joe, and see, returned the other,
with a confident smile.


'Forty-two dollars for advertisingn


Just so, and for three months advertis-
ing


The applicant for anything over gave
a peculiar whistle to define the length,
breadth and depth of his astonishment.


This conversation occurred in the store
of Benjamin Weston, young and enter
prising merchant. who had just commenc-
ed business on his own account. The other
person, who to use his own classic express
sion, was bang up and wanted $50 to
make up the amount OF note due that
day, was Joseph Weston, cousin of the
other They had been playmates in youth
and staunch friends in maturity. Though
there was 4 great diversity OF opinion on
many topics, a great sympathy existed be-
tween them.


They had commenced business about the
same time, and under nearly the same cir
cumstances. both being obliged for the
want of sufficient capital to mortgage the
stock of their respective stores.


Thus far they had done well, and the
prospect was that both would become
wealthy and distinguished merchants.


They had married sisters and occupied
tenements in the same block. Their
houses were furnished in substantially the
same style, and no material difference OF
expenditure. Both had been brought up
to business habits, and educated into the
principles of rigid economy.


'Forty-two dollars for advertising re-
peated Joe.


And if had money to spare. would
spend double that sum, replied Benjamin.


What benefit do you expect to realize
from it?'


You are behind the times, Joe. Bene-
fit? What question: expect to make
my fortune by it,


'Humbugn


Look at Brandeth and Swain


Both humbugs.'


No matter tor that if these fellows
have been able to make princely fortunes
by advertising humbugs, how much more
so will he who deals in substantial real
itiesn


All gammonn


we differ; time will tell who is in the
right


seriously, Ben, you will ruin yourself
if you keep on in this manner Forty
two dollars a quarter for advertising"


Il shall spend a hundred the next quar-
ter


Don't do it, Ben


How does it happen, Joe, that you are
in the street borrowing money. l never
did such thing since | commenced busi
ness


How does it happen, Ben, that you
haven't any money to lend" asked Joe,
with smile.


Because | have spent it all in advertis-
ing


Better have spent it for operas and
. :4O's.


wait, Joe, wait


i spent nothing for advertising but |
will bet you the oysters my sales are as
large as yours for the last quarter


i will take you up on the next quarter


why not on the last?


advertising is something like planting
potatoes; you must wait tor the crops


Don't believe it, Ben. When l have a
fifty spot that | don't know what to do
with, shall put it into my family. Buy
a library, new sofa, or something of that
sort. l should rather 60 to the White
Mountains with it than throw it away
upon the newspapers


You do not know your own interest,
joe


Don't l? Some kinds of business
might thrive on advertising; but ours.
never Do you believe the women look
in the newspapers before they go shop
ping"


We'll there was a lady in here now,
who said she saw such and such goods
advertised by me-


'Pshaw! and on the strength of that
you intend to spend $50 more in advertis-
ing? Ben, you are crazy and Joseph
Weston turned on his heel and left the
store, assured in his own mind that his
friend was going to ruin.


In his estimation such loose principles
would eventually bring him to bankrupt
cy. But Ben was his friend. and he
deeply commiserated him because he
clung to such pernicious doctrines.