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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
PERTINENT COMMENTS
UPON T1MKLY TOPICS OF INTEREST TO
THE TRADE BY WRITERS IN OUR EX-
CHANGES.
COMPETITION—What It Consists of.
"The old adage of competition being the
life of trade, is undoubtedly true when
applied to competition of a legitimate
character," says The Hardware Reporter.
"There is, on the other hand, much of
what parades itnder the name of competi-
tion which serves to give a death blow to
trade. Healthy, rational, true competition
consists of that legitimate rivalry which
causes a merchant to do everything in his
power to get the bulk of the trade in his
locality, by building up a reputation for
carrying the best goods, and being the
most honorable and straightforward in his
business methods of any merchant in his
line in the neighborhood, or town, or sec-
tion.
"The merchant whose only effort is to
undersell his brother merchant, and who
always sacrifices quality to cheapness, is apt
to find in the long run that he is rendering
himself unable to compete with those who
make it a point to do the right thing by
their trade, and who know that in order to
do so they must get a fair price for the
goods and make a living profit."
CREDIT How Money is Lost.
. John R. Ransom writes upon this im-
portant subject in Implement Age, and says:
"If_the merchant will look at his goods as
so much money, why will he part with
them on any less security than the banker
or financier who is generally successful?
Until the operator can ground this principle
in his credits, failures are almost certain;
if not hopeless failure, loss of profits and
money follows, to a dead certainty.
- : - -
"The reason why merchants give long
credit is that they are allured by the profit
and lose sight of the absolute money en-
gaged; for, let anyone investigate the
matter, and he will see that if no profit was
in the transaction, or very little, the credit
would not be so readily given, if given at
all. Then the principle results that money
is lost in an overstrained desire for profit,
as a general rule, though it may be lost oc-
casionally when this principle does not
enter. Nor need the merchant say that
business cannot be done without excessive
crediting.
"If the purchaser cannot give, or will
not give, endorsed paper or security, if he
is worthy of credit let him give what he
would be compelled to give to a bank—
thirty, sixty or ninety day notes. Nor
should these be taken without the utmost
scrutiny, for if such merchants will realize
that the acceptance of such notes might be
the cause of his failure he would be very
cautious. Experience has shown, too, that
there is not much danger in loss, on small
as on large transactions. Men generally
lose on big amounts, and such would be the
philosophical reasoning if experience had
not taught the fact. No one will be likely
to go wrong in taking paper who will adopt
the banking principle of time and responsi-
bility. That some losses will occur, even
under such a severe rule of credit, no one
will deny, but such is the most perfect plan
in the giving of credits for merchandise or
other valuables."
BUSINESS—Don't Allow It to Stagnate.
"Don't be so thoroughly satisfied with
yourself and your business that you see no
room for improvement," says a writer in a
technical paper. "Be constantly on the
lookout for desirable changes, additions,
unique features, etc. Don't sit down and
allow your business to stagnate after it has
reached a certain point, but always be on
the alert and keep things up to the top
notch. It is not meant that you should be
everlastingly on the drive and keep all
around in a stew, but that you should exer-
cise progressiveness and keep your weather-
eye open for all advantageous points.
Contentment has its merits, certainly, but
when it reaches the point of stagnation
shelve it and make a bolt in the direction
of progressiveness, for whatever you under-
take to do should be worth doing well, and
it is better to wear out than rust out any-
way. In wearing out you leave something
commendable behind you—the memory of
plucky effort, if no more—but in rusting
out, people will merely say, 'Pity he hadn't
push enough to make something of him-
self."'
LAWS OF STATES Should Not Conflict.
"The peculiar construction of oiir nation
which is governed not only by national
laws, but also by the many laws of a large
number of States, permits of transactions
in this country which could not possibly
exist elsewhere," contends Implement Age.
"There has arrived a period in our history
when laws affecting the whole country
should be enacted by Congress and not by
the Legislatures, or if the fear of interfer-
ence with States rights is a barrier to better
laws then the several States should enact
the same laws for uniformity. We have
reached a stage in our progress as a nation,
where 'a conflict exists between prosperity
and ruin, and the only remedy is the law,
which should step in to put an end to the
condition of affairs now existing or this
country will follow in the footsteps of all
other republics which have had too many
law-making bodies and not enough law that
could be enforced."
DANIEL F. TREACY, of the Davenport &
Treacy Co., will leave for an extended
Western tour the early part of the coming
month.
I. I. COLE & SON, dealers in veneers,
428 East Eighth street, report a decided in-
crease in the demand for artistic veneers.
Business for the past season confirms this
view of things. This concern are carrying
a fine assortment of veneers at the present
time, and manufacturers should not over-
look them when desirous of laying in a
selection of fancy w.oods.
With the Travelers.
• * ^ " H R I S T M A S business, my boy,"
V ^ said Kochmann, the other day, as
he took a few reminiscent whiffs from a
fragrant perfecto, "is not up to the expect-
ations of the trade in any section."
"No," replied THE REVIEW man, "and
will we ever have a return of the good old
days, the days of old—the days of gold, with
apologies to "49?"
"Can't tell; not if those silver fanatics
can have their way."
"No, this country never should go on re-
cord for unlimited silver coinage unless
there is an international arrangement with
the great countries of Europe. We would
land just precisely where Mexico is—with a
depreciated currency."
"Yes," replied Kochmann, "and only
think of what a bloody nuisance silver is to
carry.''
'' Newspaper men are not usually bothered
with a plethora of silver, so I cannot say
as to the nuisance of carrying it."
"Well, it is a nuisance; so much nicer to
stuff a roll of bills in your vest pocket than
it is to have a lot of silver jingling around
like a string of sleigh bells; and, by the
way, I heard a good one on the leading
silver man of Congress while in Washington
the other day. "
.
"What was that?"
"Well, you know Senator Stewart, the
silver crank, of Nevada, had a neat little
joke sprung upon him the other day."
"How was that?"
"Why, the patriarchal champion of
silver went into Page's cafe and had lunch-
eon. When the waiter presented the check
for 60 cents Senator Stewart handed him a
$10 bill, and patiently awaited his change.
" I t was some time in coming, but when
it arrived a single glance told the Senator
there was plenty of it. There were five
half-dollar pieces, twenty quarters and
nineteen dimes.
"The prophet of free silver was about to
utter an indignant protest, when he caught
the eyes of two or three bystanders, and
noted the twinkle of amusement in them.
"Then he swept the glittering pile into
his big right hand, rammed it down into
his trousers pocket, and strode out ot the
room, without leaving a tip for the waiter
or a smile for the audience."
"Yes, I am thirsty; a light Manhattan
with just a suspicion of absinthe,"