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to the particular class of servant we are at present deal- 

 ing with. Every competent keeper should, of course, 

 be able to prepare his own pheasant food ; if he is not, 

 he does not possess one of the primary qualifications 

 for his post. Yet it will be observed how eager many 

 keepers are to run up large accounts with pheasant food 

 manufacturers either from laziness, or more often that 

 they may receive the commission offered by certain 

 firms to induce keepers to buy their commodities. 

 We were told recently by a dealer in keepers' requisites 

 that when he began business he tried to deal honestly 

 by the employers, by not giving commissions to the 

 servant, but so unusual did he find the practice, and 

 so great was the dissatisfaction of the keeper, that 

 he found that his chance of doing business was in 

 danger, and he had, much against his will and against 

 his sense of right, to pay the usual " blackmail " to the 

 keeper, the amount of which was, of course, added to 

 the price of the commodity supplied. Stable requisites 

 from saddlers are increased 25 per cent, to cover the 

 blackmail of coachmen andgrooms ; and a corn merchant 

 recently informed us that the demands for commission 

 are so great that they have become a severe tax upon 

 his profits, " for," said he, with feeling, " there is a limit 

 of price at which even the most careless master will 

 stop." Admitting those indisputable facts, all em- 

 ployers, on engaging their servants, while agreeing to 

 pay them good, even liberal, wages, should make it 

 clear that they will allow no secret commissions, and 



