KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



71 



But linen-drapers are not by any means 

 the only folk who are obliged to practice this 

 double-dealing. It is pursued by all trades, 

 who, to get a livelihood are, they say, con- 

 strained to do what is really revolting to their 

 consciences — and we believe it. It is vain 

 for an honest man to tell his customer, that 

 if he wants a good article he must pay a 

 little more for it. " Oh !" replies the cus- 

 tomer, " if you won't let me have it at that 

 price, Mr. So-and-so will." This system 

 compels a tradesman either to be dishonest, 

 to shut up shop, or submit to inevitable 

 ruin. 



Things are now produced far too cheap. 

 They leave no profit to the vendor. Hence, 

 the endless bankruptcies. Every trade is 

 alike. Competition in all, is boundless. 

 The Publishers issue a book to-day, at one 

 shilling. They sell it to the trade at nine- 

 pence ; in some cases at 8d. To-morrow 

 it is visible on all the book-stalls in London, 

 marked 9Jd. We know a very worthy man, 

 who graduated in a leading house of Pater- 

 noster Row. He has become a book-mer- 

 chant. He brings out these cheap books in 

 shoals. What does he get by them ? Not 

 2 per cent, for the investment of his money ! 

 He rarely knows what sleep is. He is for 

 ever on his feet ; and his life is ten times 

 worse than that of a galley slave. The com- 

 monest porter in London, is an infinitely hap- 

 pier man than he ; and thrice as independent. 

 The public, however, are spoiled. Trades- 

 men will not unite for their own protection ; 

 and thus ruin spreads far and wide. 



We might pursue this subject till we filled 

 some half-dozen sheets ; nor would our obser- 

 vations be unprofitable. But as our object is 

 merely to open people's eyes, and show them 

 their folly, we trust they will brighten up, and 

 take a friendly hint. When they pass a 

 jeweller's shop, and see cards in red ink, 

 announcing " great reductions from marked 

 prices,"— this is a " do." When they see 

 articles ticketed as being sold at less than 

 cost price, — this is a " do." When they see 

 " fine crusted port," " selling at two shillings 

 and sixpence, or three shillings a bottle," this 

 is a " do." The same with any ostentatious 

 display of " cheap " announcements, or de- 

 filements of a window with placards. All 

 such are swindles ;* no respectable dealer would 

 for an instant have recourse to such degrad- 



* No person should ever deal at a " ticketed " 

 shop. They are noted for dishonesty. You will, 

 for instance, see a lady's dress marked in large 

 letters — " one shilling." Go in to purchase it ; 

 and you will find beneath it, in minutely small 

 pencil marks, llfcl ! If a female does not pay this, 

 and perhaps purchase two dresses instead of one, 

 the chances are in favor of her being roughly 

 handled, and charged with thieving ! There is a 

 notorious place of this kind in Oxford Street. 



ing manoeuvres to obtain business. This may 

 be taken as an invariable rule. 



We have not offered these remarks with a 

 view of injuring anybody. Far from it. 

 We want to establish a better order of 

 things. The public themselves are to blame. 

 They are horribly mean ; and expect as good 

 an article now-a-days, for one shilling, or 

 one shilling and sixpence, as formerly cost 

 five or six shillings. Indeed, they are in- 

 solently abusive to a tradesman if it be 

 not so. 



Imagine " cheap " pianofortes at twenty- 

 five guineas each, new ! — the market price 

 now-a-days ! Rubbish are they, rubbish 

 must they be ; as any honest dealer will tell 

 the purchaser. But people will have twenty- 

 five-guinea piano-fortes ; and so they are 

 " got up " of green wood for green people ! 

 Then, " cheap furniture," sold at marts, and 

 other illegitimate places of business — who, 

 with a grain of common sense, would ever 

 buy their furniture at such places? The 

 style, workmanship, and wood, are such 

 that the articles have no real value. They 

 would be " dear," at any price. They are 

 put together for sale, and are never better than 

 what are called " Jews' make" — that is, goods 

 made to sell. We are perfectly shocked 

 to observe the many petty meannesses prac- 

 tised in this way, by people in good circum- 

 stances. They have a right to deal where 

 they like — with whom they please ; but do 

 not let them insult the honest tradesman by 

 expecting him to furnish good articles at the 

 price charged by the rogue. 



The word " cheap " is a misnomer alto- 

 gether. A so-called " cheap dinner," is not 

 a cheap dinner — a so-called cheap hotel, is 

 not a cheap hotel. To make use of a vulgar 

 expression — pardonable perhaps under 

 present circumstances — the " cheap and 

 nasty " are inseparable in such cases. No- 

 thing very cheap can be very good. The 

 markets are open to all alike. If cloth costs 

 20s. a yard, and " the best cloth coat " is 

 promised by a tailor to be supplied for 34s. 

 (see the Minories, and other clothes' mart 

 establishments passim), we know the thing 

 to be impossible. " Cheap tailors" deluge the 

 town with the most barbarous patterns, cuts, 

 and fashions. " Here comes ' Moses' ! " said 

 a droll friend of ours one day, as a tall, lanky 

 youth fluttered towards us in a new summer 

 suit. The remark " told " well. The man 

 and his outfitter stood before us.* We roared 

 in his face. We see, daily, hundreds of these 

 poor, ill-clad dupes, who " do the thing 

 cheap " — and " nasty." They stud the streets 

 at every corner. 



* Sometimes (just about Easter), we see a 

 hybrid youth — a kind of " cross " between a 

 Moses and a Hyam. His colors are well dis- 

 played, and himself a national curiosity. 



