Cash Customers

It seems very strange, but it is true, nevertheless, that customers who pay cash for their purchases are not considered very desirable by butohers or grocers, and especially those who do not send children or messengers after the goods, but go themselves and have the articles selected and weighed or measured under their personal supervisión. A gTOceryman whom I questioned on the subject endeavored to deny that such was the f act, says a writer in the New York Telegram, but when I mentioned several instanees to show that it was true, he said: "Well, we don't like them because they are too particular. They want the biggest and best of everything and then they beat down your prices as low as they can. Of course it is pleasant to get the ready money, bat it comes in such small amounts that the full benefit of it is not appreciated. Besidesyou are never sure of a cash customer. They are not in your debt and can quit you when they feel they have a grievance. You are sure of the customers who run an account with you, though oecasionally they faü to pay. But we have a way of protecting ourselves against loss," said the groceryman, with a sly smile. "No wonder the butchers and grocers prefer customers who run a book to those who pay cash,"' said a boarding house keeper of my acquaintanee; "a cent or two more on a pound for everything is charged to the book customer, who is usually careless in noting the increase, but this difference alone makes a handsome profit for the grocer. In addition to this the poorest quality of goods is foisted on the customer who runs an account, as the privilege of running a book is supposed to be a favor for which the customer cannot be too grateful. Where the latter is inclined to be careless it often happens that certain items find their way on the book, so that when the account is f ooted up at the end of the week or month the total is f ound to be much larger than was anticipated. It is not at all strange, to one who knows, why grocers and butchers are willing to take chances with book customers. "