It is always somewhat suspicious when the vendor volunteers to take care of the interest of the purchaser. It reverses the decision of the common sense of mankind, expressed in the ancient proverb, “_caveat emptor_.” Besides, it is by no means true that the public are so ignorant or incapable of appreciating all those other qualities. In some articles the difficulty is undoubtedly great, whilst in others it may require time to be spent in their examination even by those who are as conversant with the articles as the vendor himself. But why should the time of both parties be wasted by an examination, when the price may be such as to preclude its purchase, whatever may be its other merits? § Of all the various qualities which contribute to the excellence of any given article, that which it is most easy to ascertain—that which it is impossible to falsify—and that without the exact knowledge of which no purchase can possibly be made, is the very one which it is wished to withhold from the knowledge of the purchaser, until through the art of the vendor, the finer feelings of the customer induce him to think himself in some measure committed to purchase that of which he does not entirely approve. It is from circumstances like these, that the prejudice against retail dealers arises and is confirmed in the public mind. There is no reason why that class should not be as highly respected as the possessors of extensive domains. To deserve that respect they have only to insist upon all persons in their employment abstaining from the slightest deception in serving their customers; to which rule it would be desirable to add, that the leading members of each trade should unite in discountenancing those who are guilty of any such practices.