However, the aforesaid and above described manager after long years of profitable exploiting my building necessities, confidentially remarks:—"The coming of foreigners has nearly ruined the umber business, our native supplies are decreasing and the prices have risen until we can supply imported foreign lumber cheaper than our own, There is now no margin for brain work to make sales, We are compelled to furnish full-length, full width up to sample stocks at fixed prices. There is a price chart giving exact dimensions of every piece of timber that comes to us. Instead of round poles for house frames, the carbon tors are using the square or straightedged foreign lumber and customers are pleased, When you eliminate the margin' of up and down prices—pitting the wit of buyer against that of seller—the joy of business is gone."
I tried to comfort him with the current ideas of large sales, small profits, prompt deliveries and cheer ful customers, but he shook his head sadly. "It may do for New China to change business methods, but we older men do not enjoy it nearly +0 much as the good old ways."
T happened to see a recent gradu ate student with note book, relative of the owner, taking stock, The change is coming.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.