HONESTY TEST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 361, 21 February 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

HONESTY TEST.

BROOKLYN PAPER’S ACTION

PROBITY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC PROVED

[Many people take a. cynical view of the honesty of the public, in small mavters at all events. A well-known newspaper, the “Brooklyn Eagle,” U.S.A., has proved that this opinion is wrong, and proved it in rather a striking and effective way. The idea, as explained by the “ Eagle,” was to give purchasers of small articles an excess of change. Forty, cuses were selected at random, and in 24 the surplus was promptly returned.. In the remaining 16 cases it was retained, but, as the “Eagle” observes, there is no evidence that carelessness or genuine ignorance of the unexpected increment was not responsible io some of the latter cases. The reporter sent out by the paper describes how the test was made, and it is as well to quote his own words, merely explaining that a dollar is equivalent to four shililngs, American pennies are English half-pennies, a dime is fivepence, a nickel is two. pennies and a half-penny, a quarter is a shilling, a cent is a half-penny.. In. the United States a half-penny is pariously called a cent and a penny, afifey-cent piece is equivalent to two shillings. The reporter then says;— “There is a little cigar store in the down-town part of Brooklyn where a good many people drop in during the day. The keeper of the shop good-na-turedly served as the stool pigeon in this drama of a great moral uplife. As a long-change expert he equals some of the noted short-change artists of Coney Island, for he has an immobile face that would win a fortune for a poker player. The first subject was a coloured man of middle age. He came in. from work dressed in bis overalls and jumper. He pointed to a five-cent package or tobacco and put 50 cents down on the counter. The shopkeeper handed over the tobacco, manipulated the cash register as if it were a piano, and placed a quarter, two dimes, and a nickel on the rubber change mat. The customer spread it out in his left palm, and. being a lightning calculator, immediately tossed it over to the proprietor. ‘Too much,’ he said.

CHARACTER IN A MAN’S FACE. “The shopman did not disturb an eyebrow. He looked at the change in bis customer’s hand, picked up the nickel and remarked: ‘Thanks, my nistake. Then he turned to me with a wise look as the man went out of the door and remarked: ‘I knew he wouldn’r take it. I have been at this stand for fifteen years, and I tell you I can read, character. It is spread all over a man’s face — a man’s face mind you. 1 don’t pretend to know so much about the women.’ “As he was talking a man entered and asked for a IShcent package et cigars and paid fifteen cents. The shopkeeper promptly handed over a nickci and three pennies. The man as promptly tossed back the nickel. ‘Keep it,’ said he. ‘You may need it to Buy a loaf of bread.’

“A rather rough-and-ready citizen catered the store. He slapped a dime down on the glass showcase so hard t hat breakage was imminent. ‘Gimme a fivecent package of “Smudge-’em-f’ut,’ he demanded. Mr. Shopkeeper tossed the coin into the machine ahd rattled out two bright nickels. With a look of supreme contempt . the roush-aml-repdy one twirled one nickel bacx and departed. ‘Sayl They’re honest around here,’ said the shopman. Tam proud of the neighbourhood.’ ” These examples give an idea of the manner by which the tests were maue. The reporter continues his story by reciting how he induced shopkeepers in almost every line of business to give surplus change, and how in some instances the surplus was retained and in other oases was returned. He tells of buying a dailv paper from different news boys and giving a nickle (2Jd.) payment for the cent (i) paper, and then hurrying away, without waiting for change, yet in almost every such case the boy followed him and gave him the change. Th further support of the “Eogle’s” contention, it may be mentioned that for years it has been the custom in New York to have news stands at street corners. the owners of which leave it to the honesty of the passers-by to select and pay for the papers themselves. The newsvendors are in fact delivering papers about the neighbourhood. The customers as they pass the unattended stall pick up a paper and put down the money, taking when necessary from the pile already there. Obviously there cannot be much leakage or the system would have been abandoned long ago.