OCR Text |
Show Shrewd in Business - The Russian is an excellent business man. He is so incredulous of other men's honesty that he mostly keeps his own hidden like a precious coin, only to be exchanged a full equivalent. He haggles a good deal over his bargains, not with screams, like a Greek, nor with disdainful shrugs, like a Turk, but with fawning and persuasive banter. There is no such thing as buying a pile of skins at sight and trust at fairs; every skin must be overhauled, and if the slightest flaw be apparent if must be exchanged for a better one. This system applied to other goods besides skins makes business a little slow, and explains the fact that not much money changes hands, though there is much fussing in the booths. |