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Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1817 BENEVOLENCE
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76501 LISPS — 658480 VOLUME 66, NUMBER 50 DECEMBER 13, 1978
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK The Christmas Season is in full swing and, at this time, it would be deemed appropriate for a few lines from your editor about frauds which seem to really flourish at this time of the year. There are too many people who feel that at this rather religious time of the year nobody, but nobody, could pull a shady deal on anyone. Forget that thought — beware. While being in business in Houston before 1969, when this writer became your editor, we had continuous contact with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and we would receive tips on what was being reported to the BBB at various times of the year. One year, in early December, we received the following report which reported what was being watched nationwide and here is what was reported which we found in some of our files we had brought to West with us when we moved here: Perfumes — this is what is being done. This item is peddled door-to-door, in offices, plants and/or service stations. The perfume is a fake, however, too many people fall for this because the seller has a "catch phrase" — A shipment of Chanel perfume arrived, but the company was bankrupt and the seller bought it for only the import duties and, therefore, could sell $30 bottles of perfume for only $9.98, etc. One salesman sold about 2,400 bottles on the East Coast for $9.50
HOW TRUE! HOW TRUE! Fun is like life insurance . . . the older you get, the more it costs. —Kin Hubbard So far nobody has invented an intelligence test to equal matrimony. —Roger Allen People who value their privileges above their principles soon lose both. —Dwight D. Eisenhower Many teenagers today just go ahead and marry, expecting their parents to be good supports about it. —Changing Times A person could become rich by manufacturing crutches for lame excuses. —Mary H. Waidrip A computer can save a lot of guesswork; but so can a bikini. —Canadian, Tx. Times to $18.50 each and all were worthless. Or, a shre-wd salesman can take an 8-oz. bottle of cologne that sells for $20, rebottle it in smaller purse-size bottles holding two drains and sell it for $3 each. The average purchaser does not realize that there are eight drams in an ounce so there are 64 drams in an eight-ounce bottle; by selling it at $3 per two-drams the cost is ($3 x 32), $96, for the $20 invested in the cologne. Watches — A man was selling E'$150" watches for $25 because
he was desperate for money; he claimed they were a nationallyknown brand, but were appraised at about $5 by a jeweler! Moral — Trade only with reputable firms, firms that will be in business should you need them, not with the fast-buck, fly-bynight operator who will disappear as soon as the sale is made. Do not accept unordered merchandise, especially the type marked C.O.D. There are generally cheap ballpoint pens and worth much less than the charges paid. Beware of any COD, especially when unordered by anyone in your family. Sometimes the schemer will claim it is for the neighbor next door and they are not at home, and would you pay the charges for them and they will reimburse you when they return home. Don't do it! More than likely you will be out your own money, because your neighbor probably hasn't ordered any such merchandise. Be careful of charities. The Houston BBB in 1968, checked out 95 solicitations at that time and over 60 did not pass inspection; over a million dollars a year goes to swindlers representing fake charities, etc.. One scheme is for you to send $5 for a gift of fruit to needy children and they will receive spoiled fruit and stale cookies, worth far less than your $5. Check everything out with your BBB or Chamber of Commerce.