SHOPKEEPERS.
[TO TDB EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR, In the paper on " Shopkeepers " in last week's Spectator the question is asked " When does a shopkeeper attain the dignity of a merchant?" In the Highlands of Scotland, as every tourist is aware, the accession to this dignity is a very easy thing indeed. Every clachan or township has its "merchant" or two, oven although their premises may be of the scantiest, and the goods exposed in the window only a few bottles of sweets. The Highland grocer of the humbler sort nearly always styles himself by the more exalted title. Have you heard the story of the conversation between the local grocer in a Ross-shire village and the shooting-tenant
from the South P The two met one evening, and the following dialogue ensued :— Celt.—"Good evening, Sir ; you'll be the tenant up at the Lodge ? " Londoner.—"Yes, we just arrived to-day from Loudon for the shooting." C.—" From London! And what will you be doing when you're at home in London? "
L.—" Oh. Pm a merchant there,"
C.—"A merchant ! So am I myself, down at the Ferry. And have you a post office in your shop in London ? " L.—"A post office! Why-, no you see I'm in the wholesale trade, dealing mostly with the Colonies." C.—" A,h, but I find the post office a great help in my trade, It brings folk about the place, and when they come for stamps we can coax them to buy some provisions. Aye, aye, and what profit, now, will a merchant be looking for in London?" L.—" Well, ours is A limited company, and last year we did very well and declared a dividend of ten per cent."
C.—"Ten per cent. ! Did ever! I Why, here we're thinking we're doing well when we can make only one per cent.—buying thing at a shilling and selling it at two,'
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