sink more of his funds
in a larger stock--would incur liability to a heavier rent; and the
attendant taxes, the wages of assistants and servants would be
greater, and, therefore, if the return came not speedily, similar
consequences must sooner or later ensue.

2601. Localities.

Large or small capitalists should, therefore, upon entering on a
shopkeeping speculation, consider well the nature of the locality in
which they propose to carry on trade, the number of the population,
the habits and wants of the people, and the extent to which they are
already supplied with the goods which the new adventurer proposes to
offer them.

2602. New Neighbourhoods.

There is a tendency among small capitalists to rush into new
neighbourhoods with the expectation of making an early connection. Low
rents also serve as an attraction to these localities. General
experience, however, tends to show that the early suburban shops
seldom succeed. They are generally entered upon at the very earliest
moment that the state of the locality will permit--often before the
house is finished the shop is tenanted, and goods exposed for
sale--even while the streets are unpaved, and while the roads are as
rough and uneven as country lanes.

The consequence is, that as the few inhabitants of these localities
have frequent communication with adjacent centres of business, they,
as a matter of habit or of choice, supply their chief wants thereat;
and the newly arrived shopkeeper has to depend principally for support
upon the accidental forgetfulness of his neighbour, who omits to bring
something from the cheaper and better market; or upon the changes of
the weather, which may sometimes favour him by rendering a "trip to
town" exceedingly undesirable.

2603. Failures.

"While the grass is growing the horse is starving;" and thus, while
the new district is becoming peopled the funds of the small shopkeeper
are gradually eaten up, and he puts up his shutters just at the time
when a more cautious speculator steps in to profit by the connection
already formed, and to take advantage of the new improved condition of
the locality. It seems, therefore, desirable for the small capitalists
rather to run the risk of a more expensive rent, in a well-peopled
district, than to resort to places of slow and uncertain demand; for
the welfare of the small shopkeeper depends entirely upon the