RANGE: It is the custom of wealthy celebrities, when they are accepting awards and tributes, to thank “all the Little People behind the scenes.” Behind the Little People, in turn, are Small Businessmen. The Little People work for them. These clever wee creatures can be found the world over: haggling over sickly sweet coffee in Middle Eastern cafes, bargaining between puffs of noxious herbs in Oriental bazaars, and, here in America, slamming their tiny fists upon the desks in small (naturally) claims court. HABITS: These diminutive entrepreneurs have frequently been accused (by the small minded) of petty larceny. But while he does, occasionally, sell short, the Small Businessman is much too concerned with his stature in the business community to short change anyone! He often complains (and small wonder) that he is facing extinction as a result of encroachment upon his markets by Corporate Giants and the Tax Burden. HISTORY: The American Small Businessman is probably a Red Inkling of (lowland) Scottish extraction, although he might also be descended from the French “petits bourgeois,” those wizards of “ledger de main.” In the Old Days, whenever a dragon’s lair was discovered, some warrior Elves would make so bold as to try to steal the dragon’s gold hoard. The Small Businessman used to set up a ticket booth at the mouth of the cave. In the sweatshops of Small Businessmen, the basic fabric of our economy was woven and our money laundered. Two examples of entrepreneurman-ship which they recently inspired are “Rural Cottage Industries,” a mammoth cartel producing prefab cottages, and “Mom and Pop Stores,” in which wealthy urban orphans can purchase a nice new set of parents. SPOTTER’S TIPS: The Small Businessman is seldom far from a telephone. By means of this instrument, he makes small talk into the wee hours— and a nice little profit. Traces of his handiwork can often be detected in small print. He is known to be short on cash at tax time and a tiny bit slow paying bills. His skill at maintaining a low overhead dwarfs that of a large corporation. An unsung, heroic Small Businessman, standing up to Big Government and Big Labor, and other big guys from New Jersey to New York.
Small Businessman
棲息地 金持ちの有名人たちは賞を受けたり賛辞を呈されたとき「わたしのために働いてくださった、えんの下の力持ちのみなさまに」感謝の意を表わすのがつねである。このえんの下の力持ちのかげにいるのが小さなビジネスマンだ。えんの下の力持ちたちは小さなビジネスマンのために働いている。
このちっぽけで賢い生き物は世界じゅうにいる。胸が悪くなるように甘いコーヒーを値切ったり、中東の市場で有毒な葉っぱでつくったたばこの煙のなかで値段の交渉をしたり、アメリカでは賠償要求のため（たいていは小さい）法廷の机の上に小さなこぶしを打ちつけている。
習性 この小さな企業家はよく、（心のせまい人びとによって）軽窃盗罪で訴えられる。しかし彼はから売りをするいっぽう、ビジネス界での自分の評判がひどく気になるのだ。
歴史 アメリカの小さなビジネスマンはおそらくスコットランドのレッドインクリングの出身と思われるが、またフランスの”プチブルジョア”の子孫とも考えられる。
彼らは”台帳”の天才だった。むかし、龍のねぐらが発見されると、いつも何人かの勇敢な妖精たちが龍の黄金の宝を隠そうと骨を折ったものだが、そんなとき、小さなビジネスマンは龍の穴の入口のところに入場券売場を建てるのだった。
小さなビジネスマンが経営する、安月給人をこき使う労働搾取工場では、国の経済の基礎がつちかわれ、お金が吸収され、大企業資金へと転化していった。
小さなビジネスマンたちの働きに刺激されて最近興った大企業産業の例は「田園小住宅産業」と「ママとパパの店」である。前者はプレハブの小住宅を製造する巨大カルテルであり、後者は都市の大金持ちのみなし子たちが新しい両親を買うことのできる店である。
私立探偵の報情 小さなビジネスマンが電話から離れることはめったにない。この器械によって、彼はほんのわずかな時間で少しだけ話をする——そしてほんの少しの利益を得る。
彼の悪徳商法のやりかたは、契約書のすみっこに小さく書かれた文字に見られる。税金の季節にはいつも金不足で、請求書はなかなか支払わない。
経費を小くおさえる手腕にかけては、大企業も彼らにはかなわない。
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Habitat
When wealthy celebrities receive awards or tributes, they always express gratitude to “all the little people behind the scenes who worked so hard for me.” Those little people behind the scenes are the Small Businessmen. The little people work for them.
These clever little creatures exist all over the world — haggling over overpriced coffee in Middle Eastern markets, bargaining amid clouds of noxious herbal tobacco smoke, and in America, slamming their tiny fists on courtroom desks in small claims court.
Behavior
These small entrepreneurs are frequently accused of petty larceny by small-minded people. But while he does occasionally sell short, the Small Businessman is far too concerned with his reputation in the business community to shortchange anyone.
History
The American Small Businessman is probably descended from the Scottish Red Inklings, though they may also be considered descendants of the French petits bourgeois.
They were geniuses of the “account book.” Long ago, whenever a dragon’s lair was discovered, some brave sprites would try to steal the dragon’s gold hoard. The Small Businessman would set up a ticket booth at the entrance to the cave.
In the sweatshops run by Small Businessmen, the basic fabric of the economy was woven and money laundered. Recent examples of large industries inspired by their activities are “Rural Cottage Industry” — a massive cartel manufacturing prefab small houses — and “Mom and Pop Stores” — shops where wealthy urban orphans can purchase a new set of parents.
Field Intelligence
The Small Businessman is rarely far from a telephone. Using this instrument, he makes small talk into the small hours — and a tidy little profit.
His underhanded business methods can be found in the fine print in the corners of contracts. He’s always short on cash at tax time and slow paying bills.
When it comes to keeping overhead low, even large corporations can’t hold a candle to him.
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