The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-11-27
From the philadelphia Inquirer. :
Punctuaiity, or, business before Pleasure
The hour, the appointed'hour,
BE at your post.


The hour, the appointedhour,
De at your post"
Many persons who are in the habit Of max
ing visits Of business commit sad error in not
stating their object at once, and in as few
words as possible They hesitate, introduce
some subject altogether foreign, occupy much
precious time, and to little purpose Instead
Of proceeding to the matter in hand directly,
they apologize for the intrusion, explain that
another time may prove more acceptable, ex-
plain and prevaricate, until at last the real
object Is absolutely forced from them. All
this is exceedingly annoying to persons who
are constantly engaged and who have no time
to waste upon mere prosers. We may mcn-
ton the case of one individual who invariably
states bis object in a round about way, and in
PRODUCES at least one other subject preparatory
to that which no really desires to converse
upon. He does so, too, in tLe,pol;test man
ner forgetful however, that time is precious
and that there are other people in the world
besides himself a visit strictly of business
should be brief, direct andsto the purpose
When, moreover comparative stranger en-
tels room and finds two others confidential
Iy engaged. he should have the good sense
either to withdraw at once, or to ask for an
interview aside. 1t often happens, however,
that such intiudeB sit down quietly, with
their ears outstreched, and thus they not only
listen, but at the first opportunity, they vol
unteer their opinions and advice. There arc,
moreover, certain periods Of the day in which
most individuals arc actively employed. AT
such seasons, therefore, they should not be
intruded upon except by intimate friends, un-
less the necessity arise out of business ur-
gency. "A few days sihceFwe observed ancx-
pcrienced and enterprising merchant passing
rapidly up Chestnut street, the time being u
few minutes Of sthroe O'clock. just above
Third street he was stopped by one Of tho i'd
lers OF the town who commenced silly con-
vrrsation The merchant manifested impa-
tience but the other seemed determined to
persist. The merchant "stood it for about
five minutes" and then broke away, evident
ly irritated. The fact is, he was about to
take up one or two notes in the bank, and
the interruption under the circumstances, was
quite annoying. An anecdote in point may
be mentioned: DouglasJerrold, the celebra-
ted writer, was one day hunying through; a
leading street in London, evidently immersed
in thought, when he was interrupted by n
quidauac, who exclaimed, sWell, Jerrold,
what is-going on, to-day." The reply was
quick and petulent, but pithy and pointed
81 don't know" said Jerrold, "but amw
and on hewent Another: Some years since
distinguished lawyer of this city, on passing
up Walnut street, saw an intimate friend held
closely by the button by an inveterate proser,
whose designation we will give for the present,
as Mr.. S. The lawyer Immediately stopscu
and observed to his friend, "When you hayo
done with Mr. S. would like afew moments
f;sstiaa ts;asfsss sS H|h { Sga1 He then fell back
his departure. The lawyer then stepped UP
TO his friend and remarked, "when you lind
me in like dilemma, be good enough to ai-
ford me the relief that have given you.-
Good day." 1t should be remembered that
punctutlity in the fulfillment of engagements
is matter of the utmost importance with
mon of business, and yet it is quite. difficult
for them to be punctual under somc Of the
circumstances that we have described. A day
or two since friend was stopped in the street
for only five minutes to hear story that turn
ci out of very little importance, and yet he
lost his passage to New York. He arrived at
the wharf just one minute too late! Another
anecdote in point: In the year 1912, two
of our most eminent physicians, DIR. r., and
DR.. W., had an appointment together for the
purpose of consultation. The hour was four
o'clock in the afternoon. DIR. r. arrived at
the designated time, and, with watch in hand
walked up and down the parlor.r Five min
utes had elapsed and DR.. w. had made his
appearance. AT the expiration Of ten min
utes he came. DR.. r. then complained bitterly
and said in consequence of the delay his en-
tire business for the afternoon had been de-
ranged. Dr. w. apologizcd, and promised
to do better the next time. The other shook
his head with incrcdulity, and said that un-
fortunately, this case was not the first OF tho
kind They then visited the patient, ana
made another engagement for ten o'clock tho
next morning. DIR. w. was on this occasion,
five minutes in adpaacc, whereas DIR. r. made
his appearance eractly as the clock was strik-
inc ten. The other rs he saw his approach.
| exclaimed, with exultation, "Ah! Doctor, who
is tho punctual man this timc?" 81 am
rctortcd DIR. K. with considerable spirit. 80
am here at the appointed time, neither be-
fore or after, and that, according to my view
of the subject, is punctuality." And he wos
right. Still another: A leading lawyer OF
| tins city, now among the departed, carried
his notions of punctuaity to very remarka-
bic extent. At the time designated for
meeting in his Office he would allow five
minutes for any possible difference in watches,
and then, should the other party fail to ap-
pear, he woald invariably GO out. At first
the plan was regarded as novel and eccentrics
but soon the effect was salutary, for all who
made engagements with him knew they must
be punctual or were prepared to take the con-
sequences. The subject is one that might DO
followed up to almost any extent. How ma
ny members of our public bodies are in the
constant habit of keeping their colleagues in
waiting, thus delaying and postponiug the
transaction of important business. Such a
course is not only discorteous and ungentlc-
manly, but unjust and unfair. No man has
a right wantonly to waste the time of his
| ,,o,,hhor vbile tho Individual who make an