The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-28
The Value OF CiviIity t. the Trader.

The Philadelphia Merchant, in an edito
rial under the title of "A Secret Wortl
Knowing" happily illustrates the import
ance Of civiity to the business man. Tn
anecdote and the lesson it teaches may b.
of service to our readers
One of the steady, slow sure merchant
of our city, of the stock of Fox and Penn
had accumulated handsome competency
and retired from the activity of meachandis,
into such other activities as better suited
his years; if not his tastes.
young man just entering into the life
of business, one day said to the elder, I'm
Gle David, thou hast been eminently sue.
cesstul in thy worldly career; and as the
secret Of thy success may now be impaired
without injury TO thyscli, beg that it may
be impaired TO me. Please let me know in
what the secret of thy prosperity consists ~
CivILITV-nothing more" was the re-
ply. 1t was an answer worthy book o.
details
In our extended intercourse with the Incr
camille community, in al! branches Of trade
we have observed every variety and degree
OF temper and manner, and are happy to al
firm that Uncle David's secret (however OBJ
tained or acquired) is largely in practical Ia
vOr am )ng the merchants
There are cases, new, rtheleSs, in which
both principles and employees would be the
wiser and better after little drilling.
Fuss is not civlity-fummery is not ci-
Witty; yet fuss and hummery, like fashion
and iroth are not uncommon things. They
perish in the using and those who use them
have not discovered the secret worth
knowing"
There is an opposite extreme, sometimes
expressed in grim gravity, which Is the re-
pelant end OF the magnet-and sometimes in
grufness Of speech which becomes non
conductor between the merchant and custo-
mer
We may not be able to define civilty in
words--but it may be described as the at
tractivc part Of the magnet. 1t implies com
bined camness and geniality, being neither
the fussin.ss of the jay-bird nor the gravity
Of the owl. 1t implies combined truth and
gen,lencss, being neither the tiummery of
fiattery nor the 1atness Of contradiction.
We may say, in short that ciyility is an
embodiment Of many graces. he who proper
~ exhibits it will increase in the patience OF
hope, for he viii increase in favor with the
most reliable buyers of the wares in which
he deals HIS faith in combined principle
and courtesy will enlarge the circle Of faith
in him; and in due time he may retire, as
did Uncle David, recommending ciyility as
one OF the chief secrets of success in trade.
We cannot forbcar alusion to the civility
Of friend of ours who is in the book and
stationary line.
Being in an omnibus in the northern part
Of the city during the late ice obstructions
in our streets we could not avoid hearing the
conversation of two ladies'.
The most civil man in all Philadelphia =
said one OF them, "is the bookseller at the
corner Of f and -- streets"
How DO you do judge" inquired the
other.
Il was in his store last week. buying 4
few small articles. He accompanied me II
the door and, perceiving that waited for
an omnibus. he did not leave until ] was
safely seated
On relating the incidcn; to my friend, he
quietly remarked that a good reputation Is u
grand advertisement.