The Placer herald., 1857-08-01
From the Boston Transcript.
Good Breeding an Element in Business

Good Breeding an Element in Business.
My first experience in travelling by steam
was in the boat first established on the east
ern route, commanded by Capt. Fume The
Captain was what was called "very smart
man." and believed there was nothing like
making little stir, when he had anything
to do. The getting his steamboat under way
was generally made an event to be remem-
bered by all mere landsmen. The Captain
then felt himself duly bound to work himself
into something Of passion, curse everybody,
be all over the boat, and make himself heard
in all directions. Then was running to and
fro and shouting down below, and haing
fore and aft, and tremendous excitement
all around. Meanwhile the affrighted passen-
gers drew themselves into bye places and
held their breath, believing that everything
depended on Capt. Fume, and that if he
should stumble, or his voice fell him, the
boat must be inevitably blown to atoms
For long time it was thought that no one
but Capt. Fume could run steamboat; and
that the whole business on the eastern waters
would die with him. In due time however,
the gallant Captain was gathered to his
fathers, and another reigned in his stead.
NOW NOu uldy Uldkos q uOLtu lIipS OU tu6
route, and hardly know when the boat gets
under way; and as regards the Captain, you
will scarcely be able to detect him with the
most dilgept inquiry. He is the most un-
observed man on board.
Since then have seen great many Capt.
Fumes Sometimes | see the Captain in
trade, and then how he prides himself on
being always busy in hurry and turning
corners quicker than other people, and talk
ing louder on Change, and swearing deeper
Sometimes he appears as financier, and
then the world seems hardly able to wag
without him. Committees of corporations
wait on him from all directions beseeching
him to accept of presidencies and treasury
ships, and they detect a certain metallic ring
in his very coarseness, and regard his chair
tilted back on two legs as an omen, that
with him for president their corporation will
be able to silver on as it ia with half foun-
dation. The Captain has always been
great railroad man, and is said to be the in
ventor Of preferred stock and mortgage
bonds. Sometimes see him on the bench
brirnful of wrath and learning, carrying con-
sternation and dismay into whole ranks of
young attorneys and timd sutors, or clear
ing the docket at the point of the bayonet
and calling it doing business. Sometimes
the Captain appears at the bar with his
green bag and bushel of papers, looking
very fierce, and bent on doing something
very awful. His great talent lies in denying
everything, badgerirg witnesses, talking
louder. fighting right on after he is soundly
whipped, and getting the most applause from
outsiders as smart lawyer, when he is doing
most damage to his own case. Sometimes
the Captain takes to politics, and then other
people have little else to do but to stand one
side and hear his battle axe ring on the thick
bosses of the Constitution and the Union.
He is very destructive in that capacity, and
generally goes for stavng something to pie
ces right away. Indeed, the Captain may
be found in almost all of the various depart
ments of business, ready to ignite at a mo-
ments notice, and make terrible ado, and
run, and shout, and hail, and really think
that he is dispatching business.
Capt. Fume is very popular with the null
titude. He is thought to be tower of
strength. He creates great impression on
mere lookers-on. The very best and wisest
of men shake their heads knowingly, and
pronounce him "a very smart man." They
believe in his rough points, it looks so much
like strength. His very wrath they look
upon as propeling power, and the noise and
buster as conclusive evidence that things are
moving. But so much friction soon wears
the Captain out His friends one after ano-
ther get gored by his rough points, and fall
off, His oaths, after while hardly generate
steam equal to pitchp pine, and he begins to
fall astern. His very protestations that he
is overrun with business, and his constant
hurry operate against him, as people learn at
last to take him by his word, and deal with
others who have more leisure He goes off
and goes up like rocket; but then, unfor-
tunately, the simitude holds good all thro',
for he goes out like one, leaving his gaping
admirers in the dark, with chance of
stick on their heads in the shape of unpaid
bills.
Your true business man is always quiet
and well-bred. He understands the science
of physic; that there is nothing like lubricat-
ing little where you want things to move
on smoothly. Agreeable manners are in
business what oil is to machinery. They
obviate deal Of friction. The we'll cultivat-
ed man conducts bis business with so little
gas or noise that those not specially dealing
with him are apt to think but little of him,
and know but little about him until they
wake up some morning and find him clearly
at the head of his profession. 1t is wonder
full to see how little sound and fury there is
in truly great men. Yon have only to look
around you, where you are, and those who
have won the race in their respective calngs,
and put of their armor, will almost always
be found TO be as remarkable for their good
breeding and modesty, as for their success.
1t is now stated that the monster steam
ship Great Eastern will make her first trip