Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-09
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 9, 1885,
THE PROFIT OF CIVlLIrY.


Let every Young man who intends to 'oorE
his way in the world read the following ana
commit ii to memory:
The PROFIT OF ClyILITY-"l Will never
Inv an article in that store as long as i've,
unless it is impossible to get similar article
anywhere else" empbatcally said lady,
lately. "And Why" We asked. because"
she answered, "they are so unciVil; they lose
patience if one hesitates minute; they seem
to expect everybody to buy without e2am'n-
ing things"
Nor is this the only occasion on which we
have heard complaints made OF inc'Viil'V III
stores. 1t is really astonishing how many
dealers are blind to the advantages OF pein@
oblioipg themselves and having oohg'ng
clerks. No doubt there is enough TO try the
temper of the principal, and much the more
therefore, of the employees. Too many WIS.,
tors come to look and not TO buy; ana TOO
many buyers are Indifferent how much tFou-
HE thew NAV give. Bat it will not do to he
rnde m every one indiscrlminately, because
n few bappen to impose on your time. VI
TEN, You may offend the very person who, II
eopciliated, would have been your best eusto-
mer. People Of sense will not make put
chase till they have examined various artl-
cles of the kind they desire to buy: aud your
upwilhpeness to wait on them will drive
them away without buying, if they have the
least sense of personal dignity.
If the secret of the success of some store
keepers. and the failure Of others, were
known. il would be found that the former
owe much Of their prosperity to reputation
for being obliging. We could name more
than one eminent firm, in several depart
ments of trade, that has achieved fortune
principally in consequence OF Its celebrity IN
this respect. On the other hand. not lew
have failed to obtain the lead, wholly because
of their rudeness or indifference to custo-
mers. A lady asks for some tribe, and as the
profit is but little, she is waited on with re-
luotance, if not positive contempt she
leaves, offended. 4 few days afterwards,
she wishes to buy costly dress, an expen-
siye bracelet, or some other article that any
dealer would be glad to sell, II 10 his line;
but she remembers the incident that happe1-
ed few days before, and studiously AVOIDS
the store where she was insulted. 1t IS the
little things in life, after ALL that do the most
mischief. A worm bores hole in ships
bottom, and she sinks; Louis Napoleon IS
snubbed by Russia, and the Crimean war
follows. So fortunes are made, or not, very
often from the presence or absence OF thai
little thing, ciyility.
Every aspiraut for political donors knows
how invaluable courtesy is. An eminent
physician said that politeness was more IN
dispensable, for success in the medical pro-
fessios, than perhaps even skill. Clylhty'
in any pursuit, indeed, constantly makes
friends, as inci7ility prevents it. One Of the
largest fortunes in this city had its origin, It
ia rumored, in the courtesy with which a
manufactures of locomotives received some
strangers, who, one day, visited bis shop; Tor
the strangers happened to be Russian ON
GERS, who had been sent to America 10 In
spect the machine shops, and who caused
the affable manufacturer to be invited to 81,
Petersburg, where he rapidly became mil,
lonaire. The history of the world Is full OF
names, which would never have been ceie,
brated if the courtesy of thei7 owners had
not laid the first foundations Of fame and
wealth. Disguise it as we may, we all IKE
best those who are most civil to US; and u
we like others, like them in spite of their IL
ciyility. Ifmen wish either to be esteemed,
or push their fortunes, they should practice
courtesy. Be civil and obliging, whether
you sell paper of pins, or aim at the Presi-
dency.-PhI LedQer.