The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-01-28
THEPRoFIT OF CIy1L1TY


81 will never buy nm article in that store
as long as 7 live, unless it is impossible to
get asimilar article anywhere clse," amphat-
icaHy said lady lately. "And why Z" wo
asked. "Becausc," she answered, "they are
so uncivel they lose patience ifonc hest
tatcs minute; they seem to cxpec: every
body to buy without examining things"
Nor is this the only occasion on which
we have heard complaints made Of incivity
in stores. It's really astonishing how many
dealers arc blind to the advantage of being
obliging themselves and having obIging
clerks. No doubt there is enough to try
the temper of the principal, and much the
more, therefore, Of the employees. Too
many visitors come to look and not to buy :;
and too many buyers arc indifferent how
much trouble they may give. But it will
not do to be rude to every one indiscrimi-
natelv, because few happen to impose on
your time. Often, you may offend the very
person who, il conciliated, would have heen
your best customer. People OF sense will
not make purchase till they have examined
various articles Of the kind they desire TO
buy: and your unwillingncss to wait on
them will drive them away without buying
if they have the least sense Of personal dig
nifty.
In of Ia r.
keepers, and the failure of others, were
known, it would be found that the former
owe much of their prosperity to a reputation
for being oLliying. We could name more
than one eminent firm, in several depart
ments of trade, that has achieved Il fortune
principally in consequence Of its celebrity
in this respect. On the other hand, not u
few have failed to obtain the lead, wholly
because Of their ru,lencss or Indifference to
customers. a lady asks for some lrifle, and
rs the profit is but little, she is waited on
with reluctance, if not with positive con-
tempt. She leaves, offended. a few davs
afterwards she wishes to buy costly dress,
an expensive bracelet, or some other article
that any dealer would be glad to sell, if
his line; but she remembers the incident
that happened a few days before, and stud
iously avoids the store where she was in
suited. It is the little things in life, after
all, that do the most mischief A worm
borcs hole in ship bottom, and she sinks;
a Louis Napoleon is snubbcd by Russia, and
the Crilncan war follows. So fortuers are
made, or not, very often fiom the presence
OF that little thing, civility.
Every aspirant for political honors knows
how invaluable courtesy is. An eminent
physician said that polileness was more in
d'spensable for success in tho medical pro,
fcssion, than perhaps even skill. CiviIity,
in any pursuit, indeed, constantly makes
friends, as incviIity prevents it. One Of the
largest fortunes in this city had its organ, it
Is rumored, in the courtesy with which
manufacturer of locomotives received some
strangers who one day visited his shop, for
the strangers happened to DO Russian officers,
who had been sent to America to inspect
the machine shops, and who caused the af-
fable manufacturer 10 be i!7vited 10 St. Pc
tersburg, where he rapidly became a mil
lionairc. The history Of the world is full of
names which would never have been cele.
brated if the courtesy Of their owners had
not laid the first foundation of fame and
wealth. Disguise it as we may, we all like
best those who are most civil to lis, and if
we like others, like them in spite OF their
'ncivility. If men wish either to be cs-
teemed, or push their fortunes, they should
practice courtesy. BE civel and obliging;
whether in selling paper of pins or aim at
the Presidency cy.-PhiladelpAia Ledger.
n Queer Jud9e.-On q certain occasion