The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-03-19
THE REWARD OF COURTESY.

THE REWARD OF COURTESY.
A few years ago, on radient spring after
noon two men, who, from their conversation
appeared to be foreigners stopped before the
gate of one Of our large workshops in Phila-
delphia, for the manufacture of locomotive
engines. Entering n small Office, the elder Of
the two men inquired of the superintendent in
attendance, if he would permit them to inspect
the works.
"You can pass in and look about, if you
plcasc;' said the superintendent, vexed appar-
emily at being interrupted in the peruSal of
his newspapers. He then scanned the two
strangers more closely. They were respectfully
bnt plainly clad, and evidently nude no pre-
tentions to official dignity of any kind
rs there any one who can show us over the
establishment and explain matters to us!'
asked Mr.. Wolfe, the elder of the strangers
"You must pick your own way" gentlemen" I"
replied the superintendent 1--WE ere all too
busy to show every one that comes along I'll
thank you not to interrupt the workmen by
asking them questions "
1t was not so much the matter as the man
ncr of his reply, that was offensive to Mr.,
Wolfe and his companion. 1t was spoken
with a certain official assumption of snpcriori.
ty, mingled with contempt for the visitors, in
dcating a naughty and selfish temper on the
part Of the speaker.
81 think we will not trouble yon," said Mr.
Wolfe, bowing; and taking his companions
arm they passed out.
"If there is anything | dislike, it is incivi,
ty," said Mr. Wolfe, when they We're in the
street 81 do not blame the man for not wish
ing to show us over his establishments he is
no doubt annoyed and interrupted by many
hcedlcss visitors; but he might have dismissed
us with courtesy. He might have sent us
away better content with gracious refusal
than with an ungracious consent"
perhaps we shall have better luck here u
said the other stranger; and they stopped be-
fore another workshop of similar kind They
were received by brisk little man, the head
clerk, apparently, who, in reply to their request
to be shown over the establishment, answered
"Oh, yes come with me, gentlemen This
way" So saying, he hurried them along the
area strewed with iron bars broken and rusty
wheels of iron, fragments of old cylinders, into
the principal workshop.
Here, without stopping to explain any on {
thing, he led the strangers along with the cv
dent intention of getting rid of them as sooI
as possible. When they paused where the
workmen were riveting the external castings
of a boiler, the clerk looked at his watch, tap
ped his right foot against an iron tube, and
showed other signs ofimpatence Whereupol
Mr.. Wolfe remarked, "We i'll not detain
you longer, sir" and with his friend took leave
"This man is an improvement on the other
said Mr.. Wolfe, "but all the civity he has is
on the surface; it does not come from the heart
We must look further"
The stranghrs walked on for nearly half a
mile IN silence, when one of them pointed to q
picture of n locomotive engine with train OF
cars underneath. 1t overtopped a small bull
ding, not more than ten feet in height, colnnu
nicatihg with yard and workshop "Look,
said the observer, " here is machinst whose
name is not on our list. Probably it was
thought too small a concern for our purposes,
said his companion. Nevertheless, let us try
it," said Mr.. Wolfe.
They entered, and found at the desk mid
die aged man, whose somewhat grimy aspect
and apron round his waist, showed that he
divided his labors between the workshop anC
the counting.room
"We want to look over your works, if you
have no objection"
ut will give me great pleasure to show You
all that is to he seen," said the mechanic with
a pleased alacrity. ringing bell, and telling the
boy who entered to take charge of the Office
de then led the way and explained to the
strangers the whole process of constructing, a
locomotive engine. He showed them how the
various parts of the machinery were manufac,
tured, and patiently answered all their ques.
tions He told them of an improved mode of
tubing boilers, by which the power of gene
rating steam was increased, and showing with
what care he provided for safety from bursting.