The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-07-21
The Reward of Courtesy
A True Account,

sation appeared to be foreigners, stopped
before the gate Of one of the large work.
shops in Philadelphia for the manufacture
OF locomotive engines. Entering u small
office the elder OF the two men inquired Of
the superintendent IN attendance if he
would permit him 20 inspect the works
You can pass in aud look about il you
please said the superintendent, vexed up.
parently ut being interrupted ia the peru.
sal Of his newspaper. lie scanned the two
strangers more closely. They were r.spPc.
tably but plainly clad, and evidently made
no prctensions 10 official dignity Of any
kind.
Is there any one who eau show Us over
the establishment aud explain matters TO
US 2 asked Mr. Wolf. the elder Of the two
( strangers.
You must pick your own way. gentle
men, replied The superintendent We are
| all too busy 20 attend every party that
comes along I'll thank you not 20 inter.
rupt the workmen by asking questions
II was not so much the matter a. the
manner Of the reply, that was offensive 10
Mr.. Wolf and his companion. II was spo.
ken with certain official assumption of
superiority. mingled with contempt for the
visitors. indicating a naughty aud selfish
temper on the part Of the speaker
think we will not trouble YOU. said
Mr.. Wolf bOwing. and taking his compau.
IONS arm. they passed out.
II there j. anything dislike. it is Incl.
Witty said Mr. Wolf. when they were "a
the street. | 30 not blame the man for not
wishing 10 show NJ over his establishment
he is no doubt annoyed and interrupted by
many needless visitors. hut he might have
dismissed as with courtesy lie might
have sent us away better content with =
gracious refusal thar with au uugracIous
consent
Perhaps. SAID the other stranger We
shall have better luck u.rc and the, stop
ped before another work shop OF similar
kind. They were received by u br.a l.t.
tie man, the head clerk apparently :. VINO iu
reply TO their request 20 bee shoMru over
the establishment. answered. O Yes
come with me, gentlemen This way. 80
saying, he hurried them along the area
strewed with iron, brass broken aud rusty
heels Of iron, fragments OF old boilers and
cylinders into the principal workshop
Here. without stopping 90 explain any
one thing. he led the strangers along. with
the eviden, intention Of getting rid Of them
Is soon a. possible When they passed
where the wor-men were rivillag the .v-
ternal casing OF the boiler. the clerk looked
az his watch. tapped hi, foot against au
iron tube and showed other sigus o. i'm
patience. whereupon Mr Wolf remarked
We will no' deiain Yea any longer. -ir
and with his friend took leave.
THIS man is an Improvement on the 9th
er said Mr. Wolf but All the ciyiliy he
has Is on the surface. II does not come from
the heart. We must look further
The strangers walked on for nearly hu.f
nile 10 silence when one OF them
pointed TO an humble sign with q picture
OF locomotive engine with train OF cars
underneath. II overiopped o small build
my not more than ten feet ~ height. com.
municatlng with u ward aud Workshop
Look, SAID the observer. here Is ma.
chlnst whose name Is not on our list
Probably II Vas thought TO small concern
FOR our purpose. said his companion.-
Nevertheless let US try. said Mr.. Wolf.
They entered. and found at the de.k
mlddle-aged man. whose somewhat grImy
aspect and apron around his waist showed
that he divided his laboFs between the
workshop and counting room.
We wart 10 look over your works. il
you have no objection said Mr. Wolf
" will give me great pleasure to show
you all that il 20 be seen said the mechnu.
telling boy who entered to take charge
Of the Office.
He then led the way. aud explained 10 the
strangers tho whole process of constructing
locomotive engine He showed them
how the various parts of the machinery
were manufactured. aud patiently answered
all their questions. He told them Of an
improved mode OF tubing boilers, by which
the power OF generating steam was lncreas.
ed, and showed with wha; care be provided
for security from bursting.
Two hours passed ra Idly away I be
strangers were delighted with the intelli.
gence displayed by the mechanic and with
his frank. attentive and unsuspicious man.
ners.
Here is IA man who loves his profess on
80 we'll. that he takes pleaure in explaining
IL mysteries 10 all who can understand
them. said MIR Wolf
| am afaid We have gwen you a deal OF
trouble. said the other stranger
Indeed gentlemen. have enjoyed your
visit said the mechanic. and shalt bee
glad 10 see you again.
Perhaps you may. said Mr. Wolf and
the strangers departed.
Five months afterwards. as the mechanic
whose means were quite limited sat in hi
Office mediiating how hard !, was 10 get
business by tie side OF such Ia ge esiahll n.
ments a.. were his competitors the two
strangers entered. I.e gave them hearty
welcome handed cha = and oil "a, down.
We come. said Mr. Wolf with pro.
position 10 You from lhe Emperor % Rus
sa. TO visit - Petersburg'
From the Emperor Impossible
Here are your credentials.
Bu, gentlemen. said the now agi,ated
mechanic, what does this mean How have
] earned such an honor !:
Simply by your straightforward courtesy
and frankness. combined with prosessional
intelligence. said Mr. Wolf
Because We were strangers you did not
think il necessary 10 treat us with coldness
or dis,rust. You saw We were really inter-
ested in acquainting ourselves with your
works and you did not ask us before ex.
tending TO US your civiliies what letters Of
Introduction We brought lou measured
us by the spirit we showed aud not by the
dignilies NO might have . Exhibited.
The mechanic visited ~. Petersburg.
aud soon afterwards removed his whole es.
lablisment there. lie had Imperial or.lers
there for as many locomotive engines ns he
could construct lie has lately returned
10 his own country. and IL still receiving
large returns from his Russian workshop.---
And all this prosperity grew out Of his
unseldsh civilty TO iva strangers, one Of
whom was the secret Agent Of the Czar Of
Russia.