Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-25
PROFITABLE POLITENESS.

cident that happened some years ago: There
was very plaiuly-dressed elderly lady who was
a frequent customer at the then leading dry
goods store in Boston No one 10 the store
knew her even by name. All the clerks but
one avoided her and gave their attention to
those who were better dressed and more pre-
tentious The exception was young man who
had conscientious regard for duty and system
He never left another customer to waite on the
lady, but when at liberty he waited on her with
as much attention as though she had been a
princess This continued year or two, until
the young man became of age. One morning
the lady approached the young man, when the
following conversation took place:
Lady-'Y Young man, do you wish to 60 into
business for yourself" ?"
Yes ma am." he responded, but | have
neither money, credit, nor friends, nor will any
one trust me. -
"Well," continued the lady, ''you go and
select good situation, ask what the rent Is,
and report TO me, handing the young man her
address. The young mau went, found capl-
tai location, good store, but the landlord re-
ouired security. which be could no give.
Mindful of the lady's request, he forthwith
went to her and reported.
"Well, she replied, you 60 and tell Mr..
- that will be responsible
He went, and the landlord or agent was sur
prised but the bargain was closed. The next
day the lady called to ascertain the result.
The young man told, but added, "What am |
to do for goods? No one will trust me-
You may 60 and see Mr. -, and MIR.
-, and MIR. -, and tell them to call on
me"
He did, and his store was soon stocked with
the best goods in the market. There are many
in this city who remember the circumstance
and the man. He died many years since, aud
left fortune s300,00O So much for polite
ness, so much for civility, and SO much for
treating ones elders with the Difference due to
age, 10 whatever garb they are clothed.
The USE OF THE OWNING ROD.-MeSsrs.
Pass & Towuey, of Br"toI, England, commu-
nicated to the Naturalist Society the results
of 90 Investigation made b, them into the curl
Gus superstition attending the use of the dlVln-
ing rod AS the use Of this instrument is by
no means obsolete 10 our oWu country, 1t may
be worth while to state that Messrs. Pass 4
Towney were successful in obtaining the attend
ancc of two reputed operators, aud both ex-
pressed themselves willing and able to 6ud the
money which the authors were to conceal. The
coniurors maintained that the instrument was
available not only in the field, bu in the nine,
and that they could by it detect metal whcr-
ever placed An English shilling being placed
under some one of series of objects, such as
hats and handkerchiefs, lying on the floor, the
master of the divinng rod, or ''dowsing fork, !"
guaranteed to find it if there were no disturb
ing causes When asked what the latter might
be, he stated springs Of water or minerals un-
der the house. He was, therefore, first OF all
to explore the room as n preliminary matter,
aud ascertain that there were no indications OF
water or minerals under the house. The first
attempt to discover the location Of the hidden
coin was successful, but under such circum-
stances as to show that it was matter of acci-
dent, and the operator refused to repeat the
'exneriment second time, even for sovereign.
The other diviner, a less expert person, seemed
to have failed In three successive cases, and
when he finally succeeded the conditions were
such as to show the whole of his audience,
most Of whom were ignorant men and pro-
fessed converts to the belief in the
diviniug rod, that the operator was guided
by no occult influences, but was merely
guessing his way along 1t was evident, in
fact, that there was DO ystery in the whole
matter and that there is as much deception 10
the use, of the diving rod as was ever practlced
by the medicine ,men Of the save tribes. The
use Of the forked rod for the purpose of finding
minerals, springs, and in fact, every possible
variety Of desiderata seems to have been hand
ed down to US from the middle ages.