New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-22

Gated with the residence, with the result,
named. The building belonged to Messrs.
Clere & De1cambre, and was insured fol
$1,000.
Courtesy ~ q Business Iavestmene.
The merchant of the old school, says the
Boston Times is fast disappearing, and with
the advent OF the new school new type OF
manners is growing up in business circles,
in which there are many things which de-
serve to be pointed out to the younger part
of the community as worthy to be avoided.
Politeness is but bensvOlenoe IN little mat
tiers. and part of the minor morals of life
There was something attractive 10 the for
NAL courtesy of the old school when they
began their letters: Ger tlemen-Your
esteemed favor Of the first instant
is duly received" The Few school
writes. :: Gents-Yours first instant re-
ceived;" more brief, perhaps, but raw, bald
and implying less consideration toward the
writers. Raw lade, when first entering on
business life, are apt to cultivate brusque-
nese, sbruptness, and even rudeness which
they mistake for energy and decision. The
really able man Of affairs is eelf-pOised, I'M.
rufled by tritiee, and man of power al
ways works easily and sometimes deliber-
ately, just as . great ocean steamer plows
calmly along while an insignificant tug
boat seems to be continually putting and
straining.
In social circles most youngsters are sure
to have mother, sister or some kind friend
vino does not fail to give them hint as to
behavior. and happy are they if such sin
cere kindness is their lot; but in the store
or countiuzroom every one is too busy or
too Indifferent to drop hint. In fact, the
two sections of existence are too much
separated II man is . Christian and q
L. - - ko 1sr
on Washington or Franklin street az IN his
parlor en- the Back Bay or in Beacon street.
In business establishment the cue
is generally taken from the heads
of the house in regard to manner,
and apart entirely from the duty and
the desirableness of courteey 1t has
a business value which perhaps may with
some prove the strongest argument. Some
of our retail stores are sought ont by the
public purely because they are pleasantly
treated IN them, and others are avoided by
many for their deficiency in attention. We
fird, for instance salesman who receives
YOU with the freezing Indifference of New
York hotel clerk, views you with suspicion
az perhaps kleptomaniac. is hard of hear
ing. and after with difficulty making him
understand your wants, if his goods do not
suit YOU he thruets them back with an in
diRnant air, as if he were . deeply in
iured man. AGO her salesman receives
YOU with pleasant manner. perhaps recol-
lects your name or seems to remember J on.
He is ready to anticipate your idea, explains
everything, and is willing to exhibit his
mere handise without insisting by his man
ner that you shall commit yourself to q
purchase in advance. He makes sales
every time, and ladies especially make
note of that young man to come again and
buy of him Still, a third salesman has got
the tin-peddler etyle. He pounces, like a
hawk, on the customer. talks necessarily.
knows infinitely better what you want than
you do yourself, disapproves of your taste,
and has just the thing for you. is resolved
to make you buy it and has fifty other
things that he knows you need. He over
does it. hurries you, and is irksome. The
In sjority of customers have just so much
money to spend, know pretty we'll what
thew want, and a judicious and pleasant
ala ,rity in suiting them without Indifference
or overriding it is the right treatment.
In most places of business there is al ways
q good desl of inquiry for information and
contact with the public apart
from actual transactions. The humblest
has sel:-love, and Indifference or
is never forgotten, while pleasant
and genial manner attracts strangers, and
some new connection Is formed every day
whioh ofte ripens into important business.
Instances on record are innumerable where
a young man has dated his first steps to
fortune from the pleasant impression he
made on account OF incidental acquaint-
arces. We are treating this subject purely
n business light, because many are under
de conviction that business and manners
ire nothing in the marts Ut commerce.
Everybody IN active life has people who
ire bores to him, vet even in the treatment
If boree anything like insult or 0ffense
argues and intellectual rawness and want
If talent and tact. It does not do tor any
me to be too severe on bores. because, al
hough B may be a bore to you, you ii y be
Yourself bore to c. Everybody can learn
rood manners. but they are something that
AN not be LEAF ed from books, being q part
# that unc0ns uious education gained by
Keeping good company. Good company
ones down IT, It loudness, rawness, and
prominence of self very common in lads OF
cal ability. There are many mothers who
AVE unconaciously educated their sons in
courtesy, and m any homes where it ia the
labitual atmOs mere, and these are the best
chools.
There is a ve1y excellent field for prac:ic-
ng courtesy IL the writing of letters.
The leaving of any civil Communication
unanswered willie postal cards are one
=
vtich deserves to be condemned in the
everest manner, and is simply unpardon-
bile rudeness. The late Henry Wilson
While in public life was daily overwhelmn-
d by correspondence, but invariably re-
urned courteous answer to the humblest
r most troublesome correspondent. Who
AN read the letters of Washington, while
truggling with thousand difficulties, with
mt being profoundly impressed by that noble
courtesy which stepped aside for moment
rom the affairs of the nation to answer the
etters of his humber friends With unfailing
,unctuality? The writing of anonymous
etters is TOO common in many country vii
ages, and is a proceeding 50 vile, cowardly,
md contemplate that it is hardly neces.
AIRY to condemn it, but many people will
mt into letter words that they dare not
az to mans face. Don't write if you
lon't dare to say it, but write the word
oward, and see how it looks.
There are o large number of biographies
which contain very fine examples of grace
ul and pleasant letter writing. The letters
f General Grant during the war also con-
ain many good examples Of very brief
,et highly courteous business style, for in
lance:
HEAperARrERs IN THE FIELD,
Camp near Donelson, February l6, 1852.
% General i. B. Buckner, Confederate Army:
Yours OF THIS Oate, proposing an Armi-
tice and appointment Of commissioners to
ettle terms of capitulati0n, is just received.
70 terms other than an unconditional and
surrender can be accepted.
propose to move upon your works imme-
lately. am, sir, very respectfully, your
,bedientsservant,
U. S. GRANT,
3rigadier General United States Army,
Commanding.
1t is worthy Of notice that although the
addle was probably the desk, and the
BUSINESS was pressing and unpleasant to
he gentleman addressed, yet Chesterfield
himself could not have written the last
inc more courteousH.
Innumerable lawsui.s spring from rude
less of manner, and the difficulties that
ai1v ariaa ara Wonderfully amel,oratadi nv