The National tribune., 1893-12-28
EDITORS CHAT.
Five National Poems, Etiquet of Business
Life, and Happy New Year AL

Five National Poems, Etiquet of Business
Life, and Happy New Year AL
FIVE NATIONAL POEMS.
II seems ~ though my question had not been
understood. What j want to know IL, WHAT are
the five great National poems, not oil the Ohiteu
States hut of any Nation. As understand II, each
Nation has q National poem, and want the names
of the five greatest poems of the i've greatest Ma
tians.
So writes Anna L. Mansfield, Hopedale, o. And
stlI we are at a loss to know exactly what scope
this inquiry takes. II the writer means to inquire
what are the five greatest songs lyrics. of the
five greatest modern Nations. the answer would
undoubtedly he as follows: Germany. " Die Yacht
am Rhein." (The Watch the Rhine.l France
ia AIarseiiaise,- (The Marseilles Hymn.l Eng
land, God Save the King" Italy, The Italian
Hymn" The United States. America" or " My
Country, IT'S of Thee" Ito the tune of God Save
the King.")
Each of these poems, songs is set to distinctive
rna~ic except that the United States sings the Old
British air 20 new words.
If the writer means the five greatest National
poems of the five greatest Nations, ancient and
modern the answer would be far different; as. for
instance: The Hebrew Naton-The Book of Job.
Greece-Homer's Had" Germany-"The Me-
belungen." Italy-Dante's Inferno, Purgatorio,
and Paradise" England-Shakspere's Dramas.
ETIouET OF BUSINESS LIFE.
Like Edith I wouid like to ask the Editor a
question. What the rules Of etiqnet In business,
IN the shop and office? ] have never been sbie TO
hnd ANYTHING concerning this subject. and wohiu
be glad if ] coHld any information through
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. i enjoy the Error :
Chat. !" and thought the article on good-breeding
unusually good.
Luella Martin Is the inquirer this time, and
thanks are due TO her for the suggestion. as the
subject Is well worth consideration. II was only
the other day that the writer heard two ladies
discussing certain dry-gOods store.
81 know their goods are ine" said one, "but
never buy anything there; the clerks are all SO
disagreesble."
As the clerks were nearly all young girls. some
Of them recent graduates OF the public schools, an
inquiry as TO what constituted dtssgreeabeness in
their case soon made things plain. They were
cold curt and indifferent. They waited on you
reluctantly, showing you only such things as you
asked for. and always with that air of unconcern
which made ysu feel almost like a beggar when
yeu went 10 buy their goods.
II wRs a department. store, but when you entered
She head man nowhere to he seen, and when
you asked the clerk at the lace-counter where the
calicoes were kept. she did not much as deign
TO reply but pointed TO the lower part Of the aisle.
as much as to say. I'VE don't care much for calico
customers here"
Again. at the calico-counter you inquire where
the pushes are 10 be found. and the clerk says.
"Secoad COULTER to the right" while from her
manner you fully expect she will add: What,
buying plnzhes these hard tmes7 Better save
your money and give ii to the poor"
Now, what is wanted in business Iise he It Office
or store, Is courtesy avoiding indifference the
one hand, aud ob>eQuiousness on the other. No
matter what position you take in public you be-
come the servant Of the public and when you cster
70 the wants Of the public you should do IL that
hob
favors upon you, and not you upon them-
When yon enter a store you do not want 20 be
forced to hBy what you DO not want. neither do
you want to force the proprietors clerks to sell
90 you. And yet everyone who buys goods or
produce Of any kind is constantly made to feel
that he is an inieTioPer when he goes ID buy the
wares Of merchants traders. In some stores you
feel that no hing short 81 Vesuvian earthquake
would waken up the clerks TO any intelligent dis
charge of their duties.
"well. clerks get tired" someone says. To be
sure they do and yet il is from the tired clerks
that people get the indifferent service. If il
were. sympathy would CONSIDERABLY pass over
their shortcomings 1t is in those stores where
there j. the east patronage that the clerks the
most accommodating and disagreesble.
When PEOPLE come to your house you at least
look up from your work and give them a word al
greeting Yon must be very busy. indeed il you
have time TO ask them to be seated. You may
not be able TO talk them just then. Your work
may be such that you cannot leave IT, or others
may be occupying your time in the discussion of
business
But you will surely say: Excuse me- please,
and will see you in a moment" And so, with this
word ofplea-ant greeting, your fren Dis acqagnt-
ances will wait patiently until you have the time
TO converse with them or listen to their requests.
Now. exactly the same kind Of eourtesies should
be shown by those IN business life their patrons
and customers. II they only knew how their stock
in trade i enhanced by this variety OF goods they
would remember the homely old Injunction :
"While you s-gelting. get plenty"
While no clerk should take the time to gossip
with customers, there should be cultivated an
alert aud cheerful manner, and accommodating
spirit. The young buyer and the shy customer
should be kindly DEATH with, many such are
driven away from the store where looks askance
and chilling words are dealt out In allopathic
doses.
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
To all the Loyal Home Workers. c. c., Guards
and all our dear friends. bright and happy New
Yeari
To all who have written words of good cheer,
many and heartfelt thanks. And thanks pzrticu-
larly. TO those who have contributed by letters,
essays. compositions and kindly messages TO make
the C. c. columns - better than ever"
II Is simply impossible 10 acknowledge, with pen
and ink, all the welcome messages which have
found their way to the Editors desk. And TO give
room 10 all connuu icaIioHs it would be necessary
TO occupy half TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE each week
But rest assured that nothing is thrown aside
without careful consideration. and la selecting
matter for printing the greaesi good OF the greatest
number is the guiding purpose always ia view.
Articles on abstract questions Of remote interest
however well prepared must always give way 70
the burning, vital topics Of the times. Again. with
thanks TO all and the hope that friendly competi-
ton will go on, accept. one and all. happy New
Years greeting.
HISTORIC TORTURE INSTRUMENTS.
How Criminals were Punished and Con.
sciences Fettered ia Old Isarbaric Days.
cnIIncIi1.r 4 inrtrra iuatrr..,,,. fen. liz