The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-26

| the man complained Of and the higf
| subordinate may dismiss the man forth
with. The responsible head of the busi-
ness thinks. what Is best for his bufiness
himself, and ALL The people on the othe'
side know this and make their complaints
10 the highest authority. It's time VIC
learned 10 go with our complaints to
hcadquarters-not TO headquarters. We
could do II with more self-respect."
Mr.. Clemens said his name gave him
no advantage. zone OF the men at the
Players club whom have referred to-"
ne said. "who had complained TO high
subordinate OF railroad company and
received no answer, thought 1t was be-
cause he was unknown. ! told him that
was not true and suggested his address
ing the responsible head OF the company.
He did so and was answered immediate
ly.
II once had occasion 10 see the head
Of one OF your surface railroad compan-
ies about a difficulty. | should have
written 10 him. because. while man nay
be too busy TO talk to strangers, he reads
his mail But ! tried to see him. | was
turned OF. ! happened to go to The Sun
Office just afterward. and told a friend
there OF my experience, and that ] was
Just about 10 write 20 the President OF
note here for The sun he said. l did
SO. and then / got at the President i'm
mcdiately.
Il am told that there IL a noticeable
improvement I'm the bearing Of the por-
tiers on the palace cars between here and
the West. I shall be glad TO see il, for
they used 10 bc most impudent friend
of mine. who made II a point always TO
stand up FOR his rights. had some trouble
once. ! remember on one OF these cars.
In some way the small matter OF forty
cents was involved. Most men would say
that was too small n matter to bother
about. Nothing is too small 70 complain
about II you have been wronged. II was
not too small for my friend. and he set
out to see the President OF the palace car
company. He was turned off by any
number Of subordinates Of various de-
grccs but he persevered. lie passed
clerk after clerk at doors or windows
and by dint of pertinacity finally got his
card sent 70 the President. On the card
he had written that his errand was 10
make a complaint In a few moments
the President sent for him. received him
most politely. and when my friend had
stated his business the President thanked
him warmly for bringing the matter 70
his attention. Forty cents was a small
matter 10 the man who complained.
You or | would have said, Let IT 60
But II isn't the amount: think Of the next
man when you are wronged and kick
for his sake"
Then YOU would have us nation OF
kickers?"
"Yes let each man kick his neighbor
and receive a kick in return until we have
peace with courteousness. Eliminate
fftni1fftr nj fh.p kfgL / u
born timid. / was timid until somebody
told me / ought TO know better. Complain
when you are not properly treated. and
complain to the proper person. COM
plant TO a head waiter or head usher
may be without result But if you 20 10
the manager Of a theatre and say TO him
that an usher's language TO you, or u
may be only his manner toward you, was
offensive. although your manner toward
him had not been disagreoahle, don't yO1
suppose that manager would promptly
call the usher to account? If the prOprie-
tor Of a hotel were told Of the treatment
or lack Of ia stranger receives from
his clerk, he would not back up the clerk;
he could not do so. The railroad COM
panies employ spoilers TO report con-
ructors who knock down fares. The COM
panies protect their pockets, and l be-
lieve they could be induced TO protect
their patrons. What would be the diff
Guilty. for instance, in having these same
spoilers report delinquencies i'm the con-
duct OF the employees OF the roads? l
believe a reform can be effected along
these lines. but the complaints must be
made or sent TO the responsible heads OF
the various businesses"
do you not think that should the
Presidents of the corporation be flooded
with several hundreds OF letters as re-
suit Of your sul resuons they would think
this was one of your jokese"
III they were to he flooded with several
hundreds of letters | should not regret
IL at all" Mr.. Clemens replied, still i'm his
serious mood III the Presidents received
several hundred letters Of that kind the
necessity foi the letters would soon cease
to be-"
Mr.. Clemens will start in August on a
tour of the world, reading and lccmring
In the Englsh-speaking countries. II is
a trip he has long desired 10 make. He
will sail from the Pacific coast. and spend
three months in Australia Tasmania.
and New Zealand and go thence to South
Africa and from there 20 England. ON
his return 10 this country he will make a
hnal tour Of the United States. going into
the Southern states. whore he has never
been.
Mr.. Clemens gray hair is more bushy
than ever. and the vOluminous locks and
bis shaggy eyebrows make his head look
like that OF man of big frame rather
than if they really belonged 10 a little
man who If he got himself up convon-
iionally would be called dappor-New
York sun.