The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-02-17
The Politest OF Merchants.

a party OF gentlemen were sitting
in the Kimball reading room yester.
day afternoon discoursiug on various
topics, and swapping anecdotes, anci
ent and modern, when chance re.
mark by one Of them elected an OBJ,
servation from another in reference to
the vast amount of politeness and pa,
tience it requires to equip success
full dry goods clerk.
"Back in the latter '60's," he said
"you used to have merchant here
who was a veritable marvel in this
respect. He was New Yorker, if ]
remember rightly, and is dead now, OF
at least has dropped out Of the public
eye, but his memory is still fragrant
to those of his patrons who are yet
alive.
"NothiDg was ever sufficient to ruAle
for an instant his patience or his
politeness. The more trouble shop
per put him to, and the less that the
shopper bought, the softer was the
merchants voice, the broader his
smile, and the deeper his appreciation
of the visit.
"In fact, so true was this, that
when a certain young man, now moved
away, offered a wager that he could
harrass the even-tempered one beyond
the limits of endurance, there was no
lack of people to take the bet.
IT saw the trial. I passed through
Atlanta frequently then as [ do now,
and was invited by the young man to
20 around with him and witness the
fun.
"We entered the store, and the
proprietor met us with beamiDg face
and a hearty good morning, gentle
men.
"T am looking for piece Of cloth, ;
explained my friend, which [ would
know if / saw, but I don't remember
what it is called, and don't believe I
could describe it to you. Let see,
he continued, his brows knitted with
perplexity, and his glance rowing
about the store, as he tried to think
of some way to expedite the purchase,
and save the merchant trouble. 'Ah,
I believe that is it, he said, his
glance resting on ! hol. near at hand.
The proprietor took it down and un-
rolled it.
NO, it was something like, but
hardly the same.
1T served as a suggestion to the
merchant, however, and gave him an
idea of what his customer was looking
for. He took down another bolt.
"'No, it wouldn't do, either
"Down came another, and another
and an other, until every bolt had been
taken from those shelves and unrolled
on the counters. Astate of chaos had
succeeded to the perfect order that the
store was in when we entered the
search had been long and troublesome
and in vain, and a world Of work it
would require to restore the stock to
position. But the merchant was still
smiling and gracious.
"'Maybe that's it up yonder, said
my friend, pointing to the sole remain
ing bolt, dust covered and stuck away
in the corner of the uppermost shelf.
"The merchant stepped into rear
room and brought back a step ladder.
He placed it so that it would enable
him to reach the piece of goods, and
climbed up and took it down. He
descended, and clearing away place
on the counter, unrolled it.
eyes, that was it atlast. Now give
me, said my friend fumbling in his
vest pocket and producing silver
half dime "a nickels worth.
THE merchant laid the coin on the
cloth, took out his scissors and cut
out piece just its size. Then he
wrapped it ap carefully, and without
the faintest suggestion Of sarcasm in
his voice, and his face still wreathed
in a broad gauge smile, he mildly en-
quired
"tShall I send it to your house?'
II tainted. "-AtlantG Journal.