The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-06
THE OIL OF

Smoothly and Prevents bot Boxes.
"0h, you can't expect sentiment
from q cold-blooded business mani
It is a matter Of business, not Of fecl-
ing, with him. He hires aud pay Lis
help. If they get their money, and
he their labor, both should be salts
fed"
This is the way a certain personre-
Gently answered an indignant Protest
of mine against the oyerbeaIing and
contemptuous manner employed to-
ward his help by a business manofmy
acquaintance.
No sentiment in businessl Why,
says Everett Mcneil, in the LEDGER
Monthly, sentiment is the oil that
keeps the machinery Of business run
ming smoothly, and prevents friction
and hot boxes. 1t does more than
this: it dignifes all honest labor, ana
gives JOY to all worthy workers.
Without sentiment business would
be robbed Of all its helpful courtesies
and amenities, and become a disa-
greeable task to be got through with
as soon as possible. Even the cold
blooded business man, who in bis
brutal s~elfshness treats his help as
if they were machines, as if they had
no feelings to hurt nor sensibiihes
to touch, expects to profit BY their
senslbilities, expects courteous and
considerate treatment from them, ex-
poets to get what he refuses to give;
and is a contemplate fraud. lie has
no more right to courtesy and con
sideration than have his employees;
and if he gets what he gives he has
no one to blame but himself.
The average man is a firm believer
in reciprocity. lie considers the
golden rule too good for everyday
usage, and is content to do unto 9TH
ers as they do unto him. He gives
his employer what his employer gives
him; machine work, if he is treated
like a machine:t the helpful labor Of a
human being If he is treated as a
human being should be.
Il would not take a penny from
him. He trusts me-"
@The old sllnlintl II / can get
the best Of him Ialwaysdo."
ooh, | don't mind working over
time now and then for Mr.. A. lie
is always SO kind"
Il am fined if | am a minute late;
but | more than make up for the loss
during The day."
"Old B. is like an iceberg in the
office. One can feel the chill in the
air the moment lie opens the dec.
He freezes all the enthusiasm out Of
a fellow. | can't do NJ best work
for him.
at is a pleasure to work foi IL. u.
He appreciates ones efforts, and that
makes a fellow feel Ike always doL
his best"
~The old bearl Nothing {
pleases him, so what is the use oftry-
ing? He is always growing"
"Mr. D makes me feel as if his in
terests were my own; ana i can 10
too much for him, because / know he
will always treat me hight.
@Why should ! take any interest
in making his life easier, OF his busi-
ness more successful? He doesn't
care how live, so long as he gets tA9
work that he pays for out Of me"
The wise business man recognizes
the truth Of these sentiments, and
the power Of help or hurt back Of
them. He knows that his own bust
ness success depends largely on the
willing h~elpfulness Of his employees,
ana understands the value Of scntr-
ment in securing this help. If he
makes his workmen feel that he takes
an interest in their welfare, he Knows.
that he will be more than repaid by
their increased interest in the work
they are doing for him, that the way
to get the best there is in a man oat
Of him is to treat him like a brother
man. OF course this is sentiment;
but it is sentiment that pays the
business mar in dollars and cents,
and ease Of conscience.
No business can be a lasting sue
cess without the use 81 hi. oil II
sentiment; for business without
sentiment is like machinery without
oil. II viii on IN niannc tbroarb A.