Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-02-07
VALUE OF COURTESY
STORY PROVES OLD SAYING THAT
PoLfTENESs PAYS.
Travelling Man Tells Of Experience
Which Points = Moral for Business
Man-supereiliousne Lost shaI<y
Firm -azProfitable Order.

They were discussing the various
types of people whom they encounter
ed in their travels, and the consensus
of opinion expressed by six drummers
was that white treatment-that is,
politeness- never lost when ex-
erted on a travelling man.
The stout man, who represented a
fur house. had the floor.
This talk he said, reminds me of
little incident that occurred last
season. Hopkins was taken suddenly
ill, and the firm sent word to me to
cover a part of his route until he got
in shape again. Naturally, / was
strange to the country and to the peo-
pie, but I got along fairly well until
/ reached Seattle There l found a
letter of Introduction from the firm.
There were a lot of furs there which
the firm had been informed could be
had for bargain. 1t seems two rival
firms had gotten hold of the skins, and
1 was to use my judgment as to which
nrm I should trade with.
1T was a novel experience for me.
1 had been accustomed to selling furs,
not buying them, and naturally I felt
my Importance. 1t was a matter of
about $4,000, too, and 1 mentally pic
tured the attack of heart disease
would give the members of one or the
other firm when placed my order.
rehearsed my entrance into the store,
pictured the offhand way in which
would examine the furs and criticise
them. / even had the scene down to
such a fine point that I had the words
all chosen to utter between puffs Of a
cigar-nothing like cigar, you know,
to show nonchalancei
'Well, I started out early next
day. 1 had the cards of the rival
firms in my pocket, and as I looked
them over idly wondered which 1
would go to first. One was, say
Brown & Jones, and the other was
Smith & Waters.
Brown & Jones was the nearer to
my hotel, SO 1 walked over there, in
| fating my chest as 1 entered the
| place. 1t was a dark, cavernous sort
of store. and 1 almost CROPPED my way
| to the rear, between piles of furs.
| There seated in an easy chair, with his
| feet cooked upon a desk, sat young
man. He wore an incipient mustache
and look of insufferable arrogance.
| "'Well, what do you want?' he
asked.
-"He placed an exasperating accent
| upon the you felt my chest de
crease in circumference, and at the
| same time my innate anger arose.
Here 1 came to do this house a great
| business service and
| However, 1 smothered my anger
! produced the firms card and asked
meekly as 1 could, Is this Brown &
Jones'?'
| YES he. snarled rather than re
| piled, I'm Mr.. Jones. What do you
| want?'
| For the second time the query was
insultingly put. 1 longed to tell him
| what 1 wanted, but controlled my feel
ings.
''I don't think want anything from
you,' said simply, and walked out OF
the store.
| "At Smith & Waters I received bet
ter treatment. l placed the order with
them and went back to my hotel with
! an invitation to dine with one of the
| firm that night.
Before my trip ended learned that
| Brown & Jones had failed for a con
siderable sum. Perhaps my order
would have tided them over thrugh
the crisis. At any rate, l am vindic
tive enough to be glad of their failure
| That little word you was the greatest
| insult l ever received. New York
Mail and Express.