Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-29
THE DREAMY PERSIAN.
Tie Looks Upon Promptness as On
Form OF Lunncy

% Aunucy.
There are parts OF the world where
punctuality is held OF no account in the
making of successful transactions. and
among The Persians it is absolutely un.
known, says the Chicago Tribune.
According to Walter Savage Landor.
who speat much time in studying
business methods among these people.
the Persian hates anything that sayors
or promptneSE. lie Is n dreamer. and.
although he cannot nc called absolute.
~ lazy, AZ he ii Usually absorbed In
deep thought. stiil he seldom has little
leisure for anything else Tie returns
for his work. however benencent are
too small for his expectations.
In marked contrast Is his abhorrence
for punctuality. There Is no country
where time counts for less. He thinks
nothing of making n business appoint
ment for 10. delaying it until II. only
TO explain that he wished he might
have come sooner, but 1t could not be
helped; he had just finished his morn
Ing meal. However important the bust
ness transaction may be, he will not
give it his attention until he is ready.
1t was only recently an Englishman
called on dealer to buy Persian rugs.
The servant brought the word. and the
merchant commanded him to tell the
stranger 10 return in n few hours and
he would see him. The word was
brought back that the Englishman had
to make train within an hour. "Then
let him CO. said the dealer "My meal
is as important as his train.'
The manana of the Spaniard sinks
into perfect insignificance when COM
pared with the habits of the Persian.
Punctuality is especially unknown
when it comes to paying debts. He
must take time to reflect about every
thing and will not be hurried. Three
months to creditor or even six
months seem terribly short In his eyes
A period OF twelve, eighteen or twenty
months suits him better. but he never
Is ready to pay unless placed under
great pressure.
a Frenchman called on Persian one
day and asked him to pay n debt, but
the Indifferent debtor made answer, "I
will pay you some time" "When is
some time?" queried the impatient
Frenchman. ''Is it twelve months,
| eighteen or two years?' 81 don't
know" answered the bland son of
IRAN 81 guess we had better say
when l am ready"
1t must he said to the Persians' cred
1t that they usually pay in the end, but
they wonder why people should worry
when they have so much time. 1t is
quite beyond them to realize what diff
ference II makes whether payments
are made today, tomorrow or n year
from today. They look upon American
haste as an acute form Of lunacy and
believe that our strenuous life Is so
foolish IL is not worth consideration.
AS cultured Persian recently told an
ambitious young American: Il work a
little. enjoy much and live long. while
you work much and will die before you
attain the fruits of your labor. We
must take time to sleep and enjoy our
food"
! Business conducted in European and
American fashion cannot prosper in
Persia. IT. is hard 60 say whether this
desire simply TO act nn impulse is due
to temperament, conceit or climatic
conditions. With conditions such as
They are, the economic development Of
production, distribution and circulation
Is bound TO be hampered.
The currency is another difficulty that
limits the making of business success.
Gold coin is mere commodity and is
so scarce it is used chiefly for presents
and boarding.
In spite OF these obstacles most Per-
slams earn livelihood and often sue
reed. They are skilled era ftsmen,
showing wonderful ability for weav-
ing and the working OF metals, but
they are seen at their best when max
ing loans OF money at high interest On
ample security. They often get from
80 per cent TO 50 per cent, sometimes
100 per cent, while 10 per cent is deem
ed n modest amount for small private
loans.