The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-13
CHAMPION DEMONSTRATIONS.
Persians Look Upon Promptness as a
Form Of Lunacy.

Form Of Lunscy.
There are parts of the world where
punctuality is held OF no account IN
the making of successful transactions,
and among the Persians 1t absolutely
Is unknown.
According to Henry Savage Landor,
who has spent much time studying
business methods among these people,
the Persian hates anything that savors
of promptness He is a dreamer, and
although he cannot be called absolute
ly lazy, as he is usually absorbed in
deep thought. still he seldom has little
leisure for anything else. The returns
for his work, however beneficent, are
too small for his expectations.
In marked contrast is his abhor-
renee for punctuality. There is no
country where time counts for less.
He thinks nothing Of making a busi-
ness appointment for 10, delaying 1t
| until IL, only to explain that he wished
| he might have come sooner, but 1t
could not be helped; he has just fin
| ished his morning meal. However inn
portant the business 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 to return in 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 inslgnincance when com
| pared with the habits of the Persian.
| Punctuality is especially unknown
| when II comes to payment of debts.
| He must take time to reflect about
everything 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>h him better, but
he never Is ready to pay unless placed
under great pressure.
A Frenehman called on Persian
one day and asked him to pay a debt,
but the Indifferent debtor made an
swer: IL will pay you some time"
"When is this sometime?" querled the
impatient Frenchman. 'Is it twelve
months, eighteen or two yearsY 81
don't know" answered the bland son
or Iran. Il guess we had better say
when am ready"
1t must be said to the Persians
credit that they usually pay in the
end, but they wonder why people
should worry when they have so much
time. II Is quite beyond them to re-
alize what difference 1t makes whether
payments are made today, tomorrow,
or a year from today. They look upon
American haste as an acute form of
lunacy and believe that our strenuous
life is so foolish 1t is not worth con
sideration. AS a cultured Persian re-
Gently told an ambitious young Amer
lean, II work 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. 1t is hard to say whether
this desire simply to act on impulse
Is due to temperament, conceit or
climatic conditions. With conditions
such as they are, the economic de.
yelopment of production, distribution
and circulation are bound to be ham
pered
The currency is another difficulty
that limits the making of business
success. Gold coin is mere commo-
dity, aud Is so scarce 1t Is used chiefly
for presents and boarding.
In spite OF these obstacles, most
Persians earn q livelihood and often
succeed. They are skilled craftsmen
showing wonderful ability for
weaving and the working of metals
but they are seen at their best when
they are making loans of money at
high interest on ample security. They
often get from so per cent to 80 pei
cent, sometimes 100 per cent while
10 per cent is deemed a modest
! amount for small nrivata loanc