The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-02-02
COURTESY TO
.1000EMPLOYES
Union Pacific Has Unique De.
partment for instruction to
Men IN Dealing With Trav-
elers,

/; OMAHA. Neb.. Feb. l.-What IL
probably the largest scnool of de-
pertinent and etiquette in the world
has been, made a. permanent depart
ment Of the Union Pacific railroad.
Nearly 1000 employees Of the road
are now enrolled in the school, and
additional applications are received
daily. The Institution is part Of the
educational bureau recently estab-.
ished by the company, which is un-
Ter the management OF D. C. Bull, and
has now undertaken to teach the en-
ployes how they should deport them
selves when dealing with the public.
The first Instructions Of the school
have been sent out in the form OK a
pamphlet Of the educational bureau
devoted to discussion Of the value of
courtesy, which is declared to be one
Of the most necessary assets of the
-ailroad employe who has to deal with
he travelling public.
Travelling Public Nervous.
One of the main reasons assigned
for the necessity for courtesy in deal
ing with the railroad public il the fact
that persons when travelling are Pc
culiarly nervous on account of the
sensations incident to the disturbance
Of their daily habits and routine.
ut may be accepted as a general
proposition" says the writer of the
pamphlet Of instruction, "that large
percentage Of the passengers on a
train are in more or less abnormal
condition, ranging from uneasiness to
positive hysteria, or nervous prostra-
ion. Conductors running west Of
Cheyenne can call to mind many cases
where such conditions have become
manifest by passengers attempting to
jump from the train or commit sui
eide.
''In many cases passengers have
succeeded in doing themselves bodily
harm. This semi-dementia begins
when the patron arrives at the ticket
window, and remains until the journey
is ended and normal conditions are
restored by rest and quiet"
After calling attention to strange ac-
tons of travellers under such condi-
lions the employee is advised to, note
that nothing personal is intended If
he traveller seems querulous.
Railroad Mystery to Millions.
ut must be remembered" says the
pamphlet, that the railroad with its
complex rules and schedules is mort
or less of mystery to eighty millions
of persons and even experts often are
puzzled to avoid mistakes or misun-
derstandings. For this reason, ques-
tons must be answered carefully and
correctly and with cheerfulness that
does not repel or discourage the ques-
toner, even IL the questions seem IRA
tional or even silly.
Courtesy can neither be bought
nor coerced," continues the pamphlet,
but must come spontaneously from
those in charge of the companys at
fairs. Courtesy and affability do not
require one to be sycophant, nor to
practice anything humiliating or re-
pulsive to one of gentlemanly instinct;
nor Is 1t desirable that employees OBJ
rude themselves on the patrons of
road indscreetly or inopportunely.
while affability is to some extent
talent. it also is in some cases a
genius. The one can be cultivated, but
the other, IL not natural, can be ac-
CURED only by great effort"
Contact with persons who are nat
urally affable is advised as one of the
DSSt HietHOuS Oh acquiring COuEtcoy.
Those who practice the successful
methods of craftsmanship and those
whose actions in both official and So
cial relations are governed by ordinary
etiquette are named as good examples
to follow.
Personal attention from an employe
and the effect Of brass buttons Is said
to have great weight in winning
travellers approval of the railroad.
MANY prominent and we'll known
men have been flattered by a word Of
recognition from the conductor" is
declared.
On the contrary a Grabbed employe
is said to give the public harsh i'm
preston of the railroad. which may
result in unfavorable legislation.
"Of the tipping system 1t is said:
ut is not necessary in this country
20 purchase attention or information
from employees. Let US keep 1t so.
May the day be long distant when the
American railroad man will be dubbed
servant and Inundated with tips
until he loses his self-respect."