Pocahontas star herald., 1912-04-26

|
and industrial mechanism of society
as a whole. The degree of smooth.
ness, effectiveness, and nicely with
which 1t reVolves Is determined to
great extent by the lack of fric-
ton between it and society as a
whole.
The wheel may be perfect wheel,
each component part set and adjust
ed with precision and perfection.
And yet, if friction Is caused by its
revolutions, its value and effective
ness are severely impaired. Cour.
tesy is the oil which dlminishes the
evil effects of friction.
The value of courtesy as a bust
ness asset is seldom appreciated nor
its necessity fully comprehended.
The wear and tear of the daily
grind make many a human cog IN
industrial organizations peevish,
irritable, and curt. The tendency
arises to forget that such a thing as
courtesy exists. This tendency
must be fought from the instant it
appears.
Discourteous treatment affects
the recipient as a nervous irritant.
Dlscourtesy Is slap to the nerves.
1t Is as severe a mlsdemeanor 10
wantonly slap the nerves of another,
as 1t would be to slap another In
the face.
GA soft answer turneth away
WRATH" said Jesus. And thus he
gave the world the basis of the
philosophy of courtesy in nutshell.
Courtesy is defined as politeness,
civllity, urbanity, courtllness, and
good breeding. 1t Is the outward
symbol of refinement, afrability,
generosity, kindness, and brotherly
love.
Courtesy is one of the hardest
rules of life to live up to. And yet
it pays dividends far in excess of
the capital of effort invested.
The reputation and success of any
business organization depend great,
ly uoon the attitude of friendliness
and eagerness to serve which il
maintains toward the public. Cour
tesy is the tangible, concrete evi
dence that the attitude exists.
Gruff treatment of patrons of any
busines enterprise furnishes obvious
evidence that the organizations de-
sire is to exploit and to "work" the
public, rather than to serve 1t.
On the other hand, every patror
who is courteously served by the em
ploye of an organization, becomes
walking advertisement for the ser
vice sold and is of incalculable ben.
eft to the organization.
Discourtesy makes for complaints
and justly so. Complaints cos
money and multiply correspondence
and the cost of postage money
And remember that a railroad, fol
instance, has to haul ton of freight
two and one half miles in order tc
pay for one two cent stamp.
Courtesy makes friends, and
friends make business.
The railway service in particular
is one in which courtesy should be
striven for with earnest and persist.
ent purpose by every employe.
Travelling under even the most
favorable circumstances is hard
work. 1t breeds "nerves." Ii
knocks the resistance and the poise
out of many traveller. 1t makes
for irritability and peevishness.
By railway employees being cour.
teous to the irritable and nervous
traveller 1t will make the latter look
with far greater favor upon the
railroads, and will 90 far in har.
monizing the present conflicting at
titudes of railway arrangements and
the popular opinion which crystal.
izes itself in legislation.
Thousands of years ago." said
James Russell Lowell, ga leaf fell
on the soft clay, and seemed to be
lost. But last summer geologist