The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-07
being GRACIOUS
| VALUABLE ASSET
Merely Knowing How to Be
Has Won Promotion for
Men and Women

From the New York Sun.
The art of being gracious is a valu-
able asset not only in the social
vcrld but also TO the business woman or
man. Merely knowing how to be cour-
teons has won advancement for men and
women, for it is not an easy matter to
find employees who can deal with a dis
gfuntled customer and still keep his good
will There are big business institutions
that keep such men and women. and
many of them draw handsome salaries.
A striking example of the value of po-
likeness is told by a woman who was left
to support herself and her children and
wl.o had never had any business training
Her husband had had an income of sev-
eial thousand dollars a year. but it had
all been spent on good living. After his
death the wife applied for employment
To firm with which she had had an ac-
count.
What can you do?" she was asked.
Partly in jest she replied she could
write a polite note. To ner surprise she
was taken at her word, for the firm was
badly in need of such a person. She
was told that 1t was difficult TO find
some one who could answer complaints
in such a way that the friendship of the
customer was retained. For several years
she supported herself and her child hy
writing polite notes.
In another instance young man III
New York arose from an insignificant no
sition to that of secretary OF the presi-
dent and diplomat for the concern. ,ie
was never too busy to perform an aet
of courtesy. and it was noticed that No
was bringing new business He was moi
one of those young men who size up the
clothes of a visitor, and his good treat
ment of one questionable dressed Visi-
tor got a $4,000 deposit for the firm. One
of his duties now is to toufNhe banks OF
the country and get exchange accounts
Often two people start similar bust
ness in the same block. one win thrive
While the other starves for lack of pat
ronage. Near a New York college tao
young women opened manicure rooms
within = few doors of each other. They
had the same plices, but the grade OF
work differed. One woman was tactfu
and businesslilSe, the other was sloveniy
and offended her customers by telling
them it was hard to make their hands
look nice. The first one soon enlarged
her quarters.
a big firm sends out number of eSl-
leotcrs. When each man turns in the
money he is asked If he has made any
| new friends for the firm. 1t is not enough
that the old bills have been collected.
Some large dry goods firms take bach
garments thai have been worn rathei
| than enter into n controversy with a good
customer. The figure it is better to lose
the value of the garment than it is tc
lose the trade.
On the other hand there are instances
In whiel courtesy and kindness are
abused. A few summers ago q well to
do New York woman turned over her
home to some young women rather than
leave 1t empty. They were engaged in
business and instead of keeping a ser
want they figured they would do the
work and save the money.
Much to their surprise she returned tc
town unexpectedly and went to the house
Il was in the last state of disorder She
hurried to notify the young women that
she wanted her house at once so these
saving young women had to find place
where they had to pay rent.
A man who owned a carriage formed
habit of taking poor people for drives
He found as soon as he ceased to give
these free rides these people became dis
gruntled.
A woman in New York who gives much
of her time to finding employment fol-
people and going out of her way to dc
favors has met with the same experience
Many of these people do not think to
thank her, while others when asking a
ia, or put 1t as demand She has ceased
her activities with these people