The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-01-23

The life of a railroad man, especial
9y station agents and those who must
deal with the travelling public, is not
a pleasant one; he must brook the i'll
temper and often insults of all classes
of people He comes in contact with
those who are called from their warm
beds at unearthly hours to catch early
trains. and whose tempers are as a
matter of course not of the sweetest,
he must brook the irritability of the
.dyspeptic and the professional crouch,
and with all he MIST keep his own
temper wholly unruffied and wear a
perpetual smile, although oftimes he
would like to come around in front and
s3Gnch responsibility and politeness
sinto his tormentors
in the selection of people to occupy
such position, competency is not the
-oaiy requirement, particular stress is
spIaced upon the fact that they must
exercise forhearance, even under the
most trying circumstances. In other
words they are peid to be polite and
politeness to the fullest measure is alb
.soIutely exacted of them by their en-
Dieyers. The Louisville & Nashville
Railroad Co. is distributing among its
employees little pamphlet by David
Gibson entitled Courtesy. and the
advice and instruction embodied in
that small pamphlet might prove of
iaestimable value to people in other
walks Of life besides railroad work.
We give below as much as possible
<3f the splendid advice offered in the
little work
Common courtesy is the business of
every man who meets the public, in
any capacity, be it ever so humble.
Courtesy becomes a part Of his trade,
to be applied IN the face of resistance,
the same as it is part of a carpen-
ter's trade to apply a jack-plane on
cross grained wood, knots and even an
occasional nail head.
The man at the ticket window, the
focal agent, the gateman, the con-
duet0r. the trainman, or any man
whose business it is to come in indivi-
dual contact with the public, if he be-
= comes skillful in his work, must learn
to restrain himself from often doing
that which is every mans natural in
stinct to do in meeting discourteous,
impatient and unreasonable people
L L. i L. =
suited by nature for his job.
Tn a railroad. for instance, the man
a the ticket window, the local agent,
the gateman, the conductor, and the
trainman are the only point of con-
tact between the public and those who
manage the property for the thousands
of stockholders who own it.
KTery man has ambition enough.
Every man in every position wants
to mount higher, but merely wanting
does not get him higher.
1t is his performance of the imme-
eIiate Job that gets him higher.
ANY man, in any position, who can
SURPRISES himself and return the good
will of the institution that employs
him for the i'll will of that part of the
public who will display it, is surely
making his own prosperity; making of
himself a manager of men rather than
lust a man among men. - all by the
working out of very simple, natural
law"
The pamphlet is apparent y, but neat
CIV worded bits of admOnition, but in
fact is direct instructions, a miniature
book of rules, from which should
any one of its employees deviat-, and
that deviation be reported to those
"shigher up, the erring employe will
be strictly diciplined. even to the point
of losing his position.
As a result of these rigid instruc
eions, railroad employees are as q
usual thing polite and accommodating.
Occasionally we find an exception, but
should his Shortcomings reach the ears
of his su3eriors, he will soon find him.
self forced to either mend his manners
or seek Other employ ment.