Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-29
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO
SPEAK SPANISH.

Hitherto, IL has been deemed ample
linguistic accomplishment for the man of
this country who sought employment in the
various capacities growing out of American
cant could converse ~fluently in French
the tongue which has been for centuries
the common medium of exchange of
thought between nations, not only IA mat
tiers of diplomacy, but equally IN matters
Of a commercial nature. But times have
changed. Today, the growing importance
Of our trade with the L.atin-American re-
publics, extending from the borders of our
own country clear down To aPtagOnia,
has made il almost equally a. important
that those who seek to 60 abroad as rep
resentatives of our vast commercial inter
ests should be able To speak Spanish, as
to speak French. Tn truth of this has
become more evident since the outbreak Of
the European war than before. The ma
tioas to the South Of the United States
that have depended in such large measure
for trade supplies of a very wide variety
upon the leading marts Of Europe are now
unable to obtain their customary importa-
tions from those countries. Naturally this
places within the grasp of the United
States the possibility Of obtaining this
trade, and, in the event of our once Obtain
inE such a foothold, IL Will be our privilege
TO retain it permanently, provided we can
meet the requirements of the people Of
those countries.
II is this possibility that makes the OPP
portuniiy for the man who Is well verSrd
in the Spanish language. More p%articu-
larry does the situation offer opportunities
for those Who are not only able to conduct
business IN the language of CASTLE, but who
are also familiar with the customs and
manners of the people Of Latin America,
and who can adapt themselves to the meth
DDS which have always characterized the
conduct of business of those people. II
goes without saving almost. that the aver
age American salesman, with his brisk,
hurried way of doing business. IL not like
ly TO please our Deighbors to the south. To
succeed with them, the salesman or agent
must cultivate a more l~eisurely manner of
doing business, must display more consid-
Grafton for the little ~niceties of business
courtesy than Is usually deemed necessary
IN this country of rush and hurry methods.
To tell just EXACTLY what these require
nents are would be- difficult. and that i
where the man who knows has the advant-
age. Business colleges do not teach what
our Spanish speaking friends term 'urbani-
dad" a word for which our language hard
ly furnishes an exact equivalent. 4 course
II some of the big bushes houses of Mex
irc, Rio Janeiro or Buenos Aires, or almost
any OF the large centers of in
LATIN -Amer1can countries which now Of
fers trade openings to American enterprise.
IS almost necessary in order TO supply the
intangible something that j. necessary in
order for n trade evangcl 20 succeed in
those countries. However. provided the
acquisition of the language he accom-
plished. the possession of tact and the
habit VI observation would assist greatly
houses, and If the right men are sent there.
the United States may at this very favor
able juncture succeed in winning the COM
merce which Europe has so madly sacri-
feed.
That such men are available right here
in Brownsville, and all along the Mexican
border, Is not to be doubted. Our young
men. especially those who have been reared
here, are generally familiar with Spanish.
and they are also acquainted with the
lMtin- American temperament to such an
extent as 10 equip them for the very work
that now awaits Americans who are seek
ing new trade opportunities. II j. an I'M
deniable fact that Spanish has been neg
l,cted universally throughout this country.
as less important from 81 commercial
standpoint than French or German. 80 that
today. when Spanish speaking men are re-
nFired To undertake the role of commercial
:<ents to visit South America and Mexico.
the number available is entirely inadequate
TO the needs Of the situation. The oppor-
turity uhust be plainly apparent TO those in
q midst who do understand Spanish and
arr acquainted with the business methods
of y southern friends and 1sighbors.