Connecticut western news., 1915-08-19
HOW TO TREAT THE PUBLIC
Dr. Crane Takes Certain Ticket Agent
 as Object Lesson.


 Almost everybody knows Dr. Frank Crane as the writer of articles contain ing homely truths with respect to every day conduct in life. Possessing a wide knowledge of human nature through his experience as clergyman, Dr. Crane has been able topoint out little deficiencies in human conduct in such an engaging manner a to give his articles all extensive vogue. Recently in one of his little talks Dr. Crane gave some advice on how to treat the public citing as an object lesson Jim Healy, a railroad ticket agent of Worcester. Mass, where Dr. Crane once had a church. This is the article.
 "Listen! all ye who handle the pub lie, and I will tell you something to your advantage.
 ''I mean you telephone girls, street car conductor walters at tables, lunch counters attendants, railway ticket agents and brakemen, tellers in banks. and clerks i'll department stores, and anybody else whose business it is to deal with the members of the common crowd.
 'I will take my text from the words of Miss Minnie Warner. the highest paid switchboard operator of the Chicago Telephone Company, as re- ported i'll the newspapers. Said she: "'Don't be mechanical. Make every man on the wire believe that your softest tones are for him alone. Furthermore, she said:
 "'Don't be indiff .rent. Make every kicker believe you are hIo en heartt d because the line is busy
 ''I take my hat off to Miss Warner, and if my wife will let me I would like to send her Lun,h of flowers.
 ''It is great temptation for the busy clerk to drop int mschinelike ways. It does not require so much vitality.
 "But it is mistake. do not refer so much to the fe .lings of the customer, for perhaps you may not care to hoot how he or she fe 'ls, and all you want to do is to fill yo1r time and get your wages. Besides, you may be sorry for yourself that you haven't any sorry left for customers. Hence, we won't discuss the sentimental side of the question.
 "Let us go to the strictly business and selfish side. Do you know that your greatest asset is being HUMAN
 "'Ah" you reply, I'm so tired and worn out that have no vitality left to palaver over people.
 "Then PUT ON politeness. Imean it. Act the part, if you cannot feel it. From the habit of smiling, pretend to be deeply interested in each person, learn how to make your voice sympa- thetic, lay in a store of agreeable phrases to hand out to each one.
 "This is not hypocrisy. It is busi- ness.
 l Do you realize that it is the HUMAN clerk that is in demand. that attracts customers that stands the best chance for promotion?
 "'The public is a great baby, some body said. It's true. I'm one of 'em. would soured glass of milk. Why not humor the public, then?
 "I know a ticket agent in Worcester, Mass. His name is Jim Healey. I consider him the best agent in the Il United States. Because you can't get him out of humor. I used to get into his office and pretend to want rail- way ticket just to get under his de- l lightful influence.
 | "Une day a wealthy and rude old lady, as some ladies are most likely to be cranky when they get old and in- solent when they are of the first fami- lies in town, came into Healy's office. He was busy at his desk. A pile of lo,+ |, ., ,-l,t < !, hand. He was behind in his cores pondence, in which state of things you or I would be irritable.
 "The old lady drew up a chair, sat down by him and with one sweep of her hand scattered all his letters over the floor.
 >" Now, she said, you attend to mel
 "Healy turned around. laid down his pen, shook hands with his visitor, and said, smiling:
 Now, do you know, Mrs. Jones, you've taken a load off my mind. I was just wishing could get rid some- how of these pesky letters. Please tell me what I can do for you
 He sold that woman over seven hundred dollars worth of steamer tickets.
 "Why snap at people Why how impatience? Why treat them with in. difference? It's all in lifetime. It's all part of the game.
 And nine.tenths of your game, be- lieve me, is making people feel pleas ant.
 Are you afraid of being treated like dog? Do you want to assert your manhood? Then assert it by not descending to the yellow-dog level of the insolent customer
 ''Be human Because you are tele-' phone girl you don't have to cultivate pie crust voice, dead and repulsive. AS a street car conductor you can say u cheery word to the tired old woman with basket. As brakeman you can make whole coach full of people warm i'm noal-lac of