The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-20
DEAR FOLKS:

llSon d Co. plant,
Chicago, was the dav
Waterman. He is the. Sen
tinel on Guard-and he is
an active, intelligent, hap
py and proud Sentinel. Dc
you know why! I'll tell
you.
Up to three years ago, this
Waterman looked upon
himself as a mere machine.
He felt that he occupied a
position because he
was treated as a mental.
Nobody apparently
thought him worth while.
Every day was the same
to him. Nothing happened
between sunrise and sun
set to relieve the monotonv
of his life. He was dis
couraged as most workers
arc who do not get kind
words or attention.
But a new hold on life came to
him three years ago this month
and it was all brought about
through a little act of kindness.
My, how a small courtesy
changes things for all of usl It
diSpels clouds and floods our
pathway with sunlight, Let nc
tell you what the Waterman
told me.
The day that Mr.. Wilson
came here to take charge of the
business which had been given
his name, what do you suppose
was the first thing he did,
Why, he came to my shanty,
shook hands with me and said,
John, | want YOU to know that
| think you are holding a very
important position. I look to
you to watch things very care
fully, So much depends on
you. If you will put your heart
in your work and help me all
you can | will be very CRATE
full, From now on you are g.
ing to be a right arm to this
business, I need your help to
make it a success. | hope we
will be good friends. What do
you say And, of course, I
said, 'I'll help and 7 thank you
so much for thinking that I
can help you From that time
on, | have been very happy,
/ am very proud Of the position
i hold. Mr.. Wilson always
speaks to me aud shows that
he likes me. | am Just the
average human being. and
when a man respects me and
treats me right, it makes an
awful lot of difference in my
viewpoint Of life, I feel that I
am now a real man doing work
that is necessary and helpful
John and | got along fine to-
gether during my daily visits
to Wilson & Company plant
covering a period Of five weeks,
We had many a chummy chat.
He introduced me to many OF
the workers, all Of whom re-
spect him. He dresses in a blue
uniform and stands guard with
as much pride as the Com
mandcr of a u. s. Warship
stands on the bridge of his
ship. This is the sort OF spirit
THAT makes a business prosper.
Another worker-this II a young
woman-told me that the courtesy
shown the Waterman by Mr.. Wilson
was witnessed by hundreds OF
workers who were standing at the
windows OF the big office building
watching for his coming. She said:
II cant describe to you the wave
of satisfaction that Immediately
| struck us all. Instantly the word
went all through the plant that
MIR. Wilson's first act was to visit
the Waterman, and the cry went up
in all departments, A real man has
come to lead us; now we can put
heart in our work; now we are
sure of appreciation; now w know
we will get a square deal You
have no idea what a change was
brought about at once, We went
to our work with lighter hearts
than we had ever had. We went to
our work with the feeling that we
must do It we'll from then on, and
we have been doing 1t well ever
since. Mr.. Wilson visited all OF us
later on and let us know in his
kindly way that he wanted us to