Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-16
JOHN THURlOW koMMER =
On Sonethinu Else In Business

TAN man of trade be man of manners
~ "a gentleman? Nowadays hardly any
body would admit question, yet at one
time gentility was defined restricted to
robbers and lunatics. There are still per-
hapS a few of the exalted who hold to the
absurd thesis that trade perforcc coarscnS
man. But dean of department of
Boston University recently declared the
modern man of business to be the spiritual
descendant Of Sir Galahad King Alfred and
st. Francis Of Assist. And this, perhaps, is
what John Thurlow Kommer. a rug manu-
tacturer for many years means by some
thing else in business
at has been frequently stated" he says
that business. so called. is cold bloodcd
affair, in which the only consideration is
that of making profit or gain, and that
everything else must bend toward this pur-
pose. Those who make this assertion also
tell us that We must not let sentiment, or
anything akin to it, enter into our trans
actions with our fellow men or we shall be
the losers thereby.
I'VE must not let our friendships sway
us. or influence us in making our decisions
or arriving at our conclusions. We must
be cold booded' in our dealings If we would
be successful.
Philosophy Is Questioned
lis all this true, and is this a safe
philosophy to follow? Is modern business
conducted in such a manner? Do we exclude
from our commercial life all thought of those
high and lofty ideals that sometimes take
possession of us in our social relationships:
'If so. then business career is al
unsafe calling for a young man or young
woman to follow, and will lead sooner or
later to the lowering Of those standards the
maintenance of which makes for all that Is
best in life. We are not willing to admit,
however, that business in general is con-
Quoted on so low plane nS the foregoing
statements
"Wc are thinking Of some of the men
we meet in the run of days work; men
who have been fashioned in n very fine
mold men whose honor and integrity are
of such high type as TO make 1t impos-
sbe for them to St0Op TO anything low or
unfair: men who will 90 out of their way
to do a good turn, even to a competitor, il
the occasion arises; men who could not be
cold blOoded' even If they should try; men
who prize an unsullied character above the
mere making Of dollar i'll trade men
whose friendship. in many instances, does
not extend beyond the confines of the bust
ness world and yet who exhibit a spirit
of real triendliness which cannot be ex-
celled even in the best social circles or
around the freSide at home.
More Politeness Is General
I'VE are thinking, too, Of the frequent
| exchange of courtcsies which take place day
| after day in the office, in the store and in
| man az Il gentleman. 1t was Lord Chester
! field who said, There has been but one
! perfect Gentleman, and lie was born in
! Bethlehem of Judea' If Lord Chesterfield
! could have met some of our modern business
| men he would have been led to conclude
| that these also have about them the traits
! and mannerisms that make for real gentility
! and genuine manliness such as character
| lied the Man of Nazareth. Men of this
| htamp thrOng the avenues of business today.
| and their presence makes the conduct of
| business a pleasure and delight and helps
! 10 relieve the stress and strain which are
| necessarily part Of commercial life in an
| nge of keen competition and close bargain
| ing.
| "Thcre is something else in business apart
from money making. The old saying. we
are not in business for our health has q
| measure of truth in 1t, to be- sure, but the
| man who sees nothing but the dollar mark
MS he trudges to and from his Office ana
| who makes everything else subseryicnt to
| his desire for gain Is missing the best out
| of life and is overlooking the essential pur-
nose of business, which Is TO make character
! as we'll az fortune. A careful study of
| human nature helps wonderfully in the up
building Of character
"In business "A splendid opportunity is
afforded TO study our fellow men at close
range.
Take, for instance, the vast number of
men who pass in and out of the average
Office In the course of a day men with whom
you converse men with varied tendencies ;