Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-02-15
THE ASSET OF FRIENDSHIP"
An Article from the Musical Cour-
Ter of January about A. L. VESSEL.

| lcdl COuTleT, piano CTdQ0 magazine
contains a picture of Arthur L. Wes-
sell, vice president of VESSEL, Nickle
& Gross, who are preparing to open
their Barton plant soon. Accompany
ing the picture is an article on "The
Asset of Friendship" which is in
spired by Mr.. VESSELS ability to
make friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. VESSEL spent the
| greater part of last summer in Bar
/, ton and large number of people in
and about Barton can testify to the
fact that all the article says about
| him is true.
The article follows:
| Piled high on the desk of Arthur L.
| VESSEL, vice president of VESSEL,
| Nickel & Gross, New York, col
lection of holiday greeting cards was
recently seen, which looked tc be
nearer 1000 in number than it did
500.
Mr.. VESSEL was asked if these
cards represented a collection for
years. He replied in the negative,
adding that they were all received
during the present holiday season of
1921-1922. "And," he went on, 81
know every one of the men who sent
these cards, and most of them we'll
enough to call by their first names"
l. This gives an adequate idea of the
vast acquaintanceship of Mr.. Wes-
sell, and brings to mind an express
sion written by the editor which ap-
peared in the Musical Courier Extra,
issue of January z, in which he placed
particular emphasis on the Importance
of piano statesmen remembering faces
and names, as he deemed it of utmost
! value to the salesman to know his
people when he saw them the second
time. But not only is it true that
the retail piano salesman should de-
and faces, and also cultivate acquain-
tanceship and friendship wherever the
opportunity presents, but the advice
holds true for any other man, no mat
ter what his calling may be.
E In the case of Mr.. VESSEL, he is by
nature lover and believer in his fell
low men. Because of this trait, he
has a roster of friends and acquain-
tances that few men engaged in the
piano industry, no matter it's branch,
can exceed or even equal. The writer
can we'll understand how Mr.. VESSEL
has built up such large number of
friends, because during the Is years
that he has known Mr.. VESSEL, he
cannot recall that he ever heard him
say an i'll word about another man.
Quite often has the writer been pres
ent when other men were discussed,
and sometimes not to their credit, but
there he generally found Arthur Wes-
sell silent listener or else interpos-
ing with the remark: "He has got
some good qualities. too" In other
words, Mr.. VESSEL would rather
think of the good qualities a man has,
no matter how few they are, and for
get all the others. 1t is quite true
that the majority of us are not made
that way Therefore, the man who
has a nature and disposition such as
Mr. VESSELS is bound to build up
friendship such as these holiday
greeting cards showed.
Speaking of friendship, the George
Batten Company, one of the best
known advertising agencies in the
vertisement in the New York Times,
entitled, "The Asset of Friendship"
a few weeks ago. The advertisement
was more of an editorial than it was
an argument as to why concern
should allow Batten to handle it's adj
vertising. At its very beginning was
a headline which read: "To the man
who never heard of you, you do not
exist" From this we can see what
value it is to VESSEL, Nickel &
Gross to have such large number
of people who know Arthur w. Wes-
sell.
This friendship is one of those val
liable, intangible assets of a bust,
ness which cannot be put in the state
ment handed to bank, or used when
firm wants to learn the financial
standing of it's business; yet there
are none who would dispute that
man with a large acquaintance is of
great value to a concern. How often
do we find when it comes to putting
a man at the head of a new organl-
cation that great care is taken to find
one who is widely and favorably
known, either publicly or in his i'm
mediate trade, according to the ma
ture' of the new corporation.
Friendship is something which can
not be bought like a commodity or a
piece of property. 1t must, like rep
utation, be earned, for it generally
takes many years before a man is
willing to refer to another as his
friend. Simply to know man does
not mean much, but to have man
know you we'll enough to like your
company and often seek it, is some
thing that will help to make life
better for living, and in the long run
aid whatever business one may be en-
gagged in.
With all this talk of modern bust
ness, and with all that it is supposed
to mean that one has been filled be-
fore the business world received it's
rude awakenings, some Is months
ago, friendship and reputation IN
business were considered most essen
tial, and as it was business found
ed upon truth, it will survive long
after all of the innovations that have
been tried, are being tried, and will
be tried in the future.
The passing of the Grand Union
Hotel in New York, few years ago
affected thousands of men. Accord
ing to modern business one ought to
ask:"What of the passing of that
hotel? Aren't there enty of 9TH
ers, more inviting in appearance, with
ever so many more comforts, etc 2"
Yet there was certain friendliness
about that hotel, particularly in the
dining room, that prompted men to
patronize it year after year. In truth
it's place has not as yet been filled,
because one hears every now and then
some mplimentary remarks respect
mo ifs food and Sarvica IFS raStaI1-