The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-04-11
DIVIDENDS COMPOUNDED
WHEN COURTESY RULES


WHEN COURTESY RULES
There's no telling how many
people will share in the dividends
that may come out of courteous
treatment of our visitors to this
blessed Carolina, coastland. / think
it worth passing on, how recent
example of courtesy by business
man at Hatteras, was the means
of bringing back two visitors
who'll bring several others with
them to enjoy the jamboree this
month.
A month or so ago, a Charlotte
business man with his wife, travel
ling on a short outing, were stop
ping at one of the Cape Hatteras
motels. Sightseeing one day, they
drove down to Hatteras village,
and stopped to eat at the Channel
Bass Restaurant, recently opened
by Thurman Balance. This couple
expressed themselves as being so
pleased with the superb seafood of
Hatteras that they telephoned next
day to see if Mr.. Balance could
deliver them a dinner like the one
before.
The gimmick in this was that
Mr.. Balance would have to drive
IL miles or so to deliver this order.
But he took it in stride, delivered
the order, made no extra charge.
It was a profitable deed.
Recently the customer wrote to
say that his wife and he "just
wanted to thank you for your in
terest during our recent visit to
Hatteras. We thoroughly enjoyed
the trip, and our most pleasant
memory of the entire visit was the
| folks at the Channel Bass res
! taurant."
They were so impressed that
they now plan to come down with
a large party,-some ten people to
take in the Jamboree late this
month, and they have asked Mr..
Balance to make arrangements
for rooms, where they can all eat
together. In that case, the courte-
sizes of one man is going to bring
not only more business to him, but
to neighbors who operate nearby
motel and others, who service auto
mobiles.
Speaking of courtesy and hos
pitality, the Carolina coastland has
always been noted for these fine
qualities, particularly the last
named. Our citizens have always
been good to strangers among
them. Most of our folks are direct
and to the point, occasionally alb
rupt and disregarding in their di-
rectness some of the little formali-
ties a lot of people usually expect.
But it has never been a custom
that our folks short changed the
stranger.
It is all the more important they
never do, since those who come
here come secure in the belief of
the traditional honesty and good
will of the people. If some amongst
us are discourteous, give short
service or poor quality, it will be
more noticeable than in other
places where alien greed and mer-
cenary hordes have swarmed in to
chase the crop and grab the fast
buck.
We are most likely to have such
people move into our coastland to
do BUSINESS. 1t would be a fine
thing indeed if those who live
here, love our communities, and
who have deep personal interest
in the advancement and welfare of
their neighborhoods could develop,
and grow with, all business. essen
tial to serving our fast growing
thousands of visitors who come an
nually to enjoy our scenery and
climate.
Unfortunately our people don't
have the resources to do the whole
job, and so among those who come
to profit by the opportunities here,
there will be, an occasional person
whose greed and discourtesy will
cause some customers to turn
away in disgust, who may depart
dissatisfied, spreading disparaging
remarks about our people, when
they, the guilty, were not our peo-
pie at all.
When such instances are report
ed, they should be dealt with,
When such people come in, they
should be frowned upon by all
other people. They are tearing
down what honest and loyal citi-
zens struggle to build up. It is es-
sential for survival, that we jeal-
ously guard and protect against
invasion from alien chiselers, the
atmosphere that surrounds us, and
has arisen from the spirit and will
of our devoted old people who be-
fore they left, carried on with cour-
age and cheerfulness, despite their
hardships and sufferings and sac
rifices. The priceless heritage thew