Courtesy in Business by Christian Weekly

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1879

Courtesy in Business.

By Christian Weekly

As we paid our four cents for a paper in the office of one of our largest dailies, the other morning, a pleasant "Thank you" from the clerk greeted us. We have thought much about it since. We should not have considered it discourteous if our money had been taken mechanically; four cents is a small sum. But it was very much pleasanter as it was, and the little incident set us to thinking on the subject we have put in the head of this article.

Would it not be much better all around if there were more courtesy introduced in our business dealings? We go into some shops and offices where there seems to be the most utter indifference whether your wants are supplied or not. We sometimes meet officials on railways or steamboats who are almost brutal in their manner, as if a gold band around the cap gave them the right to be insolent and overbearing. And then we find others quite the reverse, ready to answer civil questions civilly and to promote the comfort of those who are temporarily under their care. It is needless to say that a little courtesy goes a great way in making things smooth and agreeable.

This lesson of courtesy is one, it seems to us, that young persons entering in any capacity upon a business life ought to learn. There need be nothing fawning or simpering about it. It is the best when thoroughly manly or womanly. But it certainly is most easily acquired in youth and it will stand its possessor in good stead in all after years. The courteous clerk will rightly be the favorite clerk. We know that the homely old proverb is in one sense true, that "words do not take the place of things or actions." But it is also true, as the scripture says, "that a soft answer turneth away wrath." This politeness in manner and in words will be like the oil that prevents the friction to the machinery. It makes everything easy.—Christian Weekly.