COAL - Clpdigital.org

34 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
site physical training. One good object might be
accomplished if this impossible action were taken
—money would certainly circulate, for a time.
at least.
"Money, the life-blood of the nation,
Corrupts and stagnates in the veins,
Unless a proper circulation
Its motion and its heat maintains."
It will be a happy day for "all concerned" when
dealers in every line of trade appreciate the great
value of a first-class credit with the wholesaler,
the manufacturer and the producer. The consummation
greatly to be desired by both parties
to a business transaction can readily be brought
about by a very simple process. Don't forget the
due date of your account each month for the shipments
made to you during the preceding month.
and, placing your autograph on the business-end of
a check which has all the spaces properly filled
in, duly enclose it in the regulation covering, on
which is endorsed the address of the person, firm
or company whom you desire to receive your remittance,
and ! • •
t\ 1
TRUST "UNCLE SAM"
to do his duty in consideration of the adhesive
evidence attached to the envelope that two cents
has been paid for the services that you expect
his employes to render in connection with the
transaction. j «"'•;
Many a dealer who has a low rating in the
commercial agency books is extended a moderate
line of credit, because he does as outlined above;
and, really, the best recommendation a dealer can
have is that his bills are paid O. T. (On Time).
It helps in two ways; he is all right with the
company from whom he purchases his stock, and
when inquiries come to the sales agent from the
commercial agencies, as they do, making detailed
inquiries as to customers, their methods of doing
business, general reputation for fairness in business
transactions, promptness in meeting obligations,
and asking for other pertinent information,
I can assure you that it is a genuine pleasure on
the part of the sales agent to make favorable replies
to the questions, and answer "pays
promptly." It is much better to say good things
of a man than to be placed in the position similar
to a witness in court, who said:
"You want me to tell the whole truth?"
"Certainly," replied the judge.
"The whole truth about the plaintiff?"
"Of course."
"How long does this court expect to sit?"
"What difference does that make?"
"It makes a lot off difference. I couldn't tell
the whole truth about that scoundrel inside of
thirty days, talking all the time."
Whatever we do, wherever we are, we ought to
remember that though few of us in all likelihood
are either sugar or salt, it is the privilege of us
all to keep sweet. Courtesy pays. From a business
point of view, as an element in the treatment
of trade, it pays a bigger dividend than any
other commodity in which a man can invest. He
who sows courtesy reaps friendship. A Massachusetts
firm prints this paragraph at the top of
its letter heads:
"Errors. We make them; so does everyone.
We will cheerfully correct them if you will write
us.
TRY TO WRITE GOOD-NATUREDLY
if you can, but write to us anyhow. Do not complain
to someone else first, or let the matter pass.
We want the first opportunity to make right any
injustice that we may do."
You know that this courteous statement makes
friends for that concern.
Courtesy costs nothing but a .sunny smile and
a pleasant word when most needed. Good nature.
and a "please," or a "thank-you" do go a great
way. If we sometimes think that people are
treading on our toes, ought we not to ascertain
if we are not taking up more than our share of
the sidewalk? Brethren, we are all human, very
human; but if we will, in our business relations.
observe the golden rule, "Whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,"
it could be truthfully said that the millennium in
the commercial affairs of the world was at hand;
that it was no longer an iridescent dream, but a
fixed reality.
As I realize that possibly I may have exceeded
the time allotted to me. and in that case, ought
to have cut some of the corners, I am reminded
of the story told of a Kentucky mountaineer who
had never seen a railroad train. One day he consented
to go to town and see the wonder. He
arrived a little ahead of train time, and, getting
impatient as he waited, he walked up the track
to meet it. He met it as it rounded a curve.
Turning about, the mountaineer ran along the
track as for his life. "Toot, toot," sounded the
locomotive, slowing up, but the mountaineer only
dug the gravel more industriously than ever. He
soon reached the station, completely out of breath.
"Why didn't you cut across?" inquired one of
the bystanders.
"Cut across!" exclaimed the uncouth lad. "If I
had not kept straight ahead, but struck the
ploughed ground, the thing certainly would have
caught me."
I have kept straight ahead, and have arrived at
the terminal station safely, keeping out of the
way of the cars.
As a closing word of exhortation, allow me to
quote from Holy Writ: