After you, my dear Alphonse
Media
Part of Panorama
- Title
- After you, my dear Alphonse
- Creator
- Mangan, James T.
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1965
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- stuff. They manufacture the miraculous sperm cells upon which all life depends. In stead of looking on these organs as being vaguely in decent we might better re gard them in their true light. They are among the most remarkable organs in the body. They are, quite possibly, the most remarkable of all body organs. — By J. D. Rat cliff from Science Digest. "AFTER YOU, MY DEAR ALPHONSE!" About forty years ago there was a popular comic strip called Alphonse and Gaston. Two extremely courteous Frenchmen were always trying to outdo each other in politeness. Many a comic impasse was reached as Gaston would insist, “After you, my dear Alphonse,” and Alphonse would reply, “No, you first, my dear Gaston!” Funny as they were, there’s no question about who should come first. The other person, of course. He should be first to order the meal, first to go through the door, first to be offered the best seat. And what does it cost you? Generally he or she responds as Alphonse.would with “After you, my dear Gaston!” He or she will try to outdo you in polite ness, as long as politeness is in the air. So you end up first at least fifty per cent of the time. But if you are to grab the opportunity, the mo ney, the edge in any kind of an activity, you auto matically give warning that the other person should start looking out for himself, too. Instead of try ing to outdo in courtesy, he may begin to outdo you in selfishness. “After you, my dear Alphonse!” Try that sim ple formula for just one day. See how many times you can give the preference to the other fellow, friend or stranger. See how much you gain, by outscoring him in politeness and courtesy. — James T. Mangan. October 1965 47