Oil! by Upton Sinclair

Not many of these men would ever read a book on etiquette; they would learn about life from action -- and here was an occasion, the most instructive that had so far come to them. They learned that when a great man comes into a room, he comes first, preceding his subordinates. They learned that he wears a majestic big overcoat, and stands in silence until he is introduced by a subordinate. "Ladies and gentlemen," said the lease-agent, Skutt, "this is Mr. J. Arnold Ross. " Whereupon Mr. Ross smiled agreeably, taking in the entire company: "Good evenin', ladies and gentlemen. " Half a dozen men arose, offering him a chair; he took a large one, quite simply, and without wasting time in discussion -- realizing, no doubt, how he would be embarrassing the hostess if he called attention to a shortage of chairs.

Behind him stood another man, also big. "Mr. Alston D. Prentice," said Skutt, and they were doubly impressed, this being a famous lawyer from Angel City. Also there had entered a little boy, apparently a son of Mr. Ross. The women in the room many of them had little boys of their own, each one destined to grow up into a great oil man; therefore they watched the Ross boy, and learned that such a boy stays close by his father, and says nothing, but takes in everything with eager roving eyes. As soon as possible he gets himself a perch in the windowsill, where he sits listening, as attentively as if he were a man.