The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-18

One of the first requisites of oil class
es is to keep accounts. From the no
turc of their business many people are
obliged to keep accounts, which is in
fact one part of their business. This Is
done in most instances by merchants,
manufacturers, employers oflarge num-
bers of men or women or both, hotels,
livery-stable keepers, railroads, steam
boats, jais, prisons and public places of
amusement, and all corporations in ex-
istencc, in II regular and scientific man
ncr by competent help, generally under
the direct or indirect oversight of their
superiors.
In no one department are farmers or
small business men more deficient than
in keeping accounts. This is left to, or
done by others. 1t may be laid down
as an established principle that it is well
never to confide in human honor. 1t is
not contended that all men are cheats !;
that we are to be continually on the
lookout for fraud. Among the twelve
apostles, one is wanting in moral recti-
tude, devil as we are taught in scrip
ture. They were considered, before the
fall of one of their number, to have been
twelve of the most worthy men of their
time. 1t is but reasonable now to sup
pose that every twelfth man is more or
less of II cheat, is more or less wanting
in those noble qualities that taken all in
all make the downright honest man. In
keeping accounts, fraud OH the part of
others with whom we deal is not the
only object. There are other objects
which involve consequences equally as
serious, among which may be named
negligence, forgctiulness, illness, death
of one or both parties, fire and other
calainiiics, political and financial revul-
sions. Between the time of many bust
ness transactions and the day of settle
ment long time intervenes, involving
many of the viscissitudes oflife with the
parties in question, to keep alive which
the only recourse is to keep accounts,
but for which they would be about as
intangible rs the wind or the noise of
beasts in many instances. Without
Keeping accounts there is no order, and
after Il little time no certain knowledge.
All is uncertainty and confusion. But
the great object in keeping accounts is
io he the master of our own business.
Ii is fearful condition to be wholly
at the mercy of others. 1t is in some
respects worse to be at the mercy of
others in a pccuniary or business point
of view than to be in state of hire or
labor. Labor or servitudc generally is
but temporary, while pecuniary embar-
rassmcnt often results in a condition
from which there is ever afterwards no
hope, and il is not unusual for this to be
the result of careless manner of bust
ness and not keeping accounts. In all
running accounts, two parties are con-
cerncd and it should be as much the
duty of one us the other to keep ac-
counts. Cannot we be as smart. rs hon
est, as correct, and know where we are
rs well rs others?
1t is well TO always know the prices
of everything we buy or sell and note
every business transaction, keep ac-
counts accurately and not be found nap
ping. 1t is well to know and note the
number and price of physicians visits
and all moneys paid and keep accounts
accurately noted and preserved for flu
ture reference. a good time is to com
mcnce with the year lS7S.-- Mirror and
Farmer.