Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-05-17
FULFILL YOUR PROMISES.



The Value OF Good Reputation 10 Young
Business Men.
There Is no lesson the young business
man needs TO learn more thoroughly
than the value of good reputation and
good credit. These can not be won and
kept by false pretenses of any kind, but
must be earned by strict observance Of
contracts agreements and promises.
The man whose word Is ''as good as his
bond" Is the man who has inspired con-
hdence In himself by always doing that
which he has promised 70 do. He In
also, as a rule, cautious about entering
into obligations, chary about making
promises that he may not be able 10 full
fill. II too prodigal in the latter re-
spect one can not hope 10 keep faith at
all times. A man who Is or intends to
be honest sometimes loses credit and
reputation simply because he Is too
hopeful Counting with too great conf
dence on uncertainties, he makes prom
Uses that he can not fulfill because Of
the failure Of the event on which they
were predicted. He voluntarily fixes
the date for the payment Of debt, and
finds too late something has gone wrong.
SO that he can not meet his obligation.
Such an accident may happen TO any
man. Upon the way in which he meets
the unexpected trouble depends how his
reputation shall stand afterwards. II
he can fuihll his promise at any per
sonal sacrifice he should do so: failing
that, he should endeavor 10 keep his
t word by borrowing elsewhere, thus
4 gaining time for the final discharge Of
his obligation. But II he can not do ell
Their he should go as soon as possible TO
his creditor and secure an extension by
frankly telling him the state OF affairs,
thus renewing instead OF break
ing his promise. The one essen
tial thing TO do Is TO keep good
faith, or come as near to 1t as possible.
The worst possible course Is TO let time
run on until his creditor begins TO press
him on an obligation long overdue. II
Is too late then for explanations or renew
ais. His credit is gone, his reputation Ia
gone. His after promises are mistrusted,
though they may be grudgingly accept
ed. He may for years after thus shat
tering faith in himself pay promptly
and keep his word. but there will remain
Nh' At1tAhS VI dlntfuhts Dufn vi
one failure TO keep faith or to explain in
advance the reasons why 1t could not be
kept An engagement OF any kind
should be held sacred, and thus good
reputation, which is Of slow growth
may be gradually built up, for he who
keeps his word at all times becomes re-
spected and Is trusted. The young mar
can not learn too early in life his respon
sibility 10 himself and TO others. lie Il
To make his reputation by what he say
and does, and at the outset should hav.
high regard for truth, which carries
with 1t honesty, and insures n promp
and complete fultillment of all engage
ments. He should not allow careless
habit In money matters to grow upor
him, but should pay all his bills prompt
ly. There Is an implied promise to pa,
at the end of the month or when tn,
bill may be presented, even though
there has been no engagement made h
do so In SO many words, and ii is a GOO
practice to keep these implied. as well a
all other promises, with scrupulous care
! Such course will in time establish
reputation whose value can not be meas
} ured by money, besides developing use
full habits and keeping one free from or
pressive and grinding bts.-Baltimor
Sum