The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-21
FULFILL YOUR PROMISES
The value OF q Good Reputation
to Young Business Men.

The value Of a Good Reputation
to Young Business Men.
There Is no lesson the young bust
ness man needs to learn more thor
oughly than the value Of good reputa-
ton and good credit These cannot
be won and kept by false pretenses Of
any kind, but must be earned by a
strict observance of contracts, agree
ments and promises. The man whose
word is ''as good as his bond'' is the man
who has inspired confidence in himself
by always doing that which he has
promised to do. He is also, as u rule,
cautious about entering into obliga-
lions, chary about making promises
that he may not be able to fulfill. If
too prodigal in the latter respect
one cannot hope to 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 confidence on uncertainties, he
makes promises that he cannot fulfill
because of the failure of the event on
which they were predicted. He vol
UNFAIRLY fixes the date for the payment
OF DEBT. and finds too late something
has gone wrong, 80 that he cannot
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. If he can full
fill his promise at any personal sacri-
flee he should do so; failing that. he
should endeavor to keep his word by
borrowing elsewhere. thus gaining
time for the final discharge of his obli-
cation, But if he cannot do either he
should go as soon as possible to his
creditor and secure an extern
sion by frankly telling him
the state of affairs, thus
renewing instead OF breaking his prom
Use. The one essential to do is to
keep good faith, or come as near to it
as possible. The worst possible cours e
is to let time run on until his creator
begins to press him on an obligation
long overdue. 1t is too late then for
explanations or renewals. His credit
is gone his reputation is broken down.
His after promises are distrusted,
though they may be grudgingly ac-
copied. He may for years after thus
SCATTERING faith in himself pay prompt
ly and keep his word, but there Will
remain the lingering feeling of distrust
born of one failure to keep faith or to
explain in advance the reasons why it
could not be kept. An engagement
of any kind should be held sacred, apd
thus good reputation, which is Of slow
growth, may be gradually built up,
for he who keeps his word at all times
becomes respected and is trusted.Sx The
young man cannot learn too early in kfe
his responsibility to himself and to
others. He is to make his reputation
by what he says and does, and at the
outset should have high regard for
truth, which carries with it honesty
and insures a prompt and complete
ful6lment of all engagements. He
should not allow a careless habit in
money matters to grow upon MIN, but
should pay all his bills promptly.
There is an implied promise to pay at
the end of the month, or when the bill
may be presented. even though there
has been no engagement to do so made
in SO many words. and it is good prac-
tice to keep these implied as we'll as all
other promises with scrupulous care.
Such course will in time establish a
reputation whose value cannot be
measured by money, besides develop
ing useful habits ana keeping one free
from oppressive and grinding debts. -
Baltimore Sun.