Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-05-10
FULFILL YOUR PRoMlsE s.
Hints to Young Business Men Abont
the Value of q Good Reputation.

There Is no lesson the young
| business man needs to learn more
Thoroughly than the value of good
reputation and good credit. These
cannot be won and kept by false
pretenses of any d,and mist be
earned by ii strict observance of
contracts, agreements and prom
i>es The man whose word is Gas
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 a
rule, cautious about entering into
obligations, chary about making
promises that he may not be able
10 fulfill. 1t too prodlgal in the
latter respect one cannot hope to
keep faith at all times.
l., a man who is or intends to be
Isshena stssome tImessloses credit and
0nslai ID q :5eea esjssteo
q
akes prom caiII0
sfa becalss Sc q r. Che f;afiif1res ofstB6,
event on which they were predict
ed. He voluntarily fixes the date
for the payment of adebt, and
finds too late something has gone
wrong, so 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 hisrepu!ation
shall stand afterwards. If he can
fulfill his promise at any personal
sacrifice he should do so; failing
that, he should endeavor to keep
his word by borrowing elsewhere
thus gaining time for the final dis
charge of his obligation.
But If he cannot do either he
shonld go as sOon as possible to
lis creditor and secure an. exten-
sion by frankly telling him the
state of affairs, thus renewing in
eread of breaking bis promise. The
one essential thing to do is 10 keep
good faith, or Come as near to it as
possible. The worst possible course
is to let time run OIL until his cred
itor begins 70 press him on an obll
CATION long overdue. 1t is too late
theu for explanations OF renewels.
His credit is gone, his reputation
is broken down. His after prom
lses are distrusted, though they
may he grudgingIy accepted.
He may for years af'terthus shat
tering faith in himself pay prompt
~ and keep bis word, but there will
remain the lingering feeling of dis
trust born of one failure to keep
faith or 10 explain III advance the
reasons why it could not be kept.
An engagement ofany kind should
be held secret, and thus good rep
utation, which is OF slow growth,
may be gradually builG up, for be
who keeps his word at all times
becomes respected aud is trusted.
The young man. cannot learn too
early in life his responsibility to
himselfand others. He is to make
his reputation by what he says aud
does, and at the outset should have
a high regard for truth, which Car
rles with il honesty and insureS
prompt and complete fulfillnent
Of all engagements.
He should not allow a careless
habit in mouey matters to grow
upon him, but should pay all his
bills promptly. There Is an i'm
piled promise to pay AZ the end Of
the mouth, or when the bill may
be presented, even though there
has been 20 engagement to do so
made in so many words; and it is
good practice to keep these i'm
piled lis well as other promises with
scrupnlous care. Such II course will
III time establish IL reputation
whose value cannot be measured
by money, besides developing Use
full habits and keeping one free
from expressing and grinding
debts.