Evening journal., 1898-12-05
A IlAY sERMoN FoR Young ANn

Ol-D MEN Or ALL CI1IES.
Although methCd in the management
Of affairs is sometimes carried to such
an extreme as to be denominated "red
tape and to become the subject OF
ridicule, a reasonable degree of method
is necessary to the orderly conduct or
business, and is to be commended. The
methodical man is much more efficient
than one who has no system for the |
conduct OF his affairs, he gets more |
work done in a given time and it is |
better done. The methodical man does
not trust 10 his memory for engage
ments, but makes memoranda Of
everything With dates. He keeps his
accounts accurately, and does not al
low the record to get behindhand. At
any moment he can tell just how he
stands, what he owes, and what Is
owing to him; what accounts are over
due, and what notes OF other obli-
CATIONS are to be met. without max
ing much labor Of It, he keeps such
memoranda as will inform him at
glance what his property or other in
vestments are producing He is a good
man to do business with, for his habits
make him not only accurate, but just
He wants all that is coming to him,
but he also wants to pay all that he
owes. He does not through careless
ness OF neglect allow bills to run for
months and years, but, having them
before him, he pays them when they
become due, or if he cannot do that
makes some acknowledgment OF them
The careless man without the or
derby instinct, may be a good fell
low" in one sense, for he is generally
what is called easy going" but the
wastes time for himself and for
others. His papers and books are in
disorder. When bills are presented to
him they are not filed away where
they can be found, but get buried un-
der neglected correspondence. New
bills have to be made out for his ac-
commodation, and by the time the ac-
count has b,en seutled a liberal COM
mission has been expended in the ef-
hfort OF the collector. The man who ie
not methodlcal is quite impartial in
> his conduct. He Injuries himself as
3 well as others. His accounts are badly
kept; he neglects to send out bills; he
is not always accurate in his charges,
and he annoys those who owe him
money as much as those who are his
creditors.
It is quite natural that the general
Impressions made by these contrasted
characters upon their business asso-
ctates should be widely different. It is
much more agreeable to do business
with methodical man whose accounts
= are accurately kept than with one who
renders bills irregularly and is some
times obliged to depend upon his mem
? ory for the Items, and as a consequence
p the methodical man extends his con-
Il nections, while the man without order
= OF system is tolerated only by his per-
, sonal friends, who for other reasons
overlook his faults. Just as the me-
4 thodical man keeps himself fully in
a formed cf the actual results Of his un-
D dertakings and investments and is thus
Qualified to determine what to do with
! them, the careless man who keeps no
account has no clear knowledge OF his
business, and may be losing money
n without knowing it
!. "a few years ago prominent manu-
7 facturer, who had grown wealthy
through a fortunate enterprise, dis
covered that he had been robbed by
n a confidential accountant of more thar
s50OOOO The manufacturer had paid
+ little attention to the details OF his
II accounts, and this enormous drainage
= had passed unnoticed. When the acct
r dent revealed to him the perhdy Of hif
clerk It was an easy matter to prove
s that he had been robbed. Smaller
y drains pass unnobiced by the man who
= neglects to keep accounts, and they
sometimes produce bankruptcy. Il Is
I well. therefore, to cultivate an orderly
habit and to establish some method
OF doing business and keeping ac-
T. counts. The young man who has done
SO will find it a recomm mendation to
I. business men, and help to him per-
sonally. as well as in his relations
!. with others Baltimore Sun.
!; Cuba may be backward, but it's new
It journalism is decidedly forward