The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-29
BACKBONE OF MANHOOD.
by ORISON SWEET MARDEN.

\ recent analysis of newspaper adver-
Using shows that IS per cent of 1t Is
honest and legitimate, and only L per
cent suspicious dishonest. If this
T. per cent of illegitimate advertising
were eliminated" says an advertising
advertisements from all or most of the
business men who do not now use their
columns. The standard of newspaper ad-
vertising would be raised so that news
paper advertisement would stamp an
article as of high quality and would give
the confidence to the public that is now
produced by the word Sterling on sill
Yer or by the government stamp on a
banknote."
In spite of. or because of all the
crookCdness and dishonesty that Is daily
being uncovered of all the scoundrels
that are constantly being unmasked. in
tecrity is the biggest word in the bust
ness world today. There never was n
time in all history when it was so big,
and it is continually growing bigger.
There rever was "A time when absolute
honesty OF character meant so much in
business. when ii stood for so much
everywhere in all circles, as 1t does now.
My opinion was recently sought re-
earning Young man under COnSlderd-
tion for a very important position.
Knowing the young man in question
only slightly, called up his former en-
ployer for whom he had worked long
time. and asked him what he could say
for the young fellow. He is every inch
a man." was the quick reply. "and
there is nothing more to say"
Nor did l want to know anything
more Such a reComme ndation from u
careful. conservative man like my
friend meant volumes. It meant he had
the highest possible personal regard for
his former employee and the greatest
admiration for his ability. It meant
that the Young man was absolutely
honest, that he could be trusted, under
any circumstances. with any RESPONSE
bility. 1t meant not only that he
would be loyal to his employer. but
that he was able. that he had good
judgment, that he was not likely to-
do foolish things or make bad breaks.
1t meant that whoever employed this
young man would not need to work.
about his credit, about the firms
progress during the proprietor's absence.
1t meant that he would watch it's con-
duct and its reputation, that he would
not throw away or imperil any oppor-
tunity for its advancement. that he
would be live, progressive, up-to-
date, tireless worker.
A large part of the business of the
world is based on reputation. Bankers
make loans. or refuse them; jobbers
give credit or refuse it, largely on
mans reputation. Is he reliable? Can
you depend on his word? VIII he do
as he agrees? These are vital ques-
tions on which credit is based.
A well known bank president says:
Thousands of dollars are loaned on
of
high standing though not rich in this
worlds goods. that they will not bor-
row more than they can repay"
Another banker says he would rath-
err lend money to the honest poor man.
than to the rich knave who could give
substantial security.
known Two young business men
who have very little property, but who
have a credit of a quarter of a million
of dollars because their bankers be-
lieve in them. They bank upon their
character and their ability to succeed
more than upon the assets in sight
Their known honesty and their reputa-
ton as hustlers interchangeable work
ers, is worth more to them as capital
than many thousands of dollars in
cash.
1T is the Judgment of your contem-
poraries that is most important to you;
of Harvard University. 1T is made up in
part by persons to whom you have
never spoken. by persons who in your
view do not known you, and who get
only a general impression of you; but
always it is contemporaries whose
Judgment is formidable and unavoid-
able"
1t is of the greatest Importance that
a man who has no capital excepting
what is inside of him should early es-
tablish a reputation for having GER
tain winning qualities. Until he has
done this, no matter how brilliant he
may be. he Is at a certain disadvan-
tage. When he has shown that he is
honest reliabl that he has principles
and proposes to live up to them: when
he has shown that he has courage. grit.
pluck and that he is not afraid to fight
for truth and justice. when he has
proved that he thinks more of always
being found on the right side of any
question than on the.winning side. he