Bond houses and banks of established reputation cannot afford to deceive; they receive their compensation in the way of commissions on sales, and their characterization of the bonds may be accepted without question, for they invariably investigate the bonds, before they lend their names to them by offering them for sale. If there is any doubt in the mind of the would be purchaser as to the character of the seller, that should be the first thing investigated. What the buyer must satisfy himself of is: 1. Who is the seller? 2. What do the bonds represent? 3. Are they negotiable? and 4. Can they be sold again for about their face value? Every one who has saved money, it is to be supposed, has a bank account and is acquainted with the president of his local bank. When in doubt, the advice of such a man may be of great help. CHAPTER XXIV THINGS TO REMEMBER If a man is making a living he should not change his business after he has passed middle life, unless, indeed, he has a guarantee that the new venture will be greatly to his advantage. The best business for the average man is that which affords him the most pleasure in carrying it on, or at least with which he is most familiar. Happiness in one's work means far more than the accumulation of a fortune in discomfort. DON'T DECEIVE YOURSELF Having made your credit and business standing good, keep them good by an adherence to the same course. If you can avoid it, do not loan your name to every needy friend that comes along. Your neighbors question your good judgment every time you have to meet a note which you were coaxed into endorsing. You would have saved yourself by loaning the money outright. Do not deceive yourself into the belief that you are making money when, as a matter of fact, you may be losing. You buy an article for two dollars and sell it for two and a half, and you say to yourself: "There is fifty cents made." But is it? Let us see. Before crediting your business with that fifty cents, you should have considered these points. 1. The loss of interest on that two dollars. 2. Your own time or other time paid for. 3. The capital invested in things not sold. 4. The rent. 5. The transportation, insurance, heat, light, bad accounts, unsalable goods, taxes, public donations, and the flood of items that go to swell the outlay of every merchant, whether in the great city or at the country crossroads. WEEDING OUT Every man in trade should make an inventory of his stock at least once a year. Having done this, he should give his stock a fresh appearance, whether new goods be added or not, by relegating to the scrap heap, cellar or the garret all the dingy, dirty, disreputable stuff that he could not sell or give away, and which has induced sore eyes whenever seen. Keep a stock book. Quite as important as keeping the stock in order is keeping the books in good shape.