Editors and writers have been selected because of their familiarity with, and experience in handling various subjects pertaining to Commerce, Accountancy, and Business Administration. Writers with practical business experience have received preference over those with theoretical training; practicability has been considered of greater importance than literary excellence. In addition to covering the entire general field of business, this Cyclopedia contains much specialized information not heretofore published in any form. This specialization is particularly apparent in those sections which treat of accounting and methods of management for Department Stores, Contractors, Publishers and Printers, Insurance, and Real Estate. The value of this information will be recognized by every student of business. The principal value which is claimed for this Cyclopedia is as a reference work, but, comprising as it does the material used by the School in its correspondence courses, it is offered with the confident expectation that it will prove of great value to the trained man who desires to become conversant with phases of business practice with which he is unfamiliar, and to those holding advanced clerical and managerial positions. In conclusion, grateful acknowledgment is made to authors and collaborators, to whose hearty cooperation the excellence of this work is due. Table of Contents (For professional standing of authors, see list of Authors and Collaborators at front of volume.) VOLUME IV THEORY OF ACCOUNTS _By James B. Griffith_ Page 11 Dictionary of Commercial Terms--Commercial Abbreviations--Objects of Bookkeeping--Methods--Single Entry--Double Entry--Advantages of Double Entry --Classes of Account Books--Recording Transactions--Promissory Notes--Bank Deposits--Sample Transactions--Classes of Accounts--Classes of Assets--Revenue Accounts--Rules for Journalizing--Rules for Posting--Trial Balance--Sample Ledger Accounts--Treatment of Cash Discounts --Profit and Loss--Merchandise Inventory Accounts--Balance Sheet --Journalizing Notes--Journalizing Drafts SINGLE PROPRIETORSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNTS _By James B. Griffith_ Page 119 Retail Business--Proprietors' Accounts--Inventory--Retail Coal Books-- Uncollectible Accounts--Sales Tickets--Departmental Records--Partnership Agreements--Kinds of Partners--Participation in Profits--Interest on Investments--Capital and Personal Accounts--Opening and Closing Partnership Books--Model Set of Books CORPORATION AND MANUFACTURING ACCOUNTS _By James B. Griffith_ Page 195