Actions not words;

              HASKINS & S E L LS
C E R T I F I E D P U B L I C A C C O U N T A N T S
NEW YORK BULLETIN SAN FRANCISCO
CHICAGO LOS ANGELES
PHILADELPHIA NEW ORLEANS
DETROIT SEATTLE
ST. LOUIS DENVER
BOSTON ATLANTA
CLEVELAND WATERTOWN
BALTIMORE LONDON
PITTSBURGH
VOL. II NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919 No. 9
Actions Not Words
IN the heart of the Adirondack Moun-tains
rests a lake called Placid. It de­rives
its name from its outstanding char­acteristic—-
the stillness of the water. It
acquires the stillness by reason of being
surrounded by mountains, the trees and
vegetation on which extend down to the
very shores. In the distance rises "White-face."
On the west shore of the lake, and oc­cupying
practically the only open space,
stands a hostelry which commands an un­surpassed
view of Whiteface. The enter­prising
proprietor extends to motorists and
visitors to the locality an invitation to en­joy
the view from the veranda.
Visitors are met by a uniformed negro
bell-boy. They are escorted through the
lobby to the veranda. Chairs are placed
for them by the boy. They are given every
attention without any annoyance. They
are permitted to enjoy the view as long as
they will. On the way out they are shown
the dining room. If they are motorists
they are escorted to their car.
Every act is a silent invitation to remain
longer. Every attention bids one come as
a guest. The whole tone of the hotel
seems to be in keeping with the quiet and
refinement of the natural surroundings.
The treatment one receives has an attrac­tion
far greater than any blatant advertis­ing.
It is a case where "actions speak
louder than words." It creates a strong
desire to come and partake of the pleasures
which the place offers.
The accountant has a lesson to learn
from this sort of thing. To him is denied,
by the ethics of his profession, the privilege
of advertising, as the term is used in the
generally accepted sense. He may not
solicit business. He may not urge the en­gagement
of his services.
There is perhaps no profession the
proper practice of which requires more
preparation or is more exacting in its de­mands
upon practitioners than accountancy.
The conscientious accountant may be par­doned
therefore if at times he looks ask­ance
at the apparent success of those who
disregard the ethics and stress the com­mercial
aspect of the profession. His
error may be overlooked if, perchance, he
asks, "Does this extreme modesty of mine
have its reward?"
Ralph Waldo Emerson well expressed
the truth when he said: "If a man can
write a better book, preach a better sermon,
or make a better mousetrap than his neigh­bor,
though he build his house in the
woods, the world will make a beaten track
to his door."
The accountant who will attain the
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