690 THE HOME, FAKM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



Balance consisting of the names, as well as the amounts, is made only 

 immediately after the books have been closed. (See 810 for this form.) 

 There are man}' houses, however, that require such a Trial Balance at the 

 end of every month. 



302. In adding the money columns in the Ledger, write the totals in 

 small figures in lead pencil, close under the last amount in the column ; 

 by so doing it is never necessary at the end of each month to add back 

 of these amounts, but simply to add the entries for the month, including 

 the lead pencil totals, which amounts to the same as it would by adding 

 the entire column from the top. After the two columns have thus been 

 added, simply subtract from one side to the other the lesser amount of 

 these totals from the greater, arid enter the difference in the explanation, 

 or wide column, on the side upon which is the greater amount, which 

 difference we transfer to the Trial Balance. (See 694 and 701.) This 

 difference is entered in the explanation column simply as a memorandum 

 showing the amount carried to the Trial Balance. Business colleges have 

 in their Trial Balances two columns in which they enter the debit and 

 credit total amounts, and two columns in which they enter the debit and 

 credit differences, which makes a double Trial Balance, hence unnecessary 

 work. For these additions and subs-tractions in the Ledger I would re- 

 commend a " Faber HHHH Drawing" pencil, as it is hard, and makes a 

 neat, clean mark. 



303. After the Trial Balance has been completed, a statement may be 

 made in the firm's private record book, consisting of the present Assets 

 and Liabilities ; the Losses and Gains for the year ; each member's private 

 gain or loss for the year, and his present worth ; together with the per- 

 centage of the gross gain, as well as the net gain, to the sales for the year. 

 (See 812 to 818.) 



304. PAST-DUE ACCOUNTS. To all firms doing only a moderate busi- 

 ness, that do not draw for or settle by note their customer's accounts 

 when due, the author would suggest that the book-keeper prepare, on the 

 first of every month when he takes his Trial Balance, a list of the accounts 

 that are long past due entering, with the person's name and the amount 

 he owes, the number of months that this account averages over due. 

 Would recommend a book ruled in Journal form and labelled "Past-Due 

 Accounts," for this use. This book or list he submits to the firm for 

 examination, when they decide what disposition shall be made of the 

 accounts. By so doing an account cannot stand several months past due 

 in the Ledger without the knowledge of the firm ; for it is brought before 

 thsm every month, and many accounts may be saved that otherwise 



