Business Section 
157 
that it may again be sent through the usual channels for payment. 
The person drawing the check is amply protected in that he first de- 
termines at his bank whether the original item has been received and, 
if not, places an order to have its payment stopped. 
In payment of a biU of goods a “certified” check will oftentimes 
be demanded. This is simply to assure the person receiving the check 
that it was drawn against an actual credit at the bank, and is secured 
by the person drawing the check taking it to his bank and asking if 
they will certify the same, or in other words declare that it is genuine. 
As soon as a bank certifies a check, it charges the account of the cus- 
tomer with the amount of the check and assumes responsibility for its 
payment. The business of certifying checks is ftiore common in large 
cities than smaller ones. A large city bank in delivering securities to 
a borrower, who has placed them as collateral against a loan, will de- 
mand a certified check to pay the loan before delivering over the 
securities. 
The real function of a bank is not simply the receiving and pay- 
ing of money but it is that of safely and wisely employing the money 
left in its charge in order that no economic loss may result. A mer- 
chant having need for funds in his business will approach his banker, 
stating his needs, and receive the desired loan or otherwise, to be deter- 
mined by the circumstances of the case. 
Great care should be exercised on the part of every borrower never 
to permit a loan to mature without having made a substantial pay- 
ment or properly arranging for its extension. The paying of a loan 
at maturity is one of the best evidences to a banker that the customer 
is a man who fulfills his promises, and will materially assist in securing 
new loans when desired. Credit in its simplest terms is simply belief 
and everything that a merchant can do to cause his banker to believe 
in him will add just that much to his credit rating. 
Letterheads, Billheads, Typewritten Letters 
Do you know that printed stationery is a necessary part of your 
system of doing business? If you are one of the hundreds of old- 
fashioned florists who insist on writing their letters on any old paper, 
and making out their bills on blank forms, it will pay you to consider 
this seriously. 
Printed letterheads do many things. First, they proclaim loudly 
trom whom they come. The reader does not have to attempt to de- 
cipher the often obscure signature. Again, they give the correct name 
of the individual, firm or company, together with the correct post 
ofiice and shipping address, one mistake in which may cost more than 
the expense of the printed stationery. Lastly, the effect on the recipient 
is marked. And it is one of the best forms* of advertising, and the 
cost is negligible. 
The same principle extends to envelopes, on which should be 
printed name and address, which frequently saves weeks of time in the 
case of mis-sent letters; billheads — for surely a debtor will he more 
impressed by a bill made on a clean form than one on a piece of wrap- 
ping paper; business cards; receipts, etc. Some simple forms of letter- 
