ne who happens to come along. We try
by means of an interview and references and psychological tests to get
the very highest type of employee." No human test is perfect, however,
and there are times, even in the best regulated houses, when it becomes
necessary to dismiss persons who have shown themselves unfit.

It is not always a disgrace to be discharged and it is not always a step
downward. It may be because of business depression or it may be because
the man is a square peg in a round hole. Sometimes it is the only
experience that will reduce a man's, especially a young man's, idea of
his own importance to something like normal proportions, the only one
that will clear his mind of the delusion that he is himself the only
person who is keeping off the rocks the business for which he is
working, in which case it is one of the best things that could have
happened to him.

A roll call of famous or successful men who were fired would take up
several reams of paper, and it is a pretty rash personnel manager (not
to say brutal and unfair) who will throw a man out like a rotten potato
and declare that he is absolutely no good. Besides, he does not know.
All that he can be sure of is that the man was not qualified for the job
he was holding. And he should think twice before giving a man a bad name
even if he feels certain that he deserves it. At the same time he must
protect himself and other business men from incompetent, weak, or
vicious employees. If after his dismissal a man sends back to his former
employer for a recommendation, the recommendation should be as favorable
as possible without sacrificing the truth.

When a man breaks his connection with a business house, whether he does
so voluntarily or involuntarily, his departure should be pleasant, or at
the least dignified. It is childish to take advantage of the fact that
you are going away to tell all of the people you have grudges against
how you feel about them, and it is worse than a mere breach of good
manners to abuse the house that has asked you to leave. If it has done
some one else an injustice, talk about that all you please, but on your
own account be silent. Even if the fault has been altogether with the
house it does not help to call it names. Self-respect should come to the
rescue here. This is the time when it is right to be too proud to fight.

For a long time it has been held bad ethics for the members of one trade
or profession to speak disparagi