The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-05-03
Living Beyond our Means.

sAAS A'OJSAa Jul Auod1lB.
For the sake of appearance, to
keep up display and make figure in
the world, multitudes adopt the vicious
habit of spending more than they
earn. Pride and fashion exercise q
merciless despotism over their purs-
cs. The rich in their abundance do
not feel the burden, but when the some.
thing rs attempted by those in 1noder.
ate and humble circumstances, then
"comes the tug Of war" In order to
ape the attitudes Of wealth, they ex-
haust all their resources, and ev-
ell strain their credit till it is perfec-
tlv thrcadbare.
There is much in the habits and
customs Of society furnishing a strong
temptation to this course; yet it is I,
serious evil. 1t is not right rs be.
tween man and man; it is an extrava.
gancc that carries in its train a pecu-
MARY injustice. He who lives beyond
his means must supply the deficiency
from the pockets of his neighbors, very
often upon the strength of deceptive
credit. His very display gives him
an appearance Of affluence that mis-.
guides the Judgment of others. He
knowingly passes himself off for more
than he is worth, and what is this but
species Of fraud2
There is Of course an end to this
habit, somewhere, the commercial rep
utation of the individual must finally
be swamped by the number of his
unpaid Indebtedness; yet the whole
process is one Of dishonesty, even he.
fore this catastrophe reveals it. No
Christian ought to be guilty of it. He
not only disgraces himself thereby, but
also jeopards the reputation Of religion
among men.
1t is moreover very uncomforta-
bic habit. lie who lives above his
means, generally owes more than he
can pay; and the farther he goes, the
worse he makes his condition. He
becomes stcreotyped borrower; pays
one debt by contracting another, has
great many debts to pay-little, pet
tv, annoying bills scattered in all di.
rections, which he does not know how
to meet. They are constantly haunt
ing him with the unpleasant clanors;
they sacrifice his reputation, and give
the community the just impression that
he is q poor pay-IDaster. All this
must be source Of great inconveni.
ence and pcrpIexity, far too great
to find an adequate compensation in a
little meaningless parade. 1t would
be far wiser, involve much less fric.
tion of tho nerves, to shine less and en-
JOY more
The temptations of the habit are
both numerous and dangerous. 1t
tempts 8 man to sacrifice his sense of
honor, to place light estimate upon
his word, to be easy in promising, and
very slow in fulfilling. His moral
principles become loose, and pass into
the state Of decay. His wants bribc
him; and he is likely, under the plea of
necessity, to do what under other cir
cumstancos he would not think of do.
ing. Sometimes he is led to con.
tract debts, and then move away, leav-
ing them urseItl and unpaid. Per-
haps he runs his ,r .t in one place till
he runs it out; and then does the same
ting in another, till he finally
runs himself out.
IIe is tempted to acts of meanness,
not to say dishonesty such a doaging
his creditors, and making promises
winch ha does 40: seriously expect 10
yai!} i.!a vir:Aa IS always taxed md
s:vained W Ms pyid" IN tie BIC apnd,
and :ae iy.conven!s.ccs Of hiS extyava.
Shnce t.N tie o,lie!; nrd hotwaon ;ro