The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-11-20
Evils of our Present Credi. system.


some years past by merchants, shop-keepers, and
traders OF every description, for running in debt
has been one OF the fruitful causes OF the nom
derous eHiis winch are now crushing groaning.
multltudes into beggary and ruin. The easr,
with which credit has been obtained by gam
piers and spectators at our banking institutions.
the competition which has existed amono ALI
classes ofdpa-rs, the indifference of purchaser.
IN paying at once for what they bought, combi-
ned with The nervous anxiety OF sellers TO OBJ
tam custom at any risk and at all hazards. has
introduced species of reckleSsness and partial
insanity INTO our hnsarSs transactions BORDERING
upon the madness ofthe gaming table. 1t has
been 50 long prartised, so generally adopted, to
such an extent has,it prevailed, that lnaliitndes
have become involved IN a ftighlinI labyrinth
| OF drbt, embarrassment, and difficulty, from
which they find II next 10 impossible 10 extri-
cate themselves. The abuse of the credit sys-
ten by the hanks and the community at iarce
has produ ced the frighiul caamities we are
now suffering. The ease with which The peo-
pie Of this country have been able to ron in
debt: without a thought as 10 payday, has been
the immediate cause OF multitude of beart
breaking ills
| The slavery of bring in debt is one of the
most painful that can well be imagined. In
those cases where We have voluntarily made
ourselves the victims of this ntolerable BONDAGE.
/ when the inhction of IFS tortures have been
| occasonpd by our own imprude nee, weakness
and folly, the degradation is still more oppres-
sve and difficult TO be borne. We have. Der
hapS, been weak enough to yield to the ridicul-
Gus folly OF fashion; we NAV have attempted
vain and frivolous comprtition in the race of
eXtravaganCe with more wealthy individuals
than ourselves, and shamefully complying with
artificial and unhealthy desires, low, paltrv
ambition 10 make a show, we find ourselves
encircled in the mrShes of debt and difficulty.
/ All this has been done because we have not
I had the moral courage to live within our means
/ The question, "what will people say ?'' has
driven many family from comfort and happi-
ness to dpstitution and dishonesty. II has been
well said that 1t is other peoples eyes that ruin
Us. 1t is by endearoring 10 APPEAR what we
are not, that We sink below what we really are.
into the slough of despond and the quagmire Of
/ degradation. 1t is far more respectable TO
wear home-spun suit, when honestly paid for.
than it is to wear the most expensive apparel for
which we have ran in debt without any imme-
diate prospect Of paying for it.
1t has been quantity enough asked, what
should We say OF person, of middle height,
who, wishing to stand upon the world two
inches higher than fairly BELTS him, should con-
sent to be stretched every day upon rack in
the hope of being able TO hold bis head the
higher for the pulling Should we not say
that he is exceedingly foolish TO submit to all
/ this eXcruclating agoav, merely shat he or she
/ might look down on some of their former CON-
Panions? Mutitudrs of would-bp fashionable
people 60 Through this splf-inlcted torture daily
/ with no higher motive or object than this.
! They wish TO stand higher in the estimation of
fashionable FhHsy's than their limited means
/ Will allow them and they ready and will
ing 10 submit 10 the rack of debt In order to be
handsomely and iashlonabIy drawn out. To
keep up appearances by running in debt, is Just
as comfortable as TO attempt 10 grow taller by
being Gaily stretched upon the rack. The
form may be expended, the height may be in-
| creased, but at the expense OF how much pain
| how must the muscles of the heart be made to
qulver, and the joints 10 crack, under the agon-
! lzlng operation, Is all this hollow display
worth the sacrifice il costs Think Of it. good
reader, and answer at your leisuTe.-Phda.
.9rguS.
/ PARTY FOR THE HARD TlMEs.-One of
the most recherche parties Of the season s'came
of" last evening at the residence of one of our
! retired merchants in S--street, which was
I emineutly in keeping with the times sine
qua non TO the invited was for the ladies TO ap-
pear draped in calico, and the gentlemen in
their summer coats, and most faithfully did each
sex carry out their portion of the programme
and more tasefully arrayed party OF fair de-
moiselles rarely meets the eve than was here
congregatrd. Upon their heads were rosettps
and pendants of the varied hued products of
| Lowell, Manchester, and Providence At early
| evening dancing was commenced, beneath the
| hight OF one burner IN each chandelier, to the
music of the piano, at-Which the ladies altern-
ated, and was kept up with undated vigor,
relieved by OCCASIONAL charade performances, till
supper time and here the genius of the host in
conforming to the times added mirth to the al
| ready happy party The spacious dinng-room
was thrown open, and displayed a table, set
forth, not with costly plate, but the fruit OF
the harvest, instead. In the centre upon an
inverted tin pail, nicely draped, stood golden
pumpkin, from whose eyes and nose and mouth
beampd forth mellow light, relieved bv the
''dips" which adorned the corners we'll sscu-
red in goodlv iurnips. yellow dishes of 'lasses
gingerbread yielded their toothsome stores, and
Cochituate ale, dispensed from stone pitchers of
the true grandma pat tern, in mugs of fdeIf ware,
enhanced the relish for renewed Terpsichorean
agility.
Boston Transcript, Mop. 10.
The Pennsylvania Bank.
a meeting of the stockholders of this insitu-
tion was held in Philadelphia, on Monday, which