Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-09-17
Short Payments.


Short Payments.
Many seem Ia think that success in life
depends wholly upon the start they take.
and that If they can but once have their
bark rightly trimmed and squared with
the current, they may res, upon their oars
and It'll be- sure OF their wished-for haven
II man once got into a good business. :
they regard his fortune NJ made, without
reference Ia his own exertions, and tsink
that there can be- no fear Of the result But
the contrary TO this is quite as frequently
true; and II Is no uncommon thing to see
IN" finally prosperous man encounter the
bniietings Of adverse storms nt the beginning
of his career, and those who had at first
sailed smoothly along an unrutlled sea, make
shipwreck ut last. Indeed we may see the
reason OF this IN the fact that the discipline
ot early difficulties prepares the harrassed
mariner for final triumph, while the favor
ing gales which have marked the course of
others, have lulled them into fatal security
Perpetual nutabiiity is characteristic Of hui
man affairs. and n season OF calm should
blind none to the chances OF n coming storm
We do not alludc TO this 10 dishearten any
who are sailing with Us on ife's troubled
sea, or 10 excite coward fears storm is
not shipwreck--thc leaping waves dash
harnlessly against the bow of the we'll
trimmed bark-and furious gale may hut
bear the skiiul mariner more rapidly to his
destined port. We would have none shrink
from an effort on the sea because the voyage
is dangerous. but simply warn those whom
deceitfu calmness may have led into a
careless Indifference To the future.
no /. \.
should he unusually careful. particularly in
giving credits. The past season has been
trying one through the country. and our adj
Vice given to our readers few months
since to examine their ledgers. is daily grow
ing OF more Importance. The visits of the
epidemic throughout the country have al
tered the standing and prospects of many
country merchants. some of whom will
come TO market TO ask for credit. If any of
them are unsound at present, til IS the
very mcioe for them to stop and furthef
credit should be refused Let no one. in the
vain hope that their debtor may improve
his position. add to the amount at risk By
further sales. 1t is always better to pocket
a loss a, once which must be made, than to
postpone 1t with risk of its increasing. A
customer Of doubtful credit ought to have
no pace upon merchants books II the
jobber trusts only undoubted customers. he
will lose enough in the course of trade but
whenever there is room for doubt he should
give himself the benefit of it, as the Jury do
n prisoner on trial, and refuse the credit
asked. This should be an invariable rule
never to be violated. And now with regard
to those who have been safe in the past, let
there be renewed scrutiny into their respon-
sibllty. That a man has been at some for
mer period in good business, is no safeguard
against his present insolvency The foun-
dations of many have been sorely shaken.
Some have had but light trade, or anxious
to keep up their active sales, have entrusted
their goods to irresponsible persons who
will buy at any season On credit. Such
should be carefully watched, and if peces.
sary stricken off the roll Of customers This
understanding, simply us it may seem, re-
quires courage, and that too in a high de-
gree. 1t !s difficult matter to bring our
lips to a decided negative, when an old Gus
toner asks credit Many man has been
ruined because he had not the moral firm
ness to pronounce the little monosylable.
Its Importance should therefore be fully un
derstood, and when judgment saws No"
the lips should not shrink from echoing its
verdict.