Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-01-07
'FLORA McFLIMSEY" IN BANK
RIPTCY
from the London Morning rOs,.l

We have never been more forcibly struck
by the prevalence of the abuse of the
credit system than while perusing the re-
port of case brought on Monday last be-
fore the Insolvent Debtors Court. The
circumstances are doubtless commonplace
enough, though but seldom brought into
such prominence Miss Kate Elizabeth
Verify, described as fashionable young
lady," has been living with her mother in
Riae-terrace, Bayswater. Her mother en-
joys an income Of 9200 year, and the
young lady receives annually from her
friends a sum of about E60. In August,
1852, however, when only three-and-twen-
ty years of age, she appeared before the
Insolvent Court indebted to the amount of
9233 On this occasion she was dischar-
ged This circumstance, as was well OBJ
served by Commissioner Phillips, should.
have been enough to restrain her extraya-
ganee But Miss Kate Elizabeth Verify
did not profit by the lesson Once more
she appears before the Insolvcnt Court
this time, however, with less good fortune.
The case was adjourned sine die, and the
protection Of the Court ceases for Miss
Verify. The career of this young lady,
though really marvellous, is only an addi-
tional instance of the carelessness with
which credit is allowed by London trades
men, During the examination of the in
solvent it was proved that by the mention
of lady's name to Mrs. States, "a millincr
to the aristocracy," Miss Verify received
credit to the amount of G84 One ball
dress was charged eight guineas, Fifteen
guineas was the price of another garment.
In fact, Mr.. Commissioner Phillips, with
that jocularity which sits so well on judge,
" afforded some amusement to the specta-
tors, by reading the items, including a
crinolne slip With another tradesman
a cash payment and promise TO pay quar-
terly was considered sufficient guarantee.
The security was enhanced by the young
lady's appearance in Brougham, and she
obtained credit to the amount Of G26 9s Sd.
{" No money" gloomily observed Mr.. Buck,
the creditors ''no money had been paid
since he gave credit" Mr. Commissioner
Philips thought Mr.. Buck should have
stopped his hand when the first quarter
was not paid But Mr.. Buck propounds
a different theory off he adopted such
a system with ladies who appeared respec-
table he could not, nor could ether trades
men, go on" Thus, young ladies with
$50 year for an income may "go on"
as long as they choose, and tradesmen are
bound to abet them under the penalty of
forfeiting similar privilege.
Such is the morality of system of
credit. A young lady--frst at three-and-
twenty, then at eight-and-twenty-
goes an ordeal which is generally consider
ed in man as disqualification from the
society of his equals Ever since she has
arrived at the age of discretion she has
obtained articles of dress beyond the reach
of many persons with respectable revenues,
without capital, without any income be-
yond pittance allowed by her friends, and
apparently without expectations A good
marriage must have been for the young
lady, though vague, the only possible
prospect of relief A brougham and the
mention of lady's name were sufficient
with the tradesmen to youch for respecta-
bility, solvency and profits.