The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-28
Are NOu a COunterfeitrri

What use do you make, reader, of a
counterfeit fifty cent Postal Currency,
which you find in your pocket-book, and
do not know where it has come from
Do you invariably tear it up, or burn
it up; are you careful that it does not
get out of your pocket, into circulation
again?
Have you not sometimes relied up such
bit of fractional currency, suspecting it
to be counterfeit, and willing to "get rid
of it"-by chance or accident, as it were
and so keep square with your consci-
ence?
We have seen men-men whom we
would have trusted with our pocket book
return counterfeit fifty cent piece to
their pockets after they were convinced
that it was spurious. What does such
an action mean-provided that the man is
ignorant, as is generally the cese, as to
where he got the counterfeit ? 1t means
that he is not ready to bear the loss of
fifty cents like an honest man. The action
is dishonest action. He has no right to
put counterfeit money where there is any
possibility ofhis passing it into circulation
again The honorable proceeding is to
burn it or tear it up the very moment its
worthlessness becomes evident. Do not
hesitate a second If you have not this
fixed upon you, cultivate it Without it
you are in league with counterfeters.
You are one of the "gang"--you are not
an honest man. Let this rule apply to
ten cent stamp and to ten dollar
greenback equally and rigidfy. There
are only two questions to be asked. Is
this counterfeit Yes Do | know who
gave it to me? No. Burn it-tear it up
do not return it to your pocket book as
you value your honesty
There is law compelling every bank
TO stamp the word counterfeit" in large
black letters, across every spurious bill
presented at its counter, for whatever
purpose it may be presented, under any
circumstances, and upon whatever bank
in the United States it may be counterfeit
We once saw an apparently respectable
man present twenty dollar bill to the
teller of the Michigan Insurance Bank in
Detroit. He merely wished to know if
ii was counterfeit The teller made no
answer, but simply brought a powerful
stamp upon its face, and handed it back
with the word counterfeit" staring its
astonished proprietor in the face We
never saw 4 darker cloud pass over a
human countenance Oath followed oath
in an effectual effort to express the mans
Indignation. Every oath stamped "coun-
terfeit' upon that mans character in let
ters as large and plain as those upon the
bill, Not that he would have acted as
a direct accomplice of professional coun-
terteiters; but he was not prepared to do
what common honesty demanded-de-
stroy the spurious bank note and meet his
own loss honorably.
OF course says every reader,h he intend
ed to pass the bill-and that would be
dishonest,
And what is your practice, reader? Do
you destroy every little peice of postal
currency as you discoverits worthlessness
or do you put it in the roll in your vest
pocket and let it take its chances with its
companions when you are paying car fares
or for lunches and cigars? IF you do not
destroy it you, are absolutely dishonest.
The compromising with your concience
in more contemplate than unAinching
robbery