Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-05-07
borrowing Money.

Mems ideas upon this subject are exceed
tngly indistinct. Il am going to ask you |
favor" says A to b; 81 want you to lend |
me ten pounds" or fifty or a hundred, ac- |
Gording to the position OF the speakers. |
Now. ii both and b know that the money |
is sure to be repaid at the tine promised, |
the loan is not a favor at all. Ii, on the
other hand, it ls not sure to be repaid at the
time specified, it practically, in the case OF
small sums, ceases TO be loan; it IL gilt.
For the difference between five pounds re-
paid year alter it was promised and not
| repaid at all, is, as the donors convenience
| ia lnsolved, nothing. Both these points ale
commonly overlooked by those whom they
respectively concern. The lender taneies
he ID doing you great favor if he only al
lows you the use OF q sum of money during
a period when he would not be using II
himself, being at the same time certain OF
having it In his hands again as soon as he
requires it for use. The borrower imagines
that the simple restoration OF the money IS
an effectual repayment of the loan, regard
less how much of your convenience and
Z your patience he may have borrowed in adj
ditlon, by deferring the day of restitution.
Thus both arc in error; the one tancies that
lending is always favor; the other that re-
' payment is always satisfaction. The one
= overrates the value OF the obligation under
y y which he lays you, il the loan ia punctnally
the favor he has received from you, if it ia
:; not. Loans which do not inconvenience the
= lender at the moment are only tavors ac'
cordlng to the strength'of the suspicion in
Z the lenders mind that they will not be
i punctually repaid. And if men would only
u a be open with each other, he never need sus-
u pect this twice. If the lender would have
the moral courage TO exact positive state
rs ment upon honor, from his impecuniou
90 iriend Of his prospects of receiving cash, HI
81. need not lend the money under any appre
az hension. And, of course, If he ever tount
rs out man in giving him false statement
n lie would never lend him money again. Blu
ne the majority OF men are deceived with thei
IN eyes open, and yet are as angry as ii the
ay had been really taken in. Your frien
rd rushes into your room in great hurry, an
al declares he wants five pounds for particr
nd lar purpose till next Tuesday. You lend
rs. him. You feel nearly sure III your ow
mind that he will not repay you the none
us on that day but you do NOT refuse him; al
ng then, when the day comes round, and W
'ea hear and see nothing of your friend, you
ON as angry az If he had really iraposed up'
Ies you.
ler This, of course, does not Justify 20
ls friend; he is as much to blame as ever
mas 1t shows that you would have acted mo
red wisely, as well as more kindly, In torci
1k' him to the statement we have suggested
VI
!. INpIANA.-The Lafayette correspondt
ing of the New York Times writes thus OF
son prospects OF lndiana;--"Signso OF very 81
pin stantial prosperity, however, are not wal
yet ing in Indiana. More houses will be bl
The during the coming season in most OF
ach cities and towns than ever before. Upwi
are of fifteen hundred miles of new railroad
and be constructed in the COARSE OF the pres
ling wear, and our railroad system will, ere 10
Odd be equal TO that of the States whose resouI
are best developed. The Income tax
,r of which have just been published, show
eel. | there are more wealthy men III our m
An than ever before, and last, more emigrf
co.. are now settling in Indiana than have c'
10 this State for several years past"