The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-05-08
" Charge It."

A simple little sentence is this, to be sure,
and yet it may be considered Us one of the
most insidious enemies with which people
have to deal. 1t r very pleasant TO have all
the little commodities offered for sale in the
market, and it is sometimes hard to deny
ones self, of the same, when they can be OBJ
tained by saying ''charge it, But this
habit of getting articles, however small the
expense may he, without paying for them,
keeps ones funds in q low state most of the
time.
II have no money to-day but should like
the article much, says a young man who
happens to go into store, and secs some
thing which strikes his fancy.
"Never mind" said the gentlemanly
clerk lyon are good for it,
''Well, [ will take it and you may charge
it"
And so it is that little accounts are opened
at one place and another, till the young man
is surprised at his liabilities which though
small in detail, are sufficiently large in the
aggregate to reduce his cash materially when
settling day comes.
In many instances, if the cash were re-
quired, the purchase would not be made
even had the person the money by him; but
to some, getting an article charged does not
seem like parting with nm equivalent.
Still, when payday comes, as always it
does, this Illusion vanishes, and feeling is
experienced of parting with money and re-
ceiving nothing in return.
If there is an actual necessity of making q
purchase, and the means are not at hand,
there Is a reasonable excuse for obtaining
the same on credit but when the article
can be dispensed with until payment can be
made, it is much to the advantage Of the
purchaser to do 50.
"We must have a nice set of furniture, -
says a young couple about to be united in
marriage, ''but we have not the means
However, we VIII get it and have it
charged"
And 50 they start life with debt hanging
over them for which there is no occasion.
The habit once formed IS difficult to break
away from, and whenever anything Is wished
for, it is purchased without considering that
circumstances may arise which will render
the payment Of the debts incurred impos~i-
bic.
Were arore continuity of health and q
/ supply ot labor, it would place rather a
different construction upon the matter But
/ considering the fuctuating character of bus
/ inesS, making it possible that mechanic
! may be thrown out of employment at any
time, it is certainly better to be prepared foI
such emergencies by keeping clear Of debt.
Sickness may also oyertake one at any
time, and the thought that numerous
charges are standing against Us, aggravates
the disease and renders the misfortune harder
/ to bear.
Taking this view of the matter is it not
better to fOrego the pleasure Of possessing
articles which our taste may prompt us to
purchase until the means are in hand? 1t
is very easy to say charge it" but not al
ways so easy to pay it.
And this Is always the ultimatum. If
| payment is deferred too long the very one
who politely tells the purchaser that it will
make no difference about the money, vii
say he had no business To buy fine feather.
if he had no prospect of paying.
And in IL measure this * true. By pur-
~NCli Al Coui>tI pGINoii - never liItlc-
! pendent: the host of little debts are ever
ready to perplex and worry him, when that
for which they were incurred has been used.
Hence it may he said that the custom of
charging it, is unjust both to purchaser and
seller, as the one luSes his peace of mind and
| the other oftcntimes loses his money. Get
ing in debt is easy, bat getting out is just
! the reverse; and for that reason it would be
| well for people to usk when about to make n
! purchase in the manner alluded to, is it not
best for me to wait until have the money,
and then not have to order the seller to
"charge it?''