The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-04-08
PAY - YoU GO.


Among the storms Of winter, andl
esp scial.y storm that seldom fails to
visit every locally about The first Of
Jana1ry-is shower Of bills. How
they come in-f,ese great snow flakes
-anG they stick and stare at yen until
tine arg -uid, and STICK and stare at
you wnen they are paid. Is there an
evil nabit 10 which men are more
addicted than that OF incurring debt
W hich they cannot discharge at ma
turity? And the causes OF this CON
dition of things are mary and multi
form. Sometimes it is the result of
weak desire to live beyond ones
means. Oftentimes it is the result of
thoughtlessness, or general unwill-
ingness to systematize ones expendi-
lures. Often itiproceeds it from . free
heartedness and a desire to do for
others, especially for the family, more
than ones circumstances admit and
not unqrequently it is owing to spir-
it of extravaganza which is legiti-.
mate inheritance from father to son.
But, whatever the cause may be, as q
general rule, debt can be avoided. and
much unhappiness saved. To do this.
above all firmly resolve to live withia
your means, however LIMITED they
may be /; make no promises which you
have not a reasonable certainty of
keeping be firm in applying whatever
money you haye on hand to the liG-
uidation of some debt, in whole or in
part, and above all, avoid, SO far as
possible, contracting future obliga-
ton wherewith to pay present one.
In your purchases, when you want
that for which you cannot pay at the
time, wait till you can, before procur-
ing it, and when you do get it, you
will enjoy it all the more for the sac
rifice it has cost. There is true no.
bility in denying yourself that which
yen cannot afford, which will increase
your self-respect, and raise you in the
estimation of your friends. "Do you
see this addition which l have just
put up?" said friend in our hearing
moi long ago. 81 was offered lean
% ny house; but thought L would
wait. / did wait. Things which /
wanted | denied myself. Finally l
accumulated enough to pay0 for my
improvements. They cost more than
the carpenters and masOn's bills they
cost spirit of sacrifice, and don't you
suppose l enjoy it all the more for
this z" And he was right. .a
Nor do we forget that there are
some who cannot pay there are those
who, unfortunate in business, simply
cannot meet their obligations. They
have bought on falling market their
good name is unscratched, though
their credit is dishonored by those
who had engaged to protect it ); par
ties owing them have failed to pay
them, and bankruptcy stares them in
the face. But for all that-and you
can find such people -eYeryWhere-
you do not doubt them, you are drawn
to them in their misfortune az you
never were in their prosperity you
are only too glad to do all in your
power to help them, and in SO doing
discharge only simple christian duty.
1t is not of such that we speak. :,
Debt. There is no worse demoral-
izer of character. The sad records of
defaultlng, embezzling and dishonest
failures which we meet with SO con-
stantly in the daily press, are often,
indeed most frequently, the result of
the denOraliZation of debt and conse-
quent desperate efforts at extrica.ion.
The financial props have given away
The little debt which at first was as
small as grain OF mustard. seed, like
a rolling SNOWFALL, has gathered
weight and multiplied itself a thousand
fold. And still 1t grows, and like the
fabulous hydra which Hercules was
sent to kill, you no sooner strike CIT
one head than two shoot up in its
place. The struggles severe, but i'll
the end decisive either aonfessiona is
made of hopeless bankruptcy. which
might and should have been avoided.
or}integrity is sacrificed te4the tempt
alton of the moment. Debt ruins as
many households. whole or in part,
and destroys as many fine characters
as rum it is the DEVILS mortgage on
the soul, and he is always ready to
fOreclose. FoF z1sf 1..rit- 2. l5rlss+s