Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-22
Gilman's Profit and Loss Account,

Gilman has gained, at most, one or two
hundred thousands of dolars-not great
fortune by any means. even If it had been
honestly gained and could be openly en-
joyed; and mean and paltry sum with
which to sneak away into some obscure
hiding place, and drag out the existence
Of q hunted felon. This is the sum total
Of the credit side of his profit and loss
account. The debit side makes much
larger showing. He has lost in the first
q place, an honored name in the worlds
name that he Inherited from his father and
which he had kept 10 honor for many
years; o name which was Of priceless
worth, and one which, estimated by a
purely pecuniary standard. was good in
bank and on the street for more than the
sum that he has carried away with him.
; He has lost, in the second place, his own
self-respect, and must henceforth know
himself as felon. He has lost his liberty
too; for whether he shall be caught by the
police and thrown into prison for his mis-
deeds, or shall escape the vigilance of the
laws officers. be is henceforth without
that liberty of action which alone makes
life worth living; be must run, and hide;
he may not write bis name upon inn reg
listers. or proclaim it to his fellow-men
he cannot live in bis native land nor can
he safely travel in any civilized country
he must hide as the hunted hare does,
living the life Of an escaped felon. to
whom the danger of capture mus. be per-
petually present as hideous nightmare,
from which the dawn brings no relief. He
has lost beside, his family. A wife and
children were his, but they are his no Ion
ger. He is shut out forever from the home
that he had made for himself His wife
and children were dear to him, doubtless.
but he can see their faces no more
forever; he has sold them for money.
Worse still. he has done them irreparable
wrong. They must suffer. for the wrongs
that he has done, punishment infinitely
severer than the worst penalty that the law
prescl ibes for such offences as his. He
has brought upon them a calamity worse
than death. loss greater than bank
ruptcy could have brought. Those young
children of his had right to one inheri-
lance his good name was an entailed
property which belonged to them and was
held by him In trust. He has destroyed il
forever, leaving them infinitely poorer
than they would have been had he
wasted their uttermost substance, leav.
Ing them penniless in the streets. Money
he might have regained for them, and
they might have got it for themselves
that good name is lost past recovery.
When we thus cast up the profit and
loss account of q misdoer, 1t seems in.
credible that any man of business, know
ing as business man does the great val.
ne OF an honest reputation, should eve,
be SO blind to his own selfish interests
TO leave all moral questions out of The
account-as to listen for a moment to
the whispers of temptation.
The pecuniary loss which Gilman's vic
Tins suffer is not altogether loss
Their earelessness, by which he pro
flied, was simply marvellous, and
It's results shall teach our bankers an
business men to exercise wiser caution
the lesson learned will be worth the pric,
paid for it.-New York Post