The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-04-19
Hints to Women on the
Care of Property.
Alfred Walker in Harpers Bazar.
SPECULATION.

CfECOGAl1ON.
1t would seem unnecessary to caution women
against speculation. By speculation we mean
an investment in things of uncertain value on
which large profits are hoped for But since
the boldest operators at Baden-Baden are
women, and since they do personally, but
oftener by proxy, rush into the arena OF the
bulls and bears Of Wall Street, caution on this
subject will not be out of place. The folly oi
those who dabble in lotteries, who see the
wheel of fortune revolving, and imagine that II
is loaded with benefits for them, is not folly
merely, but guilt. The rashness OF those who
hover around the vortex OF stock speculation
is not rashness merely, but probable perditon
And il it is rashness for men. it is for women
insanity. Though women may never seek
speculation Of any sort, it will pretty certainly
seek them often in very entIciDg forms. There
are two good rules which apply to speculation
/. Never borrow money to speculate with. O.
Never speculate so deeply but that, il you lose
it all, you won't feel it.
Fifteen hundred dollars OF manufacturing
stock was offered TO me at par, with an assur-
ance that it would sell in month for $4,000.
believed it. 1 had no surplus money at the
moment, and I had adopted the rule above,
not to borrow for speculation. In month
that stock sold for $4,000 was wise or fool
ish? Had bought it. should have kept it
through the intervening years until now. A
few days ago that stock was sold at auction Cor
ten cents share-a total of one dollar.
The time when speculation is most rife Ia
when money is cheap and abundant. And
then the most dangerous form of speculation
is IN city and suburban lots. No one thing has
occasioned greater disaster to well-to-do fsmi-
lies than this. 1t is so respectable to own land,
it is 60 solid and sure, and it won't run away.
+" Would to Heaven it would" saws one, il it
would only leave behind what paid for it -
The rule should be remembered: never specu
late deeper than, II the loss be total it will not
be felt. But the better way Is to avoid specu-
latlon altogether.
DEBT.
The present system OF shopping and market
ing on credit is radically wrong, and an injury
to all concerned, and tho fault lies about equal
ly with those who buy and those who sell. The
merchant likes running account with his safe
customers, because it gives him hold on their
nd oil n
more profitable. The customer likes it be-
cause it evinces his good credit, and enables
him to get what he wants without waiting for
a full purse. But at length settlement comes.
and then the customer is usually astonshed
at the amount Of the bill and his own folly in
purchasing things which his family could easily
have dispensed with.
II you are wise and will consult your own
comfort and the good OF others. you will follow
the rule. Pay as you 90, infiexibly. 1t does not
need the authority OF an apostle to establish
the wisdom Of the proverb. "Owe no man any
thing. We're this sage precept universally
obeyed, one of the chief sources Of trouble
would be taken out OF the civilized world. Be-
sides great gam IN public morals, there would
be n vast SAVING in the economy or living. But
if, in the management of your property. YOU
are sometimes asked to give credit or time for
payment. do not fear to scrutnze the debtor
closely. good customer Is never Disconnected
by it 1t is only the doubtful and the bad who
resent 1t. Short settlements, however, make
long friendships. A very long credit account,
like note. becomes in time mvahdated. II
dies OF old age.
When the current expenses OF q family are
not paid as they occar, a pass-book should be
used and settled once a week, and for such
prompt payment many merchants make a
small discount. When ones income is not
superabundant, record OF all expenses should
be kept, and a synopsis Of each week drawn of
for comparison. This Is so important that ]
am tempted TO give a sample from my OWL
book.
sYSoPr1oAL EXAMPLE OF ONE WEEKS EXPENSES
January to January 8.
Meat and fish, SIS OF
Groceries, vegetables, fruit Is 81
Service, 9 OF
Dry-goods and clothing, 10 q
Travelling and riding, IL OF
! Doctor and medicines, 3 81
Repairs -on house, 81; furniture, SO 10 OF
Books, papers. stationery. stamps 9 81