The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-08-01
THE Standard
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4. sss S
Borrowers and Borrowing.

Shakespeare, the wonderful expounder
OF human nature said, Neither bor-
rover nor lender be" A greater than
the immortal dramatist has taught the
duty Of brotherly kindness and timely
assistance. We must give respect and
obedience to the highest authority. But
to this, as to all other divine injunctons,
it is not only legitimate but obligatory to
apply righteous judgment and carefully
to decide every case by its peculiarities.
1t is certain that it is not required of
any one to lend Unfortunately and
recklessly. There must be some reason
able limit. Here, as in all matters in
volving ones relations to his fellow men,
duty is made clear when one intelligently
and carefully applies the Golden Rule
DO unto others as you would that they
should do unto you" This will guide
both the borrower and lender. Let him
who would borrow, imagine himself in
the place of him to whom he is about to
apply; and let him who is asked for the
favor imagine himself the applicant. Let
each decide what he would regard as
reasonable and right in this imagined re-
lation.
Our prime object here is to enter an
earnest considerate protest against the
unwarrantable excess to which the prac-
tice of borrowing is carried in some COM
munities. 1t has an evil effect upon both
the borrower and the lender 1t pre-
vents the borrower from making proper
efforts to obtain what he needs so as to
have his own. 1t causes him, if he re-
lies on it, to be disappointed often, and
consequently to lose the best opportuni-
ties to attend to his own interests. 1t
often occasions serious loss of time-and
that at the crisis when time is most val
liable. The journey too and from the
house OF the lender consumes, it may be,
the best part of the favorable opportuni-
ty. The custom sometimes proves very
expensive, when that which is borrowed
receives injury that must be accounted
for. 1t also diminishes the borrower s
self-respect, compromises his independ-
ence, lowers him in the estimation of
those whom he plies with his frequent
requests, and renders him an undesirable
and quite dreaded neighbor. 1t is pecu-
llarly likely to result in practical dishon-
esty, as the means or instruments are
used, worn, injured, in many instances,
and no rent or remuneration is paid so
that the borrower owes what he never
pays.
The lender is much injured by these
borrowing neighbors. He dislikes to ap-
pear illiberal, and, therefore, frequently
lends when he does not enjoy it, and
when he is not able to spare. He does
not know, every time, when he will
really need that which he is asked to
lend. 1t not unfrequently happens that
when there Is Immediate and important
demand for some article the annoying
discovery is made that it is at the house
or farm Of a neighbor who borrowed it
weeks before. Then the pressing interest
must suffer, without any prospect of COM
pensatlon. How often has the farmer
been sorely perplexed to find that his
plow, or hoes, or spades, or harrow, or
harness, or brides or saddle, or barrow
or ak, or forks, or scythes, or saw, or
hammer, or auger, or plane, are away at
the house of trou blesome neighbor Z
How often is horse, or wagon, or other
vehicle. needed just one hour after it is
carried off by the borrowing friend o.
The thrifty and economical man likes to
that is impossible, if he has to lend them;
for frequent borrowers are generally such
as take little care of their own or an
others property.
1t should be remembered that a dis
Greet, provident man supplies himself
with what he thinks his own work re
quires; and does not add to his stores
what his neighbors will need, and ought
to get for themselves. If we thought the
ladies would read this article we would
add paragraph for their benefit: fol
the borrowing practice very frequently
tells fearfully upon housekeepers. We
will, however, simply commend the sub
Ject, in this connection, to some of the
accomplished female contributors to oul
columns. We are sure that the whole
subject needs more attention than it re
ceives from the various journals that are
devoted to the true interests of indlyid
uals and society.
There is urgent need for some chang,
in the matter, that will lead to reform
of the inexcusable. borrowing pests. On,
idea occurs to us as likely to have gooc
effect in many, though not in all cases
The derivation of the word borrow
suggests the additional idea of pledg
or surety. If money is lent, there is gen
orally pledge to return, with interest
and, in addition, there is often, especiall,
in these days, some specified security
Why should not other kinds of propert,
be loaned on some condition of pay
guaranteed by trustworthy understand
ing? Ought not an honest borrower t.
return something more than he has boz
rowed2 Would it not be great relief
every one would adopt such rule
Of course we do not purpose to rende
any one unchartable or ungenerous
The really needy should be helped, a
far as practicable, MOI only as duty bu
as a privilege; but those who spon9
upon their neighbors ought to be mad
to pay for their uniustifable habit