The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-19
DON'T.

Among recent happenings in New York
City is the following: A woman, found at
night. poorly clad, with shivering infant
in her arms, was taken charge OF 10y the
police. Herself and child were provided
for temporarily, and investigation was
made. The apartments where she had re-
sided were visited, and were found bare of
any sort of furniture. Her husband was
there, and the story the couple told was
that they had furnished the place on cred
it; that the amount Of debt was $172;
that they had paid $52; that on account
of sickness payment stopped, and that
the furniture man swept the premises of
all the moveablcs which he had furnished.
Such are the main points of the story.
Probably, if all the facts were known, the
complexion of the tale might be qualified.
Certain things, however, arc obvious
enough, and among them is the fact that
the luckless couple pledged their future
regardless of the possibility OF what did
occur, in the loss of employment and the
consequent addition of old claims to
present demands for support.
This incident might be passed without
comment If it were not a striking instance
of what is constantly happening. Bar
gains of the kind that couple made are
not the only means by which people en- :
tarrass Themselves. Neither is " credit
always danger. There are circumstar-
ces under which it may DO prudently ask
ed and given, and there are business ar.
rangements under which it is safe and
proper. The prudent use of credit in
personal expenses forebids its employ.
ment for the obtainer Of anything that
10 ,sth "a
of credit in business is in the purchase of
any commodity which you are fairly GER
tain will turn to money in your hands.
The worst form of transactions on credit
is that in which no definite bargain is
made. The buyer has a long open ac-
count, which is seldom closed by pay
ment in full" He pays from time to
time, as he may be urged to do, sums
larger or smaller to keep his credit good.
The credit is kept good, however, only
by the hope of the seller that, by contin-
uing the open account, he may procure
payment of the past. Fear may also
have its influence. 1t may be thought
that the customer will wholly ignore the
old claim if he is not perm tilted to add to
it. Tho amount of embarrassment to
buyer and seller caused by this slipshod
ry as is presented in the New York Incl
dent. It does not always reach that
degree, but, in any degree, is bad en-
ough
aDon't'' then is the safe rule, when
you are tempted to buy anything for
which you have not the cash In hand to
pay--and which you can manage to get
along without. 'Don't" anticipate
even your next payday, whether it be
weekly, monthly, or quarterly. 1t is not
comfortable feeling, when you have a
sum in hand, whether large or small, that
it really belongs to other people among
whom you have to distribute it. And the
case is worse still, when the whole will
only serve as sspleas in abatement" in
their demands; aud you are compelled be-
fore the next pay day to be just as much
in debt as ever. Probably you will be
more, for the poison Of debt is what the
doctors call Cumulative If in, get
out as soon as possible, at whatever ex
ercse of selfdenial. If out, keep out. 1t
is tho first step that counts and il Won
are tempted to try the inclined plane
DON'T!