Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
PREYING ON FRIENDS.
Men Who Live BY Borrowing
Types of the Class.


There are borrowers and borrowers,
and from the mildest to the most ag-
gressive. unbiushing and Unsuitable
type of this class of human parasite
there is probably no class of people
on earth more stunned and deiested
There is no limit 10 the inveter-.e bor-
rover assurance. He will borrow his
best friends last dollar. and his con-
science-if he has ,one-Seems never to
rebukc him.
The chronic borrower of the worst
type cannot be more forcibly delineated
than he is in the character of Narcisse,
the handsome younr Creole who figures
so prominently in George w. Cables
novel, ''Dr. Sewer" This type of the
borrower never repays, and never re-
ally intends to, although the sophistry
OF his nature is so much the master of
him that in assuring his victim that he
will certainly refund the amount bor-
rowed he can almost make himself be-
lieve that such is really his intention.
Narcisse represents that type of bor-
rover who is utterly selfish, yet who
manages, through m affected artless-
ness which is almost natural, TO make
it appear that he is the most benevolent
and kindly disposed person in the
world. Assuming always the attitude
of a chosen friend he is not to be re-
pulsed except by downright insult.
His chief weapon is tiattery, and his fa-
vorite victim one who can resist it no
more than he can summon courage to
meet repeated advances by blank re-
fusal.
The young man on Il small salary
whose tastes are more fastidiOus than
those of many 4 millionaire invariably
parts with his monthly or weekly sti-
pend considerably in advance of its re-
ceipt. He bridges over his pecuniary
chasms by borrowing of his friends and
felIow-employes. There is nothing
mean about this kind of 4 borrower.
He despises a penuriOus man above all
others, but then penurious men are
never borrowers, and while abundant
ly able, they are seldom known to lend.
The borrowing clerk or employee con-
flies his patronage to one victim at
time. First he borrows quarter to
get his lunch, and repays it with scru-
pulous promptness. He repeats the
process at frequent intervals, and,
while increasing his demands from %
cents up to twice or three times that,
does not fail to refund the amount ac-
cOrding to agreement. Then he gives
his victim breathing spell while he
commences preliminary proceedings
with a fresh unfortunate. Selecting
now favorable time and place, he re-
turns to his first friend and unbo-
SONS himself in burst of confidence
not to be resisted He must have so
or he is ruined, and explains the whole
matter so plausibly that the lender can
not refuse him. Having been in the
past promptly repaid he has no reason
for refusing, SO he hands over half of
his week. salary and sees the last of
it. The borrower. with a cool hardi-
hood that does not exist elsewhere,
studies to give the impression that he
has forgotten all about his obligation,
and the lender is too proud to remind
him of it.
There is one type of the chronic Dor
rover whose frank, open hearted man
ner is simply marvellous. 1t is his stock
in trade. He will slap you on the back
in the friendliest manner in the world,
and, looking you smilingly in the face,
will say: You haven't got a couple of
dollars about you, have you, my dear
fellow? | declare, l forgot my pocket
book this morning and am completely
strappedn'
OF course, he gets the couple of dol
lars and you may be sure that you will
never see it again. Every day for
weeks, perhaps months, the borrower,
if he sees you across the street. will
come over purposely to say: We'll, /
declare, l forgot all about that little
matter this morning; what bore, to be
sure" You agree with him heartily
as to the last clause of his remark, but
politely request him not to mention it.
Finally your GOODNESS rather discour-
ages him, and he, too, like every other
member of his class, makes it conven-
lent to forget all about the matter.
Then there is your distant relative,
or the man who once did you u small
favor. He is as susceptible to insult as
he is lazy and shiftless. AS employer
after employer discharges him for in
science, arrogance or utter incapacity,
or as he voluntarily quits work in order
to maintain his cheap dignity, he comes
to you to keep him out of the gutter, to
brace him up and get him another stu
alton. The longer you pay for his
board and clothes the more he is will
ling to let you, and the easier is he in
suited by his successive employers,
who do not recognize his title to an as
sumption of dignity which SO overbal-
ances his actual usefulness.
These are some borrowers, but their
name is legion and their methods count
less.
In the Lime Kiln Club.