The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-09

An Analysis of the Somewhat Unioveiy
Social Borrower.


The social borrower, says the Queen.
calls at all hours, asking the favor OF
the use of your friends, servants,
money, carriage, books, games, dress,
cooking utensils, prescriptions, and
recipes; in fact, anything and every
thing you possess she in turn requires.
Would you mind lending me so-and-
so for couple of days?" 81 know you
will let me have this, that, and the
other for time" "You are always so
glad to be useful" These and similar
formulas she employs for her purpose
"Dear Mrs Brown" who really is ever
DESTROYS of obliging-thereby ignoring
that "he who lendeth to all that will
borrow shows great goodwill, but lit
tie wisdom"-is despolled of to-day her
bodice to the very costume she was to
have worn at the fete next week. Your
dresses are excellent patterns; they tit
me so WE'LL" is urged by our social bor-
rover. Tomorrow, may be, it is a
preserving pan. "You shall have it
again before you are ready to make
the apricot JAM is promised. But
neither reappears. SO, too, with a vol
ume, the loss Of which just spoils a set,
or book that it is impossible to re-
place. 1t has quite escaped the memo
nv of the borrower. She will "be sure
and remember it, but she never does.
You remind her again and again at in
tervals, with the final result that she
feels injured at your imagining that
she "ever had such thing belonging
to you" The truth is, the social bor-
rover, being in the habit of having a
continual supply of articles not her
own, really forgets whose they are; or,
perhaps, she leaves town hurriedly,
and thus omits to restore what was
lent, and, if remembered after the
lapse of months or years, is ashamed
to recall her remissness. Yes, the So
cial borrower is rarely systematic IN
the matter of returns. Still, she is
honest, for in borrowing she had no
intention of permanently retaining, and
oftentimes, to the best of her belief,
she has only what is her own.
Then there are the delightful people
who press loans upon the social bor-
rover. They feel honored if she will
use or copy anything they may possess.
Imitation, in their eyes, is the surest
battery. They beg her to let their cook
come and make certain dishes, so much
enjoyed at their last dinner party; they
insist upon driving her or sending for
her wherever she may require to 60
they entreat her to employ their dress
maker, tradespeople, and eharwoman.
Thus we see the social borrower is not
without temptations. Little wonder is
It if, with favors thrust upon her, added
to penchant for accepting, that she
becomes the unintentional purlolner OF
other folks goods.
The social borrower frequently for
gets her purse, or is without change.
She would not for the world accept as
present the smallest coin or even q
penny stamp, but temporary advance,
under the circumstances, is unhesitat-
lngly asked for and as readily given.
With equal readiness does the occur
renee vanish from the mind of the one
obliged. 1t is no intentional debt,
therefore quite honest. An oversight
of this kind may be inconvenient, but
is not to be met with severe censure.
The lenders who suffer mostly are
those who are always careful to pay
what they owe, that they may know
what is their own. 70 them this half
loan, half-gift principle is positive
agony. Delicacy of fee ing prevents
them asking for the return of a loan
indeed. every care is taken not to HIN
that aught is owing. AS to the sensi
tive individual, the apology which i!
sure to follow is most unpleasant
Again, others who are prompted b,
sheer good-nature, or who are too meel
to refuse a request, see their favorlt,
songs borrowed and sung before thei
own special audience, or their particu
lar friend monopolized, their guests
weaned away for the summer months
Croquet, tennis, archery are all Dor
rowed at the same time, in order t,
provide amusement in the home of tn
so ial marauder. In the house of tn
social borrower may be found the del
of Cacus, but it is all honest accumula
ton. AS to baskets and shawls, the,
are too unimportant objects ever to re
ceive the atten ton of the social Dor
rover, 80 she pays her evening visit
unprovid ed with an extra wrap; goe
for the express purpose of receivin,
some dainty for home consumption
without ever thing to fetch 1T in; sat
isfied that friends have always at han,
something they can lend.