Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-11-17
SOCIAL
OVERS.
Annoying Nuisance gsno Never Would
se Missed by sTap Kind.

re Missed BY Iap s1ind.
The social borrower 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, any
thing and every thing you possess she
in turn desires. "Would you mind
lending me so-and So for couple of
days?" ~ know you will let me have
this, that and the other. for timer"
"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 che who
lendeth to all that will borrow shows
great good will but little wisdom''-is
despoiled to-day of her bodice to the
very costume she was to have worn at
the fete next week. "Your dresses are
excellent patterns, they fit me SO well, "
is urged by our social borrower. To-
morrow, 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 volume, theloss of which just
spoils set or book that it is impos-
sible to replace. 1t has quite escaped
the memory of the borrower. She will
''be sure and remember it, but she
never does. You remind her again and
again at intervals, with the final result
that size feels injured at your imagin-
ing she sever had such q thing belong
ing to you" The truth is, the social
borrower, being in the habit of having
continual supply of articles not her
own, really forgets whose they are, or
perhaps she leaves town hurriedly,
and thus omits to restore what is lent,
and, if remembered after the lapse of
months or years, is ashamed to recall
her remissness. Yes. the social bor-
rover is rarely systematic in the mat
ter 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 Dor
rover. They feel honored if she will
use or copy any thing they may pos
sess. Imitation, in their eyes, is the
surest fattery. They beg her to let
her cook come and make certain
dishes, so much enjoyed at their last
dinner party; they insist upon driving
her or sending her wherever she may
require to go; they entreat her to en-
ploy their dressmaker, trades people
and char-women. Thus we see the So
cial borrower is not without tempta-
tons. Little wonder is it if, with IA
vors thrust upon her, added to pen
chant for accepting, that she becomes
the unintentional purloiner of other
folks goods.
The social borrower frequently for
gets her purse, or is without change.
She would not for the world accept as
a present the smallest coin or even a
penny stamp, but temporary advance,
under the circumstances, is unhesitat-
ingly asked for and as readily given.
With equal readiness does the occur
renee vanish from the mind of the one
obliged. It's no Intentional debt, there
fore 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. To them this half
loan, half-gift principle is positive
agony. Delicacy of feeling prevents
their asking for the return of loan;
indeed, every care is taken not to hint
that aught is owing, as to the sensitive
individual. the apology which is sure
to follow is most unpleasant. Again,
others who are prompted by sheer good
nature, or who are too meek to refuse
a request, see their favorite songs bor-
rowed and sung before their own special
audience, or their particular friend
monopolized, their guests weaned away
for the summer months. Croquet,
tennis, archery, are all borrowed at
the same time, in order to provide
amusement in the home of the social
marauder. In the house of the social
borrower may be found the den OF
Cacus, but it is all honest accumulation
AS to baskets and shawls, they are too
unimportant articles ever to receive
the attention of the social borrower, sc
she pays her evening visit unprovided
with an extra wrap; goes for the ex-
press purpose of receiving some dainty
for home consumption without ever
thing to fetch it in; satisfied that friends
have always at hand sometime they
can London Queen.