Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-28
WASTE.

WASTE.
There is much of it in the world.
1t is caused either by thriftlessness
or by extravaganza.
In the first instance one may not
intend to waste, hut he lacks power
ofjudicious management. This de-
feet is visible in almost every de-
partment of life.
Here is a man in business. He is
sober, industrious and honest. He
seems to prosper. He has a good
trade or occupation, or profession.
He minds odds and ends. But some
how his household expenses increase.
More and more his family wants
multiply. 1t takes SO much to keep
his wife and children fed, clothed and
educated. Larger and larger drafts
are made upon his purse. Debts
now press him. Creditors demand
payment. And soon he is put into
bankruptcy. Inquiry is instituted
as to the cause, and it is found that
the leakage began at home; that the
mistress was no manager; that she
was careless about servants and cloth
ing and table; that things were used
without any reference to saving; that
the children were not trained to fru-
gality; and that everything was
done in a very thriftless manner.
Or the reverse may be the case
the wife may be the economist and
the husband the careless party.
Sometimes both prove poor mana
gers, when the leaks let out twice as
fast as the barrel let's in, and soon
there is an emptiness or exhaustion.
1t matters not who is to blame, or
where the fault lies, the point is, the
funds have been squandered'and the
dire penalty has to be paid.
The other source of wastefulness is
extravaganza. Some persons have
no notion of the value of money, or
what thing costs. They want it
and will have it. Nor are they con-
tent with a moderate priced article !;
they must have the very best. So
they dress in the costliest of silks,
wear the most precious of jewels,
provide the most sumptuous of fares,
travel in the most expensive ofequip-
ages, and live in the finest of style,
going to the very verge of their
means, and even beyond their ability
in the vain hope that somehow the
purse will hold out and be refilled in
due season. They have no just con-
ception Of what economy means ;
never look ahead live merely in and
for the present qualification; and
take little account of the day of set
tlement. They pile up accounts and
when payment arrives they feel the
pressure, but somehow tide over the
difficulty and think they will do bet
ter in the future, yet the days and
months and years roll by and no inn
provement appears, and at last the
threatened collapse occurs, when the
splendid furniture, magnificent man
sion and extensive possessions are sold
at a sacrifice and pass into other
hands. Spendthrifts soon consume
a colossal fortune. Many, left their
thousands, are in a few years penni-
less. Numbers who have suddenly
become rich in speculation have in a
short period been reduced to want.
What comes easy goes easy, has be-
comes a truism. Extravaganza speed
lily pulls down the vast accumula-
tiOns.
Wastefulness is sin. To spend
foolishly or needlessly has no Bible
sanction. God gives abundance, but
he requires its right use and proper
preservation. He commits his good
things to US in trust. He regards
what we have as loaned, not owned.
He calls US his stewards, not propri
etors. He holds US responsible for
our possessions and acquisitions.
He who squanders his revenues
commits a gross offence and has a
terrible account to render. Large
substances wasted are terrible
thing for which to answer at heav-
ems bar. Riches are not intended
to minister to extravagance, or to be
lavished on self without regard to a
hereafter; but are a gift to be di-
vinely employed and accounted for.
Pres6Werian Observer.