The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-24

Since tho laughable comedy "a New
Way TO Pay Old DcUts" was written, there
have been hundreds and hundreds OF new
ways suggested, adopted and failed. There
is but one way TO pay debt, that is, never
make one. polonius archaic advice 10
Lnertes, "neithor borrower nor u lender
be-" has been dinncd into the ears Of sue
cossivc generations ever since the words
were writ How much more pleasure does
n man find In being borrower than u
lender? How much moro satisfaction In
importuning debtor than In being called
upon 10 payi
The large unwcedcd number OF debtors
may be divided Into three classes: those who
can pay and will In the near future, those
who would pay but can't aud won't, and
those who never intended 20 pay at all.
| Every man who owes IN honest debt can
| put himself Into one Of these classes with
| out fear aud without elimination.
II IL against these three classes OF indi-
| viduala that the collector makes his
monthly crusade. Armed with bill. he
| Is moro to be dreaded than the crusader Of
old. The bil collector has long since bccn
added TO the mo,hcrin.sw and the book
agents by the mlrthful press which ever
finds In ono or more target at which TO
aim the shafts OF the editors wit Some
ingenious member OF the maternity has
suggested presidency thou art jewel
for class motto, and II will no doubt be
adopted.
L. there any excuse to which a hard
pressed debtor has not rcsorted2 II thcru
IL, the grateful tribe Of pcrambulaiou
would he pleased 10 knowit
lly a singular circumstance OF human
nature, the !. o. n. OF the gaming table Il
considered the most sacred Of debts anC
would be paid by nine men out Of tel
who give such no,cs) quicker than th'
debts contracted for the necessities Of life
In the DAYS Of the ohiyalric iorciathen ~
|. o. u. contracted ut the gaming table, wa
the debt Of honor. aud Is No considered I,
this day.
II II no, necessary 20 enter into tn
weary details Of collectors rounds &
learn the tales Of impotence, ycxation an'
delay. ior every one who has been Their
knows II, and those who have not hav
, learned Il through the telling 81 II.
A man or woman u not ~ often worries
4 by the amounted hill as by the natur
OF Il. Few people care to pay In Angus
for an oycrcoat Of the previous winter, @
10 have presented In January bill for 10
: used during the past summer. It's th
. unscasonablcncss OF u, lagol
I "When the collector has lailed, then al
1 other means have failed the law,
. signs the weary merchant
: Not No, good sir perhaps YOU have no
been approached by any OF those iricndl
!. institutions which propose 10 step In be
= tween YOU and your debtor, and see tbs
h he settles up Through some snbil
channel they make the demand and th
!. result shows n closed up account For
: small percentage or q membership lee
, firm can place L. bad debts In the hand
! OF these agencies and receive the most,
q not all OF the accounts by what aystor
Z or by what persuasion thsis accomplishe
IL only known 20 the debtor and N
agency. There are vague rumom Of VI
, rious devices used In this system OF cole,
a ton, but little u known 30 the uniniuatct
Il Many still remember the home institl
o ton Of this character which undertook /
= publish ''blacklist" OF delinquent an
y not.to.bo.irustcd debtors aud the troub
y aud hot water Il found itself In soon aft,
publishing IL initial list.
A Chicago firm uses tho conapicuot
N black envelope, with the legend, "this
m bad debt, acrcs the face, In mailir
le bad accounts 10 debtors. Unless man
Is conscience naturally dictates the paymcn
of this method Is Of little avail, as tho lett
o carrier alone has knowledge Of the dcliI
" qucncy.
A debtor who, with full knowledge
his Obligation, leclipes TO pay, may
" appealed 10 on the grounds Of honesty an
IS seli.esiecm often without avail, but i
Il. HIM understand that his neighbors an
n. friends are aware Of bis indifference
~ his debts and q marked change comes ov'
his demcanor. Rather than lose his gos
standing with his ncighbofs lac will nal
any sacrifice 20 meet the demands. 4
,r plainiiycly cries with Casio, take ava
ii my good name aud you rob me Of Ia
nj which makes me poor indeed
And yet II Ia on this shnciplo that
new agency Just csia.lishcd here propos
10 operate.
N II these agencies become the popul
X. chances for collection, then many a mi
gill lose his job. hut Il Is generally n
dcn,ood that bad debts alone are plac