Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-05-22
THE BORROWING HABIT.
Why the Young Should Bo Taught to
Sllun the Slavery OF Debt.

Shun the slavery OF Debt.
In all crusades against evil it is cs4
scntial to find out as near rs possible
it's primary source. No wrong-doiug
ever springs up ut once, full fledged in
society. 1t is usually the gradual
growth Of certain habits which, in
their earlier stages. were not regarded
as OF much Importance were not
checked as actual sins. and which
have thus crept insidiously into char
actor and life, to develop at last into
something which is fully recognized
and censurcd as iuiquity. There is no
moro striking example of this than the
many forms of dishonesty, which eX-
cite righteous Indignation afresh at
every reappcarance. We nre naturally
and justly shocked Mt the absconding
clerk, tho dctaulting cashier, tho
ftithlcss trustee; but we rarely pause
to consider how these unhappy men
have come TO such n pass. 1t has boen
no sudden plunge from innocence to
guilt. but gradual looseninG Of the
principlcs--a slow deterioration of the
character-that has Ut length made
snch crimes possible. While VIC may
| not be able to trace, step by step, this
downward process in any given case, it
is safe to say that many, if not most, OF
these overt acts of dishonesty had their
root in IL loose habit of borrowing.
Now, in itself, borrowing CAN not be
called q culpable act. 1t is often Il
great convenience. We need knife,
| II book, an neutrality-suspicious. n small
| sum of money, which wo can not easily
obtain at once; q friend Is near
und willing to lend; we borrow it, use
it, and return it promptly. So far
no wrong has been committed, no harm
is done. Our friend has been glad to
| oblige us, and We are grateful. If the
same limits and conditions were always
preserved no further evil could ensue;
but often these limits are gradually
| extended: we borrow more and more
| freely. and become less careful and
| prompt in the return. Sometimes we
seriously infringe anothe"'s rights,
without any intention Of wrong-doing.
| simply by delay in returning borrowed
| property. The courtesy and kindness
that lends freely is often sadly imposed
upon and compelled to withhold its
| fnvors. From this habit to that Of bor-
rowing sums Of money on slight occa-
sious is not Il difficult transition. OF
/ course there are times when necessity
| justifics n man i'll asking IL temporary
| loan, although an ancient writer we'll
says: "lf thou hast Of thy own, borrow
not, since thou hast no Mood Of it; ind
11r,
cause thou wilt not have my means to
pay" But it is not usually those who
| are in the direSt poverty that are tho
most inveterate borrowers: 1t is much
moro frequently those who allow their
desires for supcriluities to outrun their
! ability to obtain them that resort 20
this dangerous aud inSidious practice.
All such desires grow by what they
! feed on. and become more and more
| eXucting, while the strict rcctitude
which Gun not brook the long continu-
ance Of Il debt is gradually impaired.
, The victim Of such Il snare finds
, himself increasingly involved in it's
meshcs; it becomes over easier to
borrow. ever harder to repay. Of
! course this can not continue forever.
/ People. mftor repeated disappointment.
/ decline to lend with SD small Il chance
! of return. and he then resorts to darker
! and more questionable methods of OBJ
! tanning tho means to crafty desires
which have acquired such tyranny over
him. Temptation comes, opportunities
arise; he thinks no can restore what no
takes and avoid dctection, and perhaps.
before he roalizos what no is doing, no
has committed crime. 1t il but the
elimination OF q long process. during
which seIf-iDdulgencc has heDn f;LStcn-
ing its clutch upon him and tho prinGi-
pie Of integrity has been loosoning its
hold. Is it not. then, all inpor ant in
the training OF youth that exactly the
reverse process should be inaugurated
and fostorcd? IL there any education
so essential as that which te1ches tho
young to restrain tholr desires within
the limits which their Own honest it.