The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-04


remoter farming communities The description
is founded on personal Observation-Disclosures
in Chicago Herald.
THE BORROWING HABIT.
why the Young should Be Taught to
| Shun the Slavery of Debt.
In all crusades against evil it is es-
sentlal to find out as near as possible
its primary source. No wrong-doing
ever springs up at once, full fedged 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 crspt insidiously into char
acter and life, to develop at last into
something which is fully recognized
and censured as iniquity. There is no
more striking example of this than the
many forms of dishonesty, which ex-
cite righteous indignation afresh at
every temperance. We are naturally
and justly shocked at tho absconding
clerk, the detaulting cashier, the
faithless trustee; but we rarely pause
to consider how these unhappy men
have come to such a pass. It has been
no sudden plunge from innocence to
guilt, but gradual loosening of the
principles-a slow deterioration of the
character-that has at length made
snch crimes possible. While we may
not be able to trace, step by step, this
| w ND in orivo
is safe to say that many, if not most. of
these overt acts of dishonesty had their
root in a loose habit of borrowing.
Now, in itself, borrowing can not be
called a culpable act. 1t is often
great convenience. We need knife,
book, an umbrella-perhaps small
sum OF money, which we can not easily
obtain at once; a friend is near
and 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 another'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
favors. From this habit to that of bor-
rowing sums of money on slight occa-
sions is not a difficult transition. OF
course there are times when necessity
justifies a man in asking temporary
loan, although an ancient writer we'll
says: ''lf thou hast of thy own, borrow
not, since thou hast no need of it; and
if thou hast nothing, borrow not, be-
cause thou wilt not have any means to
pay" But it is not usually those who
are in the direst poverty that are the
most inveterate borrowers. 1t is much
more frequently those who allow their
desires for superfluities to outrun their
ability to obtain them that resort to
this dangerous and insidious practice.
All such desires grow by what they
feed on. and become more and more
! exacting, while the strict rectitude
| which can not brook the long continu-
ance of a debt is gradually impaired.
The victim of such a snare finds
himself increasingly involved in it's
| meshes; it becomes ever easier to
borrow. ever harder to repay. OF
course this can not continue forever.
People, after repeated disappointments,
decline to lend with 50 small chance
| of return, and he then resorts to darker
and more questionable methods of OBJ
tanning the means to crafty desires
which have acquired such tyranny over
him. Temptation comes, opportunities
arise; he thinks he can restore what he
takes and avoid detection, and perhaps,
| before he realizes what he is doing, he
has committed a crime. It is but the
elimination of a long process, during
| which self-indulgence has been fasten-
| ing its clutch upon him and the princi.
pie of integrity has been loosening it's
! hold. Is it not, then, all important in
oAAo VI e'AAAAS VI yOutl GudI exactly the
| reverse process should be inaugurated
and fostered? Is there any education
so essential as that which teaches the
young to restrain their desires within
the limits which their own honest in.
dustry can supply? Our youth are
brought up to value freedom as their
greatest blessing. They learn it from
the lips of their teachers; they breathe
it in tho atmosphere around them.
Slavery would be to them degrade
ton to which even death would be pre-.
ferable. Let them also be taught to
dread and to shun the slavery of debt
to prize above riches, or honor, OF
luxury, or pleasure that independence
which owes no man any thing but love
and good will. Such habit of thought
and life would make the crimes of faith.
lessness aud fraud impossible. Char.
Rcter thus purified and made whole,
some at its source would continue te
flow on in clear and unsullied stream.
for the moral health and vigor Of soct
ety,-Philadelpbie LEDGER;