The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-12-24


clined-
How the Modern Credit System Fa-
cnitates the establishments of q
Household on Small
Means.
The young man who plunges into
mstrimony in this town to-day, and is
dependent solely on an income
of two thousand dollars or 80,
finds it much easier to provide his
bride with a comfortable home than
did the young men who we're called upon
to do the same thing twenty and thirty
years ago. In those days, says the New
York Sun, it was practically impossible
for the young man who hadn't any cap
ital to fall back upon to buy and fur
nish house unless he could find q man
of wealth to 60 sponsor for him. He
had to pay cash for every thing he got
or go without. Now almost every thing
can be bought upon the installment plan
and with practically no security. The
result is that the young married couple
can start housekeeping fully equipped.
A moderate weekly or monthly pay
ment, which doesn't make a large hole
in the Benedict's salary, is sufficient at
the end of a couple of years to make him
the absolute owner of his house and its
belongings. Twenty years ago it was
thought almost a disgrace to have
mortgage on ones house, but it is quite
a common thing now. Lots can now be
bought on payment of monthly sums as
low as five dollars, and the young hus-
band will find many real-estate concerns
who will build a house for him in the
neighborhood of New York, the pay
ments on which won't be any larger than
the rent which he would be obliged to
pay for house or fiat in town. Then
he won't have any trouble in get
ting furniture on credit for his house or
for his fat, If he has decided to begin
housekeeping in an apartment. There
are plenty of furniture houses, the ma
jOrity of whose business is done on the
installment plan, and he will find it the
easiest matter in the world to get few
hundred dollars worth of furniture If he
will agree to pay up within year. The
young man can obtain his tableware
and crockery in the same convenient
way, for the competition in the trade
has driven houses to hold out these in
ducements to their customers. The
young couples library can be well
stocked, too, on the installment plan,
with sets Of the best authors works, if
they only know where to go. Watches
and jewelry can be obtained on weekly
hi oT1Nc nh if11
has been in vogue for several years.
In fact, there is no end to the articles
which can be bought on the installment
plan, provided they are of a durable ma
ture. They remain the property of the
seller, who holds a mortgage until the
last payment is made.
The attempt to apply the installment
plan to the sale of clothing hasn't been
brilliant success, because wearing sp-
parel is apt to be worn out before the
time for the final payment comes
sour business now, a" said a large furni-
ture dealer on Park row the other day,
sis almost entirely on the installment
basis now. Twenty years ago every
thing we sold was practically for cash,
but now the house which doesn't sell on
credit can't stay in the business very
long. Young married folks are among
our best customers, and every day We
are helping to start a newly-wedded pair
in housekeeping. 1t is the greatest
boon to the young man Of to-day that,
without any outlay, he is able TO be
master Of his own house instead Of TAX
ing his chances in a boarding-hOuse. Is
would surprise you to see the number of
persons in all walks of life who utilize
the installment system. Even men of
moderate means prefer to buy very often
on credit, and use their ready money in
their business. OF course, in this bust
ness we have to be pretty good judges Of
human nature, but there are rarely very
few whom we refuse. Risk necessarily
accompanies the installment system,
but where the volume of business is
large a house can afford to carry &C
counts for long time. Sometimes
person falls behind in his payments,
but if he has a good excuse to give us,
as sickness in his family, for instance,
we always allow him more time. In
fact there is practically no limit set.
AS long as a man shows an inclination
to pay US we do not press him, and some
accounts run indefinitely.
Sometimes we look up man or
woman who comes in to buy on credit,
but as rule we can rely on the judg-
ment of our statesmen, who are pretty ex-
pert in sizing up the prospective custom
ers. Some of our most interesting call
ers are the young brides that are to be,
who often come brayely in alone to Sc
lect the furniture for the household.
They usually get along very well until
it comes to giving their names. Then
they hesitate, stammer and blush, be-
cause they don't know whether to give
their maiden name or that of their pros
pective husband. 1t usually ends with
the young lady confding to the sales
man a complete explanation Of the i'm
portant event, with the time that the
wedding is to come of, who the BRIDE
maids are to be, and where the wedding
is to take place."