Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-04

Each should he Treated Don't Ges
Scared st "caII and Avoid TroabIe''
Letter.
Few persons have had so extended an
experience of duns AS myself said
Noodles at the Platypus Club. In my
bachelor days was reckless in my ex.
penditures, and so / was forever over
head and ears in debt. Naturally he-
came very expert in the art Of standing
of a creditor. To the novice in fna1.
cial embarrassment dun of any sort is
distressing, but custom hardens. My
theory was that gentleman should un-
der no circumstances be reniiSs in meet.
ing money obligations TO his friends, but
10 owe tradesmen was not discreditsble.
That view OF the case is widely held.
There are different kinds Of duns, foi
each of which a peculiar method Of
treatment should be praeticed Most
readily dealt with is the humble and be.
seeching dun. he wants ths money
badly for some particular purpose, and
begs that you will let him have small
amount on account. This is not ia
dicious way to extort cash from a delin
quent, and you will find it easy TO ask hin,
tc call again.
More difficult is the dun severe lie
wants his money also. and he means to
have it. If you are not ready. he would
like to know why not. lie is full of
threats, and frequently is so rude as ia
utter them. He even goes so Ear as TO
talk OF legal measures. However. if you
are experienced, you recognize all this as
bluff, and you put him off with promises
OF the customary fragility.
Another type is variation on the one
have Just described. he may be termed
the dun sarcastic. His manner is insoIent
and he looks you coldly in the eye while
he asks you impertinent questions. You
can not help feeling withered by his style
Of proceeding, but the important thing
is TO hold your nerve. When he demands
IL you suppose be has a years time to
spend calling upon yourself to settle that
account you should reply coolly that you
are willing that he shall not bother him.
self further IN the matter. II you retain
your presence OF mind. you may defeat
him at his own game aud make him so
angry that he will give up.
One of the most effective sorts Of duns
is the patient bore. He comes around
every day and looks unutterably sad
when you tell him that you have moth.
ing for him. This sort Of thing becomes so
annoying after while that you are apt
to pay up merely for the sake of geLting
rid of the persecution. Besides, it hes T.
tendency to advertise the fact of your
Indebtedness unpleasantly. Your en-
ployer may inquire who the visitor is, IL,
as is likely. he turns up at the Office.
THAT leads me to consider another
type-the conspicuous dun. His role is
10 make you ashamed. At one time in
Chicago concern engaged in pursuing
backward creditors dressed its agents iu
distinctive costumes. and the latter drove
around in vehicles on which a big s'gn
was painted. reading: Agency for the
Collection Of Bad Debts 1t was not
pleasant to have wagon of this sort
standing in front of ones door
There is a more dignified kind of dun
than any Of those have mentioned. He
does not come to you, but you are ex.
pected to go to him. You receive .
letter from firm of lawyers asking you
to call and see them respecting matter
Of importance. IF you have been cangit
that way two or three times before you
are likely to do the wise thing aud fail TO
respond. Sometimes they will so phrase
their letter as to indicate that they have
a claim against the person to whom it is
addressed, not mentioning what claim
Thus his anxiety is aroused 1t is all a
play on human nature. They are apt to
say, cal and avoid trouble 1t wonder
full how solicitous these fellows always
are lest their victims be put to trouble
~Dunning letters usually frighteu the
Unsophisticated. That what's they are in
tended to do But experienced debtors
tear them up and think no more about
them. They are mere formulas and the
threats they convey are verbage. In
fact they are to be justly regarded as
cheering evidences Of weakness on the
part OF the creditor. since appeals by mail
only cost the writer postage stamps and
need not ipjuriously affect the recipient
AS rule, they are not even read.
-Once upon time, when was desir-
Gus Of avoiding two or three duns, / gave
notice 10 the reception room of the office
where I was employed that any unknowE
person who called should be informed
that was out Ia this way / managed
10 stand them of for some time, bnt nos
without arousing their suspicion some.
what This was given to understand
by letters which they wrote me, but
did not thoroughly comprehend until is
came to nv knowledge that the boy in
the reception room, whenever he denied
me to a caller, was invariably so over
come by his sense Of the ludicrous in the
situation as to turn q number OF hand
springs ir the presence of the stranger
This was naturally calculated to excite
incredulity.
Finally hit upon desperate expedi.
ent. bribed the office boy. and the re
suit was that when the next dun called
the youth shook his head solemniy in re
sponse to request to see me
-'Did you give Mr. Noodles my card
yesterday asked the creditor.
Yes. SIR
'Whas dii he say?
He said 10 tell you he was dead.
dead 2
Yes. cir And he's going 60 stay dead
uEtil you Quit coming here
-.DId be say what he died of 2