The Negro world., 1892-09-03
PAY AS you GO.
It's n Vast Deal Raster In the Long Run
Than Golng Into Debt.

It's Vast Deal Raster In the Long Run
Than Going Into Debt.
A homely maxim enough. but con-
tanning epitomized matehless recipe
for everyhody's comfort and content
ment, Our national impulse To put the
best foot forward, To appear as well ns.
IL not better than. cur neighbars on cv-
cry occasion, leads many OF us toward
an extravaganza in living which rohs
life of ease, makes repose difficult, and
opens the door wide to temptations
which should never have so much as
pushed IL ajar. The moment that "a
self-respeoting integrity Is so far i'm
fringed upon that II suffers the under
taking OF q debt. the way To pay which
is not clearly and definitely seen. Is the
moment of loss 10 both integrity and
self-rspect Pay as you go IL the only
safe rule for the great majority of plain
Hniddla-elaan people, phose iueemea erei
based either ON II fixed salary or "a tiue.
tuating percentage of commission ON
services rendered,
To these. debt, however justified 10
their perceptions when incurred usu-
ally becomes milestone around the
neck before Il In obliteratcd. II incurred
from low motives. as, for example, that
u bigger house may be rented or built
than the houscholdcrs means comfort.
ably allow, or from consideration OF
uncertain speculation. In the hope Of u
rise In values which may or may not
occur, or that style of dress or equip
age or entertainment may be assumed
not in conformity with the purse, then
one of two things viii happen-~elthcr
the person who owes the debt win grow
old and haggard In wearisome efforts
to pay II, lying awake ut night, Rbridg-
ing necessary food, working over-hours,
comprising every avenue with stubborn
cndcavor 10 gain money, or worse, he
will cease to feel sensitive and ashamed
of his own dilatoriness, will bear the
burden of debt ms though Il were n
feathers weight only and not u serious
| obligation, and deteriorato IN conscience
and honor
There are emergencies which render
the assumption of debt essential, as
for example, In some instances the lib
cral education OF "a son or daughter,
ones personal apprenticeship 20 nm art
or profession. or the saving OF q dear
ones life. by meaus of change Of resi-.
denco or journey, for which money
must be borrowed, II II can be had In
no other honorable way
These exceptions only prove the rule,
that to pay as you go Is the part of wis.
dom and Of independence, In another
aspect less material and tangible
than the first and obvious one, the max
i'm deserves to be kept In mind. Pay
as you 60, the small courtesics Of so
ciety; say II thank you" readily and
cordially for each service rendered and
kindness done by friend or child aorv-
ant DO not forget the smile that
greets the entrance of husband or wife
into the room Rise up before the honry
head not only, but before all whom yon
would for any reason honor. Pay aa
you 20, not grudRingly ont chcerfully,
remembering that of ull humanity II
must be truly said, 1--WE pass this way
but once
II life could be shorn of all material
worry, and It's trials limited ~ those
which accrue In the natural order Of
avents-diseaae, separation, change
hard as these might be, men and wom-
en- would go lightly on their way. II
is worry that acts m blighting frost.
makes people irritable cross and nm.
popular, and robs society Of gracious
charm Debt aud worry hunt In cou-
plea, another reason why II is best 10
pay ms you go Harper'A Baznr.