The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-08
rmen OF mn l Oh,Ig lions.

rcw women, let us hope. are intention
a,l,, dishonest. The majority OF women
are fostidious I'm the conduct OF their
finances. shrinking from debt as from
disgrace. and preferring 10 pay fully ana
honorably as they go. Yet no" anu
then one hears a wall OF complaint from
neonlc who suffer needessly because Of
the needless manner I'm which other peo-
ple keep them waiting for money which
thcy have earned. a dressmaker said
recently. 10 one OF her patrons: 81 am
nearly frantic when / think how hard I
worked. and how late | sat up TO finish
Miss IS graduation gown. and now
| am afraid / will never be paid / have
waited six months for that bill, and I
cannot get one cent, though / have al
most begged for it, even Offering TO take
IL I'm instalments. / am distressed in
these hard times. when everybody is
rctrenching. because people do not have
so many new things. and others who
have had them. put off paying me-"
on her way home the sympathetic
customer thought about f.. happening 20
know that there were no indications OF
want or Strengthened means in the family
OF the delinquent debtor. inferring that
the thing was due TO an ingrained in
difference 20 paying for work when done.
Probably there was az first a temporary
inconvenience I'm settling the bill. and it
was postponed for day or two and then
the period heightened insensibly, other
creditors brought their bills. larger
amouts were paid. and still the poor
dressmaker waited and worried, and grew
frantic with worry, poor thing.
To defer even for one day, the paying
Of the laundress who has acceptably
finished her days work I'm your kitchen,
IS. il may be- 10 force her to ask credit,
grudgingly given to such as she. at the
grocer's shop where she deals, or else 10
send her children. meagTely fed. 10 their
beds People who have a comfortable
balance in bank do not comprehend the
straightened circumstances of the people
who live from hand 10 mouth.
Coal-bins filed to the overflow. arc
a very different thing from coal purchased
in the dearest way, by a pailful at a time,
yet thousands Of poor women can buy
their coal only in very small quantities
or go without. Think Of being calmly
told to wait till tomorrow for ones
wages. when neither stick Of wood nor
ounce OF coal was on hand for the
family fire.
Apart from the Inconveuiencc. en-
barrassment, and misery entailed by laNi-
~ in paying what one owes. especially
when the creditors are the poor and the
debts are small there is evident a seri-
GUS lack Of principle in persons who can
comfortably continue In debt
Any lapse in the rigid honor which
insists on meeting each demand and pay
ing it in full at the moment of its ma
turity involves a loss Of self-respect and
brings in its train a warped morality
There are few things more important
I'm the education of children than the
fostering in them the right estimate or
personal obligation. The child should be
enjoined against borrowing and begging
in his small transactions. Let him be
held TO strict account. and responsibility
as to his management of his allowance.
Fidelity here will tell in years 10 come.
when his dealings are no longer small,
but affect great commercial interests
Harper's Bazaar.