Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-01
THE INsOLvENT DEBTOR
TREATED MORE HUMANELY
THAN FORMERLY.
Stories which Seem to Indicate That
Some Creditors Carry Hearts In Their
Pockots-The Debtors of Ancient Ro,no
Were Cut TO Pieces.

had been giving unmistakable signs
that "falling weather" was at hand
and he grunted more frequently thar
was his won't But. Notwithstanding
his aches and pains, he was in good
humor, says the Boston Globe. He
had just finished telling an inciden,
which had come to his notice that
morning, and then lay back in his
chair to listen, with more than ordi-
nary attention, to "reminiscences ol
old-time generosity. which his anec
dote had provoked.
Jacob Lorillard, have heard, W as
one of the most considerate of men
to his debtors, Us we'll as the most
generous to his friends" observed
Uncle Joshua. "a lifelong friend,
who had acquired fortune, was at
ono time suddenly overtaken with
calamity, which threatened his ruin.
When Lorillard heard of it he was
moved to tears. Then he mortgaged
his property. and when the creditors
of his friend, knowing OF their inti-
macy, came to him to find out If the
reports of threatened failure were
true, he simply said: Bring me the
notes which are due you, and on the
usual guarantee. / will pay them.
lie thus redeemed his friends in
dcbtcdness, saved him from failure.
and so re-established his credit that
| prosperity followed"
The world. generally. think, OBJ
served Old Bob, .is growing more
humane in its treatment of debtors.
Among the Romans the insolvent
debtor was cut in pieces, and the
pieces distributed among his cred
itors In England the bankrupt was
| formerly treated as criminal, and
subjected to personal punishment.
In Scotland the pillory was his doom
up to something over a century ago.
We can all remember when impris-
onmcnt for debt prevailed in this
country.
Squire Ben listened with interest
to the conversation which his an
nouncement had evoked. Now he
broke in: boys, l can tell you q
good story appropriate to the occa-
sion. Une of Boston's old-school
merchants, a man of extensive com
mercial dealings, whose warehouses
and counting-room were located on
Long Wharf, departed this life at
the ripe age of 70 years about the
year of 1906. He died without max
ing will. and his eldest son admin
istered upon the estate. This old
gentleman had often said that he had
for years fed large number of Cath
olics on the shores OF the Mediter-
ranean during Lent. showing that he
was engaged in the fishing business,
and it was fact that he was. known
in every fishing hamlet on the coast
from Garnet's Nose to Race Point.
..In looking over his papers, after
his death, the old mans son found q
package of considerable size, care
fully tied up. and containing this in.
dorsement: Notes, due bills and
accounts against sunGry persons
down along shore. Some OF these
may be got by suit or severe dunning.
But the people are poor; most OF
them have had fisherman's luck. My
children will do as they think best.
Perhaps they will think. with me,
that it is best to burn this package
| entire
"About four or five weeks after
| the old mans death the sons met
together to adjust matters relating
to the estate. Among the things
considered was the package of due
bills, &c.
1.-The elder brother asked the other
| brothers-there were three of them,
| believe-what should be done with
it. One said burn it, but another
one, while not opposing this disposi-
tion of it, suggested that it might be
woll. before doing so. to make list
of debtors names, and OF the dates
and accounts. so that such of the
debtors as might offer payment could
be informed that their debts had
been forgiven. This was according
ly done, and tho bundle of notes, due
bills, ETC., to an amount exceeding
So, 900 was committed to tina flames.
.About four months after the OLD
merchants death there came into the
counting-room, on Long Wharf, 9
little old man, who looked rs L
rough weather had met him at every
turn for seventy years, and had
banged him about numerically. He
had heard OF the old merchants
death. and said that he had coma uE
from the cape to pay a debt which
he owed him.
1.-The elder brother Of the heirs
and administrator OF the estate ques
toned the old man; asked his name
residence, the amount Of his debt
etc The original debt, it appears
had been $440; but it had stood ,
long time. SO that it then amounted
to $500. The old man seemed 81
cast down. even in his dogged hon
esty, that he had from his first ap
pearance excited the sympathy o
The brothers present The elder
after hearing the old mans story,eX
amincd the forgiven list, and a smil,
lighted up his countenance as he OBJ
served that the name of his visito
was in it.
".i cannot take this money SAT-
the young merchant
Mot readily comprehending thu
reason of this refusal the old man be
came confused. i have cast simpl
interest for twelve years and a littl
orer,' he said. Il will pay you com
pound interest. If you say so. Tha
debt ought to have been paid Ion:
ago. but your father, sir. was YER.
indulgent. He knew that l had beel