The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-06-14
FRENCH THRIFT.

Chillrel Taught i'll SGhouls 10 Save Theil
Pennies--Rasis OF rrnspe, ity.
The French suffer less from punics and
aeprtsSQlls than any other people on the
globe. and it is because thrift is the basis
of their prosperity. 1
In France nearly every person savet
something for a rainy day. The habit is
least are sure to be found iii this great
| saving class. The French savings banks
have more than S,OOu.OOO depositors. ana
their deposits amount to about $500
0tU,tHM and this urge sum is made W
of small sums, ~
The French schools teach the children
to save money, and the most frequent
prize given to 4 bright pupil is u savings
bank book with email sum to the credit
of the owner. This is given where in
this country we would give Il medal or Il
book.
When a community has a lot Of money
deposited in savings banks it IS easy to
borrow money, without going to outside
capitalists. The local hanks are pre-
pared to loan to home people at a motler-
ate interest. In the large cities aud fac
tory towns of the Eastern states the saw
ings banks are the great safeguards of
the poor wage-earners against hard times,
and if the saving habit WAS as general
here as it is in France, our people would
have passed through the recent financial
depression without seriously feeling it,
Every child should be taught the i'm,
portnace of saving without being avari-
cious and niggardly. We need more
thrift. The average American wage earn
er wastes enough in his lifetime to make
him canlfortahI.' in his cd age. We
should take :; l,sSon from the French in
this respect. They know how to enjoy
life and at the same time work hard and.
Slv t1on
Bombard the Bank.
Did you ever hear of the naval Yankee
who threatened to lombard the Casino
at Monico:'
''Never!' .
''He was the captain of trading ship
intrusted with 10000 francs. Putting in
accidentally to Monaco, he thought he
would visit the gambling rooms. Allured
by the horrible fascination, he ventured
il small stake. Like all beginners he
Won coup after coup. until the turn of the
tide. He carried the precious notes in
his pocket, and. his own money exhausted,
was tempted to borrow from the sacred
trust. In few nightmare hours he found
himself il penniless, ruined and dishonored
man. But the old boy didn't take long to
make up his mind. Broad and bury, he
presented himself to the Administrations
and explained the awful state of the case.
Naturally. they refused to refund the
money. Then the mariner grew terrible
in his DESPAIR. Under these circum-
stances, gentlemen he said. life is value
less. l shall go back to the boat aud if
don't receive 10000 francs within half
an hour. shall blow out my brains: but
before sending in my check I'll have the
satisfaction of bombarding your con-.
founded Casino. 1 take my oath to that
Good morning!
He was soon busy loading. aiming and
placing his solitary cannon. but in some
thing under twenty minutes the vessel
was hailed by trim employee from head
quarters. Captain said the visitor, po-
liteiy, your preparations will be unneces-
sary: you can unload. Here are your
10000 francs. Bon voyage! london
World