The record-union., 1896-09-20
AN EVERYDAY STORY.

The curiosittes of human nature are
many, and most are queer. Only the
other day we were ear witness to an in
cident illustrative in large degree Of un-
manly and unjust assault and any
amount of cruel prejudice.
A group Of citizens attracted attention
by their excited tones. It developed that
they were scoring another citizen not
present because still another had been
forced by involvement to petition in in
solvency and ask to be discharged of his
debts. But the offending citizen being
would be paid in full. That is to say,
he had a. mortgage upon the real estate
of the tnsolvent Thereupon his fellow
citizens were denouncing him as a shy
lock, money changer, and an op-
pressor and he was classed incontinently
with all things evil and despicable; one
man went so far as to declare with heat
that it ought to be lawful to send mort
gagees to prison.
1t seemed never to occur to this group
of citizens that the debtor had the
money of the creditor and had used it,
that he was not compelled by any lack
of free will agency to take the money; ];
that he must have offered the security.
and freely and willingly have put it up;
that there was no obligation whatever
upon the creditor to lend the money;
that 1t was his property and that he had
the same right to its use as had the
debtor to the use of his lands.
Curiosity was quickened to ascertain
just how it stood with these two men,
and investigation developed that the
creditor is a man Of toll, one who has
laDored and earned and saved these
many years; that he possesses the abil-
ity to manage; that he knows how to
economize; that he has been able
thereby to educate two children and
start them well in life and to maintain
his family decently. practice charity and
public spirit, and lay by store, mod
crate, but sufficient for the days Of old
age. that he is a good citizen, law-abid-
ing and possessed of the average share
of human sympathy and kindliness.
1t developed that his neighbor is
fhriftless, not saving and has. while in
dustrious, not stored up, whether from
misfortune or incapacity was not ascer-
tanned, though the testimony showed
that he had been in debt so long as he
had been known in the community, and
ho h. 10 al lNIxr in mo fol
ability. Otherwise he is a worthy and
good citizen, and has raised a family
decently and well.
The mortgage was found to secure two
notes given for two sums on long time,
easy terms and at low rates of interest
No payments appear to have been made,
except during the first and second years
when the interest was quite promptly
DISCHARGED. After that there was total
failure TO pay, and the time when the
ously near at hand. but the creditor
had not proceeded to foreclose.
Yet this same creditor was the object
OF unjust censure and the very harsh
criticism Of his neighbors, and all their
sympathy seemed to go out to and be
lavished upon the insolvent. But in
common justice it is submitted that the
character Of the creditor in this instance
snspires far more Of respect. 1t is i'm
POSSIBLE to see where he has acted so as
TO deserve the condemnation Of his
neighbors. Had he, having the ability,
refused to lend to his neighbor at time
when debt threatened to crush the man,
there might have been some warrant
for condemning him.
That he declined to part with his hard
earned money without security simply
proves that he had due regard for the
rights of those dependent upon him;
that the debtor went into insolvency
after nearly four years time from the
date of the loan. justified the creditors
wisdom in taking security. He who
would have loaned without Il, would