The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-20
HOW TO DODGE BILLS.
The Art Of Getting Into Debt AMI the Com
pIicatious that Follow.

The average man in a normal state of
mind and finances has horror of getting
in debt But with the abrasions of the
years he gets callous.
There be some men so unsophisticated
that they even pay poker debts. but the
present writer hasn't met any of this sort
for few years.
This little essay on debit and credit is
intended as a guide and warning to those
who are in the transitory state between
good credit and bad pay.
Through the course of sprouts here set
forth those who will owe must go and
those have gone who owe.
There are a thousand and one ways Of
getting into debt and only one way 10 get
out-most of us find it hard TO find the
way.
Generally trouble attendant upon too
much confidence on one side and lack of
financial resource on the other is the fol-
lowing of nervous prosperity by pecuniary
debility. In other words, one has a streak
of good luck, followed by wide strata of
bad.
During the happy times OF plenty money
one contracts expensive and, at the same
time, more pleasant ways OF life
In the lean years that follow we are
tempted and fall. We deem it due us 10
have what we have haC, although not al
ways used 20 it, and whereas We have
dwelt, dressed, and dined welt at our own
expense, we continue 'living easy on pork
chops greasy" as the Ethiopian melody
hath it, at the expense of some one else.
Thus matters continue till trouble
comes from those who want their money
when it's due.
The first signs of the coming storm is
the lawyers letter Many a young man
in debt is thrown into a state of nervous
collapse at the receipt of his first .1awver
letter" The lawyer letter reads after this
fashion,:
Law ofce OF Skinner 4 Doem,
4ll44 Queer Street
Mr. Harold Hardup:
Dear Sir: Messrs Ccodthyng & Co have placed in
our hands for collection their claim against Won
for $lS750. You are hereby notified that unless
said claim is settled in full. with costs. bv the
18th Instant legal proceedings will be immediately
taken against you. Very truly.
SKINNER & DoBM.
Die. q. per
The novice has sleepless night, ard
then in trepidation writes a sIpplicating
answer offering to pay up account if tin,
Is given him, and in many cases incIosing
a small sum in part payment. Three
times our Of five he will have his in
closure returned, with a peremptOry re-
jcinder that said payment is not salts
factory, and entire account must he snt-
tied by date specified in our former COM
munication."
This ofttimes has a salutary effect. The
young man. anguished and persDiring.
raises the TOney, somehow. AMI settles
Again he may call in the advice of 2
world-worn friend. In this last case he is
advised 10 pay neither money nor atten-
tion.
After he has lived longer and owed
more the young man in debt will Iaurb
ssrdOnically at lawyer letters" In many
cases the lawyers. examining into his
financial standing, will cease endeavorine,
TO collect and will let the matter Erop
But II the yoCng man in debt does pav
attention 70 the letter il is looked upon as
a hopeful sign. and he is followed up as
promising case. This is in the matter Of
debts above SO. which is the suing limit.
Small-fry debts. sums under So, are
turned over 10 collecting agencies rrJ,asC
simply 20 upon the plan of oestering and
following and pursuing the debtor bv col
lcctOrs until he passes out the amount 1f
his bill for his credits sake, and paws
paws pays.
-'Nt n q -'iEN-'-A tAlsItS lie uPNelOCG into
chronic case of absent-minded beeeaI
and resolves il l. cheaper to owe than IN
remit -
There was a time. now happily legislated
away, when these small debt collecting
agencies terroriZed the impecIlnious bT,
sending collectors in uniform 10 debtors.
doors.
These uniforms were extremely strfkfng
and across the breast Of the coat of ~
collector and above the visor OF his can
were legends in large letters. such as
THE Rad Debt Collecting Agency
Another enterprising agency had a
gaudv wagon, on whose sides was DafrteJ
an impressive cartoon Of a big hard +La
bad debtors and shat
ing their money out Of their pockets Tn.
second visit Of this wagon 10 the door 80
the bad debtOr-a sight always VASTLY en-
TtrtalEing 10 the ueishb0rhood-gensra |
resulted in a settlement
But such a howl was raised bv ,be
many that the Law forbade m
Uniform and the aEOn. IS a postal rem /
latiOn stopped threatening postal cards
and letters whose envelopes bore prInteJ /
reference 10 tho fact that they were fro,n |
a bad debt collecting agency. |