Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-03-31


money i'm their wiy es' names and then.
going into bankruptcy court. ask for
a clean financial sheet.
True Picture.
Is not the picture true7 What would
you do IL you We're asked to pay the
dishonest debts OF your friends which
you indorsed? Would YOU do it2
Would YOU do 1t even IL you had in
dorsed their notes and could find a
loophoie 10 crawl out? Would you do
1t, rs did Sir Walter Scott? Would you
do it even though IL cost you your life
to die an honest man? Would You
pay those Endorsed notes, as William
Mckinley paid the ones he Endorsed for
a friend? In order TO pay those notes
he literally gave up all his own money
and all his wife's money. a short time
before his death he was talking to a
ministerial friend Of mine, and he said:
"Mr Campbell people sometimes won.
der why ] am so devoted to my wife
Could any husband but an migrate be
otherwise when his wife willingly gave
up all she had to save his honorf''
William Mckinley never expected to
be called upon to pay those Endorsed
notes, but he paid them. Would you
pay, IL necessary. those notes you are
about TO indorse. as William Mckinley
paid? Or would you repudiate or ut
least try to repudiare those debts. as
hundreds and thousands have doneP
Dare you. with your present financial
burdens. risk the sinful temptation
OF Reputation which you may have TO
face If you become a financial surety
for a friend?
But as ] see the old mother bear
struggling to get her paw out OF the
fatal trap 1 do not pity her. even with
all her sufferings. nearly as much as
do the little cubs who are dependent
upon her for their lives. As see
man struggling in the indorser's trap,
with all his misfortunes. ] do not feel
nearly SO sorry for him as do for his
wife and especially for his children,
VINO are dependent upon him for finan-
cial support. Yet to hear some people
talk you would suppose that in order
TO be kind. loving, big hearted, gener-
ous man should be ready TO help all
his friends and when they need IL to
sign all their notes. no matter what
might be the financial danger that man
may run in reference to his own chill
dren. Now, my friends. believe one
OF the best tests of a true, big hearted
man is not how he looks after bis
friends notes so much as how he first
looks after his own flesh and blood.
Too Big a Price.
Do you mean TO tell me there is any
honor. any justice. any big heartedness,
In man going upon a friends note
when in order to do II he may have to
take the very bread out OF bis chill
dren's mouths and the clothing on their
backs and the old homestead away
from their Entertainer This Is just
what many men have done In order to
win the name OF being big hearted. I
recall to mind one Of this type whom
the world eulogized as a kind man,
but who purchased that euiogy at
fearful price. The man OF whom
speak was for years the president OF a
New York company. His income was at
least $4,000 per year; but, though he
made much. he spent much. Every
person in distress could go to him for
succor and get II. His name was on
scores Of notes. Every little while he
would gather five, ten, fifteen, OF his
daughters friends together and give
them a banquet and good time"
The last act OF his life was TO buy
family plot for a policeman who was
about TO bury his little girl. When
that man died the beautiful acts OF
kindness which be did were recountea
Mt his bier.
But would you like me to tell you
the aftermath or the second sowing OF
that life OF indiscriminatc generosityf
The notes he had signed for friends his
estate had to pay. The moneys he had
lent here and there and everywhere
were never paid back Caring for ev.
cry one but those OF his own house, he
became In the sight OF God worse than
an tnhdel. His two daughters. TO whom
he could deny nothing when he was
alive, had TO deny themselves every
thing when he was dead. His only son.
the pride or his heart, the boy to whom
ne gave unlimited pocket money and
sent across the seas on pleasure trips.
applied few years ago In Chicago for
the position or janitor, and he could
not get work at that. This was the
va NAC vi ~ Dluu WHO
purchased the unstable friendships of
heeting moment by being untrue to
the best interests or his own wife and
children. Now. men, you have no right
10 help your brother with an indorse-
ment IL at the same time IL compels
you to become untrue to those who ara
dependent upon you. You have no right
TO give the Injuries TO your neIghbors
until yoo first provide the necessities
Tor your own household. Can you AZ
FORD to pay that Endorsement for your
friendf Dare you risk the temporal
and perhaps the spiritual welfare Of
Your children by that hidden trapl
A Careies. sfetAoA.
But another danger turks over the
indorser's trap. By going upon
friends note a man may be teaching
his friend TO be careless-aye. sinfulIv
careless-with money. DR.. Bowers
once wrote: Temptation resembles the
rocks which rest their jagged sides
above the waves when Ii Is low water.
No vessel dare come near them. But
after awhile the tide comes sweeping
into the bay and buries the rocks under
Hood OF water. 80 that the largest
ships may ride in safety above their
teeth OF death. together with the light
est skif." That Is a beautiful orator
icai figure. But the incoming tide Will
soon be the outgoing tide. Then woe
betide the boat that fingers there over
the Jagged rocks OF death: Yet the
temporary financial help we give our
brothers by Endorsement or unjust
credit may be the means Of. carrying
them into position where they shall
soon meet temporal as well as spiritual
shipwreck.
Why temporal and spiritual wreck
you ask. In the first place, / start with
the premise that many people are
tempted just as much as they can
bear. Place upon them one extra
temptation, and you may lead them to
become dishonest men and -swomen.
. y