Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-30

lutely no danger Of your ever being
called upon to pay. viii you lndoese
for old friendships sake7' You pin
the man down. BY long argument he
seems to prove that there IL no pqesi.
bic danger Of your being compelled to
pay. Then, for friendships sake, you
sign the fatal. note.
Or perhaps the man wants a resnon.
sible position. He il about to be ap-
pointed cashier Of some institution. He
says he must have certain indorsers,
and down goes your name. Now, my
brother, It would be ali right for you to
Sign your name there II you felt you
could afford to make good that pledge
II t ever came back to you. But the
trouble IL that most Of Us. with our
present financial struggles. cannot af-
ford to pay. Aye. 60 further than
this--nine men out Of ten, nincty-nine
men out Of a hundred, nine hundred
aud ninety-nine men out Of thousand,
never can pay or intend to pay the
notes they indorse for the benefit Of
their friends. As soon as the notes
fall due and come back upon the in
dorsers they begin to squirln and twist
and try 10 wriggle ont Of their diff
culties. Sometimes by fair, but. alas.
often by foul. means they try to shirk
and repudiate their debts OF indorse-
ment, even rs some dishonest men
clear off their debts by putting their
money in their wives' names and then.
s,1%, I'M IL ,,,t foW
n clean financial sheet.
4 True Picture.
Is not the picture true! What would
you do If you were asked to pay the
dishonest debts Of your friends which
you indorsed? Would you do It?
Would you do 1t even If you had In.
dorscd their notes and could find n
loophoc to crawl out? Would you do
1t. az did Sir Walter Scott? Would you
do 1t even though it cost you your life
TO die an honest man? Would you
pay those Endorsed notes. as William
Mckinley paid the ones he Endorsed for
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 I 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 honor:'
William Mckinley never expected to
be called upon to pay those Endorsed
notes. but he paid them. Would you
pay. If necessary. those notes you are
about to indorse. as William Mckinley
paid? Or would you repudiate or at
least try to repudiate those debts, as
hundreds and thousands have done
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 friend?
But as I see the old mother bear
struggling to get her paw out Of the
fatal trap ! 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 l see q
man struggling in the indorser's trap
with all his misfortunes. l do not fee
nearly 80 sorry for him as l do for his
wife and especially for his children
who are dependent upon him for finan
cial support. Yet to hear some people
talk you would suppose that in ordcl
to be kind, loving. big hearted, gener
ous man should be ready to help al
his friends and when they need it t.
sign all their notes. no matter wha,
might be the financial danger that maj
may run in reference to his own chill
dren. Now, my friends, I believe one
of the best tests Of true. big hearted
man is not how he looks after hi:
friends notes so much as how he frs
looks after his own flesh and blood.
Too Bis . Price.
DO you mean to tell me there is ar!
honor, any justice. any big heartedness
in man going upon Il friends not
when in order to do 1t he may have t.
take the very bread out Of his chi.
dren's mouths and the clothing of the
backs and the old homestead ava!
from their inheritance: This is jus
what many men have done In order +
win the name of being big hearted.
recall to mind one Of this type whom
the world eulogized az Kind man
but who purchased that eulcgy at
fearful price. The man Of whom
speak was for years the president Of
New York company. His income was a
least $20.OOO per year: but. though b
made much. nc spent much. Ever
person in distress could 60 to him TO
succor and get it. His name was y
scores Of notes. Every little while b
would gather I've, ten. fifteen. Of hi
daughters friends together and CIV
them a banquet ana a good time.
The last act Of his life was to buy
family yCx for a policeman who wa
about to bury his little girl. Whe
that man died the beautiful acts q
kindness which he did were recounte
} at his bier.
But would you like me to tell 20
the aftermath or the second sowing G
that life Of indScriminate generosity
The notes be had aligned for friends hi
estate had to pay. The moneys he ha
lent here and there and everywhar
were never paid back. Caring for Q,
cry one but those Of his own house. b
became In the sight of God worse tina
an infdel. His two daughters. to whor
he could deny nothing when he wa
alive, had to deny themselves ever!