The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-11-18

| bright. Thus they make an absolute
tain contingency.
If they had frankly told you from the
outset that, while sincerely desirous to
repay the loan, they could give no pos
tive pledge, you would commend their
candor and veracity, though placing
little reliance on the security, and they
might appeal at least to your benevo-
lence, il they did not commend them
selves to your business methods.
The man who tries to eke out a sub
sistcnce by borrowing money soon be-
comes lost to all sense of honor and
| self-respcct. and he forfeits the conf
dencc of the community in which he
| lives
Fourth. There is another form of
dishonest life far more common and
| reprehensible than the vice just mem
| tloned-I refer to the pernicious habit
or living above ones means. In fact,
| this vice may be considered as char
acteristic of Americans. Our country
| men are fond OF making money, but
| they are still fonder of squanderins
it. II has been said with truth that
French or u German family can sub.
sist ON what is wasted by an Ameri.
can family
| One of the causes OF this fatal OK.
| triLvagnnce is the love of sclf-indulg-
cncc and the ambition of keeping pace
with our neighbor in the race of so
cinl distinctions.
| / am envious of my neighbor when
= observe that he Keeps a splendid equip
age that his house is elegantly fur
lhshed, that he fare sumptuously, that
he entcrtains lavishly, that his wife is
dressed in the latest fashion, and l aus
determined not to be outdone by him
! enter on II career of prodigality
totally disproportionate to my means
| But in u few years l find myself
road to bankruptcy. l have been burn
ing the candle at both ends l have
been squandering my present income
and have been mOrtgaging my future
revenue.
The man who lives beyond his means
is not leading an honest life. My
young friends, you who are on the
threshold of Il business career, prac-
tice rigid economy. Live within your
income. Where there is will there
is a way.
The wants of nature are few and
easily supplied. Most of the things we
want are artificial and contribute little
or nothing to our happiness Sweeter
to the palate is bread and water in
garrct than is a delicious Feast to the
spcndthrlft who is tortured by the
spectre of the creditor knocking at his
door. While the insolvent debtor Is a
slave, you will possess a free and in
dependent spirit, and will enjoy the
testimony of q good conscience.
Fifth. Another common system of
fraud consists in the use Of unequal
weights and measures. This is one of
the Oldest methods of dishonesty, for
1t is strongly denounced by Moses and
other sacred writer's in the pages of
! the Old Testament. Divers weights
and measures" says the Book of Prov
erb, "are both adominable before
! God"
| school teacher asked the children
of her class, How many ounces make
a pound?" One of the pupils, whose
father was in the grocery business,
answered: Teacher. know, but it
! is secret" When pressed for an ex-
PLANTATION he replied: when we buy
we demand 16 ounces to the pound,
but when we sell-that is a business
secret"
| But the day will come when the un-
F., just tradesman himself will be
weighed in the balance and will be
found wanting.
! There is another species of dishon-
| esty which is conducted on a larger
scale. l allude to the iniquity Of