The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-12-05
THE MEANNEss OF 1T.

have been ruined by the credit sys-
TEN. The only means of averting
such disaster is the exercise of strength
of mind in resisting the temptation.
This involves splendid, but extreme
ly costly, education in moral fortitude,
to those who possess but little of such
strength and have to acquire it by
long and sad experience.
It might help some to resist run
ming long accounts if they were to
realize that doing so is really borrow
ing money from their trades-people.
Yes, madam That $40 you owe
your laundress is just so much bor-
rowed of the poor woman, and with
out interest, too. And can you bear
to think of the anxiety of mind it
costs her, poor, hard working crea-
ture; for how can she tell that you
ever will pay her? There is your
dressmaker, too. How much have
you compulsorily borrowed of her !?
You owe her $500, perhaps. And
for how long has it been owing? You
pay $50 or so off it, and order another
gown and so it has been going on
for years and years. You don't see
why you should have to pay your
dressmaker money down when your
husband never thinks of paying his
tailor under three or four years.
It has often been said that trades
men like customers to run long ac-
counts. Let any one who believes
this read but a few of the trade papers,
and see what they have to say on the
subject. Let them visit few of the
fashionable milliners and ask them
what their opinion of the matter is.
Let them interview the managers of
large drapery houses. They will soon
find that the tradesman has distinct
grievance in the credit system. Here
is what one dressmaker says, and she
is only one of very numerous class,
every member Of which is in exactly
similar circumstances.
She is clever and enterprising wo
man who had opened an establishment
for the sale of all kinds of articles for
ladies' wear, and complains bitterly
that, though she is doing good trade,
all her money has become "buried in
her books" She is making money
with her extending business, "but," "
she says, II really have less command
of cash than at any time in my life.
The fact is my savings are all lent to
rich people" Asked for an example,
she said: "The last bill 1 receipted
this morning will do. Ten months
ago lady came into the shop, talked
pleasantly on church matters, in
which am interested, bought nearly
500 worth of goods, after very sharp
bargaining, that reduced my profits to
the narrowest margin, and went away.
To have suggested payment during
these ten months would have been re-
garded as an insult, and 1 should have
lost her custom forever. l have Of
ten been in need of the money. She
is the wife of a very high ecclesiasti-
cal dignitary, is regarded as philan-
thropic, talks about self-help among
women, and very likely visited my
shop in that spirit yet though she
is undoubtedly rich she borrowed $Ioo
of my capital for ten months without
paying any interest.
eff could only get little money
in from my customers" said a hard
worked milliner to me one day during
a very hot and exhausting May, II
could run off to the seaside for week,
and take my poor old mother, who
needs change even more than I do.
But 1 can't get any of my ladies to
pay" "Write and tell them how it
is" l suggested. "Oh, no That
would never do," was the reply. II
should offend them terribly, and they
would not only never come back them
selves, but would pass the word round
among their friends that am given
to dunuing. "-We0V Century.