Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-21
A Talk About Debt

IN IRE BfoIe calls for the strictest
honesty and the fairest dealing between
man and man
It says DO not tell your neishoOI.
.-5o ana come again tomorrow; L VIII
- wen thou hast IL by then
You win not forget that Elisha Dor
rowed an axe, and he felt obliged. 10
make the iron swim-so that ne mlgh
rescue the borrowed axe from the
rushing waters -.
+, RS been written that in one OF
49, Oriental countries New Years Gay
A set apart as debt-paying day ana the
RETURNING OF things borrowed Shrls-
tar America might do well 10 borrow
that custom from the heathen Ori-
entails
What a moving there would De
among barns and wood sheds 20 mo
,,',-rovr.d- ra<es spades, axes. etc
what A search behind bookcases ana
ont Of the way places TO ~ books
that have been borrowed anc torsOt-
II has been reported OF Horace
f.reefv that he saio debt was the most
disaxreeable thing that the every DAY
49, can ever encounter. Hunger Is
had. ditto cold, ditto suspicion. reproach
hard work and contempt, but all tnese
are not 50 demOralizing 10 the char-
acfer OF people as the continual dodg-
ing around 10 keep from paying Ohe
I honest obligations
~ rourse- We know that misfortunes
uke accidents. death and sickness can
overtake the best OF people bat tnere
must Be a sincere intention 20 pay ana
4 resolve to make the. best showing 70
ores creditors. OF integrity ana peace
OF ruf,.d are retained
ZEN YOU run in debt you go into
bondage TO your creditor He owns you
fn4 sense, and you certainly nave
feeling OF bondage as long as you owe
him what belongs to him. IL you ex-
pect 10 pay him. ,.,.-
On TIRE world 70 take advantage Of even
ones oblfgfnE creditors. The intention
10 do them sticks out IN plain VIEW
and when a sharper gets In debt ne
sims TO make his creditor suffer until
MS convenience or the law OF the iano
RECEIVERS the money to the sufferer, who
trusted him. and by whom the creditors
confidence has been betrayed In tht
worthless friend
There have been many hundreds OF
mercantile firms bankrupted because
they could not collect the money loan
ed out and advanced to people sup
posed 70 be honest and trustworthy
II has been stated that at least 20 per
cent Of physicians accounts are not COLI
Iected. and merchants must charge an ex-
ira percentage on their goods 70 De able
70 do business at all. because the honest
people must pay for the losses that the
dishonest force upon their creditors.
90 long as a man can and viii pay his
: Ssbts he can walk along with. his head
I'D and feel Ike man ought 70 feel. but
when he begins 10 dodge. sink out OF
sight. and make pitiful. sneaking excuses
he Is IN affair way 20 become common
Har." known and recognized OF all men
as without decent reputation. and IL does
not take him long 10 lower himself to
that notch
Extravagance Is the mother Of Debt. II
people only bought what they aim to pay
for and what they know they can pay for
when the purchases are made. there
would be a thousands times more integri-
" and civic righteousness in this old
world OF ours. Debt Is the greatest de-
moraIizer OF human character. II saps
the life blood out OF decency and clean
reputation. and leaves the man without
honest health and Independence, a poor
aenemic victim OF his own weakness and
unworthiness.
II a child can be trained into the con-
tinuous habit Of debt paying he has been
largely buIwarked against a final life in
prison or maybe something even worse
than prison Debt begets liars. and liars
are like drunkards. in the broad way to
ruin.
Debt is ike any other evil habit, 1t
seems small and Insignificant at first,
but BY and by becomes strong and ire
sistible.
Mortgages are like iron chains. they
hold and al the same time grind down
into human character. Mortgages will eat
out al the comfort or an honest mans
life. he IS sore and sensitive so long as
they rest on his home. His family either
suffer modification or determine 10 leave
home.
II he does not aim to pay he perhaps
aims to swindle his creditors when he
puts the mortgage on his property.
In either case. he has caused misery
and unhappiness for many people that
could have been easily overcome or avoid
ed In the first instance. because there is
risk. doubt and uncertainty that always
attends and complexities such business all
the time with the bondage OF debt.
/. The Bible tells US that Goodness with
-contentment Is great gain" and the man
who faces loss bravely will save mis-
contentment II he leaves debt 20 one
side and strikes for his own peace of
mind. in settling up his affairs in an
honest way.
As I said before extravagance is the
broad and open way 10 financial and NOR
a. ruin and many there be who walk
therein. II is not 50 much what we need
that wrecks US but what we strive TO
get 70 keep up appearances and rival
peoples ways and doings- I have often
seen those who have wrecked their own
good name TO get money ana avoid pay
ing honest debts. They are like branded
cattle. You may not know who they de-
frauded. but you can see and hear from
their neighbors and the character such an