The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-30
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

~ Several years ago, when I, a. very
young newspaper woman, was pre-
cariously subsisting on the pathetically
small stipend that my first paper
deigned to consider me worth, a young
newspaper man on the same paper
came to me, and, with great embar-
rassment, blurted out that he was in
a terrible mess financially, land could
The hated like thunder to ask 1t.
but he simply didn't know where to
turn, and he knew how kind-hearted
was-could I lend him five dollars
just until the next pay day?"
Now for several weeks I had been
saving every penny that didn't have
to go toward my actual living expenses
for a suit-the first thing of the sort
was to buy with my own earnings.
I had the suit all picked out 1t was
a dark blue serge and it, was to cost
fifteen dollars, and I had nine dollars
saved towards it. The money was in
my top bureau drawer, under my
handkerchiefS. Now 1 knew couldn'
possibly save the other six dollars for
| two or three weeks and I didn't see
any reason why shouldn't let the poor
man have five dollars of it, instead of
keeping it in that bureau drawer. So
I assured him of my great delight at
being able to help a brother cub in
time of trouble. and gave him the
money.
He didn't pay it back the next pay
day.
after.
You can imagine my anguish of
spirit when the purchase of that be-
loved and much needed suit wish
YOU could see the funny little coat I
was wearfng-was delayed. But be-
ing a little fool. even that anguish
wasn't powerful enough to make me
go to the man and ask him for the
| money.
Finally, several months afterwards,
he came and told me his father wanted
| him to leave the newspaper busin ess.
He said his family was wealthy. but
| he had been on the outs with them,
and that they were going to get him
| a place in the diplomatic service. He
| paid me four of that five dollars
I never saw the other dollar.
have seen him twice since, but he
| never spoke OF 1t.
Perhaps you think this Is a queer
story to publish, but I'll explain to you
| how I came to tell 1T.
| I had always thought, until recently,
| that my experience was unique one,
| and that man was set apart by his alb
| solute lack of sense of honor from
the rest of the world of men.
| But, within the last year, there have
| come to my ears a half dozen stories
of men who have borrowed from
| women and never paid back the loan.
(
home of friends of her family. The
| son of the house. who entertained her
most royalty. professed a temporary
| financial embarrassment. owing to a
/ delayed check, and borrowed seventy
five cents of her ''just for the day."
He never paid it back, or even spoke
| of the loan.
Now I am not one of those people
who thinks it the objectionable sin
for a man to borrow money from
/ -womn.
| But for the man who borrows money
| from a woman, and then betrays her
| unwfllingness to refer to the subject
nv dictionary hasn't words to At him
And, as for the girl who loans
money to man. I'd like to say two
things to her.
First. If it is large sum, she
should take a note. That isn't sigr
of suspicion, merely of common sense
/ And, second, if he fails to pay il
back within a reasonable time. think
/ she should ask him for it. and If thai
does no good, think it is her abso-
Lutte duty. for the safety of other
women, to pillory him by telling what
he has done.