The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-10
Copyright by Curtis Brown.)

copyright by Curtis Brown)
r ONDON, August 9.-(Speeial) mo
one who has lived long in London
1--z at what is known here as "a good
address" can fail to be impressed by the
fact that the English aristocracy is the
most philanthropic in the world. 1t is
just burning to lend you money, without
security, and at ridiculously low rate of
interest. Hardly post arrives without a
letter offering any sum from $25 to $25,OOO
on your note of hand alone, and IL you
happen to have a birth or death or en-
gagenent, or any other expensive emer-
gency in the family your letter box is
fairly ohoked with missives on thick
cream laid crested paper begging you to
accept a small loan
IL the bill which has been introduced
I'm the house of lords by Lord Newton,
and which has passed its second reading,
becomes a law there will be q great
change in the signatures to these attrac-
tive letters. Lord Newton has set him
self to deal with the professional money
lending evil, one of the most difficult
and most persistent in England today;
and the method which he has adopted
is publicity His bill will compel every
money lender to use his own name in all
correspondence, and furthermore would
forbid him to seud circulars to any one
who had not asked for them. Newspaper
advertising, under their own names would
he permitted to money lenders.
An amusing reference to this state Of
affairs was made few days ago by Lord
Newton in the house of lords
Moses e Aaron" he said, trading as
crewe & Lansdowne should be compelled
10 disclose their identity. A money lender
sent circular to a daughter of mine,
under p years of age, offering to lend
her $250,000 in bank notes, unknown to me,
lie gave the name of 'Harmsworth Lin
tied, and turned out to be named 'Le-
vine.'n
That sometimes. however. pebeian
name is Used to cover the identity of an
aristocrat was admitted by Lord Newton
in the same speech when he said:
"One of the most insistent people send
ing out these circulars is the representa-
tive of a, noble lord who is a member
of this house. Therefore. If this bill
passes, it Is possible that some interesting
disclosures may be made.
ut may possibly be consolation to
some unfortunate young man when pay
ing 10 per cent to discover that instead
OF paying this exorhitant interest to some
Semitic plehean he is really in debt to
some patrieian of distinguished and an
eient lineage"
No one has succeeded yet in Identifying
the Shylock peer If he was present at
Lord Newton's speech he had not the
courage to vote against the bill.
The evil with which Lord Newton has
set himself to deal is one which has puz-
zled English lawmakers for generations.
1T is hard to protect an adult fool from
the consequences of his folly, and the
minor fool is already protected. It is ad-
mitted, too, that the money lender has a
certain legitimate sphere. There are
plenty of people in good positions who
are sometimes urgently In need of money,
and to whom the professional money
lender is a godsend They have no gilt
edged securities on which they could
raise money from their bankers, and they
do not care to borrow from their friends.
They are willing to pay high rates for
temporary accommodation, knowing per-