The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25
. q . . q q q q q q q q q
, LAKELAND SAvINGS-LOAN {
: NOTES E
, Contributed by Sec. Willard) {
q
FRENCH THRIFT-SMALL saw
INGS PAID HE BILLION DOL
LAR GERMAN WAR IN
DEMNITY IN 1871 IN
SIX MONTHS

At the close of the Franco-Prus-
, sian war in 1871, the successful
Germans imposed an indemnity on
Fl. the defeated French of one billion
dollars In less than six months
France had it all paid of without
foreign loan. Nine tenths of this
till now-enormous sum was con-
tributed by the peasant farmers and
small shop-keepers Of France.
Their thrift was equal to their
patriotism, for by hard work and
economy they were able to do this.
Not extemporized, either. 1t could
not be the savings of few weeks
of self-denial. Rather 1t was the
work Of years, of laying aside lit
tie every day, or week. or month,
! but it spelled independence. Before
that, this saving habit had enabled
them to take advantage Of oppor-
tunities to make loans. II a rail-
road was to behuilt, canal dub, or
promising factory built, they were
on hand to furnish the mony to do
| it If the loan had the promise of
safety. No 'get rick quick" scheme
attracted them, nor any ''specula
tion in corner lots" Else. most Of
them would have been parted from
their money. long before, and hey
could not have come to the rescue
of their belo:ed france. in her time
OF extremity
J This habit of thrift and economy
seems to have been bred int
i Frenchmen. To be sure it gives them
certain independence possessed by
few of the common people of 9th ar
! nations. Yet, besides the bare in
i dependence and little home which
, the savings habits of the French as
sured them, the advantage Civ
, them is very small compared with
what it does for one in great Ameri-
ca, the land Of great opportunities
We do not refer to get rich quick
schemes, which ruin many more
than they enrich, but to the com
mon, everyday things of life COM
mon not only to the well-to-do. but
to the trucker, the mechanic and
even the day laborer.
The plan for what we mean, came
from England largely, but the meth
DDS more fully from France and Bel
GUM, fostered and transmitted by
age long habits of industry. economy
and thrift. The whole thing, de-
,eloped into successful operation in
this free, shifty country, has given
us the present local cooperative
building and loan associations, and
savings-loan companies, with along
towards two billion dollars assets in
these United States.
BY means of these, the lowest
the poorest, as we'll as those who
have means in plenty to start with
by practicing rench and Belgian
savings. economy and thrift. and
perhaps Yankee gumption, may
gradually improve their condition
SO that in a few years, by the foster
ing help and encouragement of thu
savings-loan, they may become mel
of large wealth and influence, own
ers Of houses and lands many, ant
the possessors "of lot of money.
These are less desirable for thei
own sake, than for the good the!
enable one to do.
And, any child who will, an!
yong man or woman, any one no
over middle age. may commence
now. by saving in Lakeland Savings
Lean Company, and compass all this
and almost any good thing right.
planned for which none can do il
old France, even when this crue
icouar