Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-06
Nv ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

Copyright. 1915, Star Company.
Whatever else you may wish to do for
your children and cannot do, you can,
at least, impress strongly upon their
young minds the shame of debt.
You can make them realize by precept
and example how much more admirable
it is to go without things or pleasures
than to possess them at the cost of self
respect and at another's expense. There
can be no greater benefit bestowed upon
a child than to have these ideas i'm
bedded in the mental Consciousness until
they become foundation stones of the
character.
woman in New York. mother OF two
lovely young daughters and wife of
good man, was ambitious to shine in GER
tani intellectual clubs. She was admitted
to one OF them and invited friends to be
her guests at a large social function.
where an expensive luncheon was served,
but when the bills for her dues and
luncheon tickets were presented she ig-
nored them.
The same woman purchased expensive
material in which to clothe her daughters.
land ignored the bill until lawyers
letter frightened her into paying it.
She is only one OF hundreds of women
who are dressing. dining and driving on
other peoples money She had not been
rightly trained by her parents or she
could never have descended to such a
level. She had, no doubt, heard her
mother speak admiringly Of people who
shone in society and who wore fashion
able garments more frequently than she
had hear her praise the people who re-
fused TO run bills or incur the taxing re-
sponsibility Of debt
The name of an eminent professional
man CHANGED to be mentioned in a mar
ket where a gentleman was making pur-
chases. The purchaser spoke highly of
the professional mans intellect. Yes,
he has intellect, all right" said the mar
ket keeper. but haven't much use for
him
He has owed me S2S on a meat bill for
five years OF course, L have stopped
sending him the bill now. He gives his
patronage to other markets. and he plays
the same game ON each one after time
and he is that way in everything He
owes everybody. and they all grow tired
of sending him bills, and so he comes
out the winner OF few dollars with eact
party. but he loses the respect OF every
body he deals with"
- This is a shameful record for any mar
TO have. 1t is open theft and nothing
else. There is no intellectual achieve
ment no social honor. which can com
pensate man or woman for such repu
tation. 1t is sometimes impossible {,
avoid running bills.
People who earn wages, salaried mel
and women and even those possessed o
AL ara At inc Nil
in a position where immediate payment
are impossible. But payments at stipu
lated times can be made when the i'm
portance OF such a proceeding Is firml!
fixed IN the mind OF the debtor.
fixed purpose always blazes a tTai
toward achievement. When it is abso
lutely impossible TO make payments it /
always possible to make your eredito
know that you mean to pay. There ar
people who have carried the burden o
debt for years. yet. never for one mo
ment, did anyone doubt their integrit
or their ultimate success
To be careless. Indifferent and thought
less I'm these matters; to postpone pay
ment when you could lessen you indebt
edness, all savors OF criminal tendenc
Of mind. You may as viii enter tn
house OF a tradesman or merchant an
take money from his pockets while h
sleeps as 10 enter his place OF bushes
pike what you desire and refuse or neg
leet to pay your bills
II you look about you you will see tina
\ not only the respect of their felowmer
but good luck and good fortune folio,
the people who have high and sensibl
ideals In the matter Of debt. There is n