The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-25
When Sister Wants to Bor-
\ row Your Only Coat, and
: You Come Home to Find
Brother in Your Only
Shirt What Should be
Done? Should the Thing
be Looked Upon as a
Crime or as Merely a
Social Error?

"HE Conductor has been asked to
consider the question of borrow
ing clothing.
Aside from the deep apprecia-
ton OF the compliment accompanying
the request. the seriousness of the ques-
don at hand Is thoroughly recognized.
II would seem that the first step in
such a consideration would be an at
tempt to discover whether or not bor-
q crime. Social errors can be overlooked.
but crimes must be followed up and
punished.
Thus we have in the beginning the
two distinctions:
Clothing borrowed without permission.
Clothing borrowed with permission.
Without Permission.
Under this head comes all clothing.
hats. ties. and other accessories to dress
which are taken and worn WITHOUT
the permission of the true owner.
The fact that the person would have
lent IL to me" had he been at homo Is no
excuse. borrowing without permission
is'the same thing as stealing outright.
Many things are to be considered.
There may be objects in the place
where the garment is kept which the
owner does not desire to have profaned
by the public gaze.
Such as unreturned handkcrcniefs,
sundries. and perhaps even other things
which do not belong to him.
Then again. the shock of meeting
fondly clasping the bosom Of some one
other than Its owner. is frlghtful. Yet
It Is q well-known fact that dodge as
one may. 1t is almost impossible to
keep from meeting the owner Wien 4
surreptiously borrowed carmen. Is
worn. Capillary attraction again.
Clothing borrowed without permission
fosters murderous instincts. hatred,
Jealousy, and other i'll humors. The
habit of SO RECALLING ones self on the
possessions Of others is-to speak plain
livery reminiscent OF our friend the
cock roach, who lives entirely upon that
which he can take when the owner is
away. The subject Is even now only
family touched upon.
With Permission.
Tho habit OF asking to borrow cloth
ing Is icspicable thing at the best
When one docs not know a pc.ron
well. the aftront is objectionable. hut
when one does know the owner 1t is
even more indicative of small. mean,
For shame upon he who would fore e
through circumstances. the loan OF 4
garment. II went out of my way TO
stop and buy ior you, now lend ne
that dress suit
The fact that the favor entahed with
the second request far outbalances the
first Is of no moment 10 the chronic
clothes borrower. He knows no law.
lie Is as apt TO ask for the loan of n
pair OF white kid gloves. because he
paid your car fare as he is to dena nd
your cane in payment of having passed
you the sugar.
: He is a menace to public health and
happiness. He ST. ps al nothing. No
garment Ia too sacred for him. 1t
would take two columns nine miles
long to adequately tell OF him.
And In view of ouch We would render
our decision.
Since borrowing without asking Is the
-eamo thing as stealing, we would dcsig-
nate such-a social error.
=" But since borrowing with permission
Is a deadly and insidious intrusion upon
slife. liberty. and happiness. It consti-
tutes q crime.