Year: 1876

A few evenings ago, while in a street
car. the writer was seated near two women
who were quite earnestly engaged in
conversation about " mortgages" shares"
"interest on money" "monthly dues"
and other similar topics. Although COM |
fortably and becomingly clad, there was
nothing in their dress or general appear
ance to lead to the supposition that they
were capitalists-yet the subjects OF con-
versation were the ordinary themes which
engross the attention of business men and
the owners of property. 1t soon became
apparent that they were talking about the
advantages of Building Associations and
their wavs of conducting business, and
that the more plainly dressed and evident
" the more thrifty but less cultivated OF
the two was indoctrinating the other into
knowledge of the advantages of the As
sociations. In homely phrase, and yet in
very clear style she explained how the
steady saving and punetual payment into
the Building Association Of few dollars
every month would be sure to result IN one
or other of the two ways in about nine or
ten years-either the money would double
itself if the depositor was not borrower
or if she did borrow on purchased
house the mortgage could be paid off by
these small monthly instalments-" and
You can't do that, you see, with any other
mortgage. and then the little place is all
your own, free and clear" "And then,
she continued, " You're obliged to be saw
ing. YOU know, when maybe you'd trife
away the money if you didn't feel thai
YOU must have it ready at the end OF the
month or be fined a dollar a share; anc
it's the easiest way Of getting little place
Of your own and putting by something TO
a rainy day, and you would be surprised
how easy IL is and how fast the none.
grows. and you can get it back, with nv
per cent. whenever you like if you can
wait till the society runs out"


So she went on, for mile or TWO, al
sweripe questions and giving an intelligibl
exposition Of the practical working OF


Building and Loan Association to hercon
panion. Here, then, thought the write
Iwbo unwittingly overheard it ALL, is


new development Of the beneficial infi'
epees Of these peculiarly Philadelphia il
stitutions. They are training schools
the most practical and useful description
10 grown up people. Their teachings q
not only lessons in prudence, irugaiiI
thrift and forecast, in looking to the nee'
Of the future; but they are lessons IN oul
ness matters, the management OF mon'
affairs. the necessity Of looking into It'll
to purchase property, the necessity AZ
advantage Of punctuality in payments, u
benefit OF knowing how to attend 70 one
own business. the case with which sm'
rms that might be triHed away


detail can be made to swell into lar
sum. and the facility with which mo


gage debt can be paid off when it is DO


by small monthly payments, when


might never be paid off at all if the Wh'


sum had to be raised for one payment


the lump. we-doubt if more than Q


well educated woman in ten has su


mastery of these prime matters Of d


ness as this plain woman had. sne


learned them all in the Building Assoc


ton, and she is but one of thousands "


are getting the same kind OF training


the same schools.-Ledge.