Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1892 — THE CURSE OF DEBT. [ARTICLE]

THE CURSE OF DEBT.

The Pitiful Picture Presented tnt the Wilful Debt-Maker. ■ How can a man eat, sleep and bet jolly under the pressure of debt? Hois !on earth can be walk forth well ap-, j paroled-- »nd appointed, and face toe man whose unpaid-fortrousers be isj wearing? How dare he smile at hiw butcher, or hiß grocer, who are at that minute SSO apiece poorer for his pash dinners and teas? How dare be pet pais children on the head when be knows that if he should die that nigbL their future is wholly uncared for?! How on earth can he enjoy any luxoryj trusting only to his dodging instinct* if the day of pecuniary reckoning; should suddenly come! How can he) face the rascatly reflection of himself in the looking-glass longenough to tinj tho cravat which ought to be choking: -him? How can he have the ftnpudenoe logo among honest, upright peoplo sad expect cordial recognition, or any recognition at all. How dare the brazen thief, in his fine clothes, look into the frank, honest - face of the swarthy, red-shirted mechanic, whohas proved himself a man by that day’s hard labor? How can he pass a station house or a policeman without askingthat summary justice may be meted oat to him, rather than to the poor, friendless, ragged wretches whom ndveren circumstances seem sometimes to have so hedged about that God himselt caanot help them? I look upon such men with a wonder that never abates, says a writer in the N. Y. Ledger. Men did 1 say? Satan grins at tho misnomer. A» artist should be specially employed tocollect their prortraits for * The Rogues’ Gallery,” Imagine the horror with which their dainty originals would contemplate such » possibility! and yet I am not sure that it would not be a capital idea for every creditor to immdrtalisie hi 3 own well-dressed scamps in this manner; or at least have a framed collection of them in his Own place of business for the inspection of the curious. Perhaps one of the meanest -of these dainty fellows’ tricks is to victimise ,-v friend who may be supposed to hawscruples about refusing monetary compliance, or about reminding the creditor of bis protracted forgetfulness of the sum due. Yes—there is one lower depth of meanness yet, and that is, when the "friend” is a Woman, who. if she be not too smart, may her generally conveniently put off with welK framed excuses, or at all events b» supposed be too “refined” and **dnl cate” to press so unromantlc a them*. Fortunately, all women are not “fools.” Fortunately, a woman may know her “rights,” and defend them, toot, without stamping about the country inbrogans armed with a horsewhipt It Itcomforting whoa such a one, without compromising her womanly dignity, handsomely compels, as a man might and would do, immediate restitution, or the alternative penalty.