Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1874 — Charge It. [ARTICLE]

Charge It.

A simple little sentence is this, to be sure, and yet it may be considered as one of the most insidious enemies with which people have to deal. It is very pleasant to have all the little commodities offered for sale in the market, and it is sometimes hard to deny one’s self of the same when they can be obtained by saying “ charge it.” But this habit of getting articles, however small the charge may be, without paying for them, keeps one’s funds in a low state most of the time. “ I have no money to-day, but should like the article much,” says a young man who happens to go into a store and sees something which strikes his fancy. “ Never mind,” says the gentlemanly clerk, “ you are good for it.” “ Well, I will take it and you may charge it.” And so it is that little accounts are opened at one place and another, till the young man is surprised at his liabilities, which, though small in detail, are sufficiently large in the aggregate to reduce his cash materially when settling-day comes. In many instances, if the cash were required, the purchase would not be made, even had the person the money by him; but to some, getting an article charged does not seem like parting with an equivalent. Still, when pay-day comes, as always it does, this illusion vanishes, and a feeling is experienced of parting with m'bney and receiving nothing in return. If there is an actual necessity of making a purchase, and the means are not at hand, there is a reasonable excuse for obtaining the same on credit; but when the article can be dispensed with until payment can be made, it is much to the advantage of the purchaser to do so.— Anwrtcan flgraZ Homa -N