ONE OF HIS LOSSES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 184, 25 July 1908, Page 4

ONE OF HIS LOSSES

A icHU'ir Ihia to ehuurc a rn^ii; I'BUUUn iiUn'uUd.l9, UK l«ltUs:vU9 Ot U.%icaaiUH U'.'auuUij lul|jvijjiuai'. Amongst the khaki-coloured yeomen figuring in the late war was a young mail who, iiaving fallen into the hands of One of those "private gentlemen-" who "make adiances" to the impecunious, left England heavily in debt. The money-lender, carrying out a plan customary in these cases, called upon the guardian of the youthful spendthrift, and presented his bill with an intimation that in default of settlement prosecution would follow.

The guardian, a shrewd man of the world with a gift of dry humour, received the application with so much affability that Shylock was taken off his guard. " Of course, as you say," he remarked, replying to an amiable objection to the amount of his claim, " the interest is rather high—sixty per cent.; but, then, you know, we have to provide against losses."

''And do you find Hint this excessive interest covers your losses?" asked the guardian. "Oh, well, yes; otherwise, of course, the business wouldn't pay." "All, now, 1 am glad to hear that," was the cruel rejoinder, ''because this, my dear sir, is one of your losses!" 'And then the raging Shylock was politely shown ont.