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SMALL DEBTS.

[THAMES STAR.] The most troublesome of all debts are these small liabilities, incurred recklessly, and too often without a definite idea on the part of the debtor as to the probability of payment. These debts, though most numerous, are those which are less seldom heard of ; simply, it is presumed, because of their smullness. Under the old law, if a man could induce confiding- persons to permit him to get into their books for any considerable amount he might cover himself witli the cloak of insolvency, and very ofen come out of his "temporary difficult}'" with something like satisfaction—to himself at least; in which case these social "misfortunes" are heard of by the world. But the little tvifles—the diminutive accounts —are seldom known. It the ledgers of our shop-keepers, retaih-rs of the " Fiery Demon," and other tracers, were exhibited, how many of these worthless items would be seen classed in the columns of the "loss" account; and justly so, for the se deOts are seldom if ever paid. Perhaps, of idl debtors, the small deb.tris the most, contemptible, lie runs up odd accounts indiscriminately, and, never exceeding a certain amount, rushes from place to place to leave his mark by (vulgarly speaking) slicking up what he. desires, He is an abject creature, because ho wanis self-respect. He never goes by daylight through the public street, but he has to keep a sharp look-out for "small" creditois, and as sure as he observes one will pass over the road that he may not be " stuck up" for the money he owes. He never seeks to pay, and looks upon it as a haidship that such should be expected of'him by the trader who has so far mistaken his character as to take him for an honest man. Thus, like the questionably just but goodnatured Dick Swiveller, he will often travel some considerable distanco from his residence to get " over the way." This failing is very general. It is a melancholy fact but nevertheless true, that men who will tell you with indignation of the perpetration of some gigantic swindle, will themselves be guilty of " doing" a fellow for the sum of 8s Cd, and yet upbraid the man of superior intellect whoso wiqked

intents soared above such pettj r cheatery as he (the small debtor) would be guilty of. The only explanation to this seems to be that a »;reat many persons mensure the wrong of not paying a debt by the amount of that debt; or of a sin of any kind by the extent of the consequences entailed, in the same manner as did one of Marryati's characters —a young unmarried girl—who, when spoken to upon being a mother under such circumstances, remarked that ii (her baby) was "only a little one." There can be no more fatal error than ihis —an error which often lends to greater ones. To owe a penny and avoid the payment thereof is as much to be condemned as to defraud for a thousand—the only qualification being that the latter is calculated to carry with it more serious consequences.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18741106.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1226, 6 November 1874, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
518

SMALL DEBTS. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1226, 6 November 1874, Page 4

SMALL DEBTS. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1226, 6 November 1874, Page 4

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