Bradford Opinion

A RATHER FREE LIVER.

Among the recent failures was that of a clothing firm, who wanted their creditors to take fifty cents on the dollar. They owed about a million, and had goods to nearly that amount. When their affairs were investigated it was discovered that the senior had used $59,000 a year in living expenses. A firm living in that way might reasonably be expected to fail—it could not be expected that they could go on very long in such times. But this is a fair sample of New York habits. The wives of the members of the firm were high-flyers, who had acquired habits of expensive living in times that could justify it, and they found it very inconvenient to slack up when the times became hard, and their husbands were weak enough to let them drag them to ruin. I know of one man, now a clerk, at $2000 a year, who, four years ago, was making as a merchant on his own account not less than $30,000 per year. He allowed his wife carriages, horses, parties, diamonds, &c., to the tune of $20,000 a year, and was satisfied. Times got dull, goods went down, the ground was slipping out from under him, and he implored her to stop. She would not listen, "I can't lose my place in society," was her answer, and on she went. Finally the smash came, there was nothing behind them, the sheriff sold their house, and the pair are now living in two rooms, and taking their meals at a very cheap restaurant. She is not in society, and the husband is very thankful therefor. He says he is happier than he ever was in his flush times, for there were four years that he knew ruin was hanging over him, and the constant worry of it nearly drove him crazy.