Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/117

 Merchants and bankers have often told me that before a vacation, especially, when students are going home scores of "phoney" checks are turned in, the student arguing that he may be back and his depleted account replenished before the overdraft is discovered. I could write a list of students now who may be regularly counted upon to do this sort of thing. The excuses they offer when called to account for their dishonesty, for such a practice is nothing less than dishonest, is that they made an error in calculation, or that they have done business enough with the bank to entitle them to a little favor once in a while. One man told a merchant of my acqaintanec not long ago that he had to have the money somehow, and that writing a check seemed the easiest way to that end. The freshman who starts out doing business in this irregular way will sooner or later find himself in disrepute if not in jail, and he will never have any money.

The freshman should use his money with an eye to the future. I have in mind now a young fellow whose monthly allowance comes regularly on the first of the month. Such of it as is not already disposed of through bills due and debts contracted melts in his hands like snow before an April sun. He does not give a thought to the future or a sigh for the past; he thinks only of the present, and