There are many people who see no wrong in doing what is within the law, and there has always been a human tendency to score off one's brother man by a smart trick since the days of Jacob and Esau. The fool will always be outwitted by the discreet ones of the world, who justify their ways by reminding us that we are only bound to obey the letter of the law, and that there is no duty cast upon us to interpret and respect its spirit. And simple charitable folk will say that after all things may really be quite honest and straightforward, and it is only the stingy creditor who sees fraud and the ungenerous judicial mind that finds in the constant repetitions of a series of happenings an intention in the parties to whom the events occur to wrong their neighbours. For why should not John Smith put over the door of his shop "J. Smith," and how can the pleasant, careless fellow pay his debts in these bad times, and why do those wholesale curmudgeons press for their money and weary of John's winning smile and dangling tales of future payment? If creditors won't wait it is really very foolish in these days to sue for the money and put the bailiffs in. For friend John is away at the races and when they come and seize the stock and effects of "J. Smith" there is Mrs. Smith, dear, good lady, to whom of course everyone knows, or ought to know, the business belongs. Is not she a married woman? Cannot she trade in her own name? Is not her name over the door--well, not her name exactly, but her initial--her full name is Jane Smith--and as for her husband, he has never been anything but a servant of hers, and now she is going to run the business herself! In due course of evolution, no doubt, we shall breed this dishonesty out of the race, or else the kind of poor, simple tradesman who gives credit without inquiry will become extinct. At present there are quite a number of people who regard laws not so much as guides to good conduct, but as difficulties to be overcome in the obstacle race of life. A learned king's counsel, a well-known expert in bankruptcy and bills of sale, told me of an interview he had with a secretary of a social society who came to ask him to deliver a lecture. The secretary explained that their members were mostly cabinet makers and small furniture dealers, and they had a meeting and a discussion every month. The king's counsel agreed to come, and asked what sort of subject they would like him to speak about. "Well," said the secretary, "our president, Mr. X----, you may know him----" The king's counsel shook his head. "Well, he has been bankrupt twice--I thought you might have met him. He proposed a very good subject, and the committee were quite pleased with it." "And what did he suggest?" "Well, seeing we are nearly all interested in the furniture trade, he thought there would be a good turn up if you would come and lecture on the Bills of Sale Acts and how to avoid them."