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Debt (NATIONAL See under Finance)

NATIONAL. See under Finance in Articles on Countries. DEBTOR. In ancient times a debtor who could not pay became, with his family and his personal servants, the DEBUSSY property of the creditor. In Jewish times children were often given up as pledges for debt, and finally handed_over to slavery in payment of debt. Jesus speaks of this, in Matthew xviii: 25, as so customary a thing that it was a part of his folk teaching in a parable. And yet the Mosaic law was so far from contemplating anything of the sort that it did not even permit interest to be taken from an Israelite by an Israelite, and even manumitted the whole debt on the expiry of the Sabbathical year.

The Jewish law also specified various articles of use and necessity as immune from attachment; in this particular, as in others, striving to safeguard all personal and property rights, while, at the same time, preserving social harmony and adherence to high morality. That these laws were subsequently perverted and misinterpreted, so as to permit of the injustices mentioned at the time of Christ, is hardly remarkable. They are in accord with the general trend of development among other nations. Among the ancient Romans the practice of enslavement for debt was an early and long-continued practice.

Imprisonment for debt was less common under the military régime of mediæval Europe than in later times, but was for centuries a much-abused custom in England. Modern jurisprudence allows the attachment of property of all kinds, except, in general, the tools and instruments of livelihood, but discourages the imprisonment of the debtor, except in exceptional cases, as for the non-payment of alimony, or under other unusual cases, generally involving fraud.

A debtor, on being declared bankrupt, makes assignment for the benefit of creditors, which often represents a small percentage of his indebtedness.

DEBUSCOPE (from the inventor, M.

Debus, a French optician; and Gr. skopeō = I see, a modification of the kaleidoscope. It consists of two highly polished silvered plates, set at an angle of 70° with each other. When placed before a picture or design, an assemblage of flower petals, or other small, colored objects, beautiful designs are formed by their reflected images. The instrument is held stationary while these are copied, and by successively moving it over the object, different combinations of figures are shown, which may be added to the first. It is particularly intended for the use of draftsmen who are required to design ornamental patterns for fabrics.