title: Reading Java Properties file without escaping values
body: <p>My application needs to use a .properties file for configuration.
  In the properties files, users are allow to specify paths.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Problem</strong></p>
  
  <p>Properties files need values to be escaped, eg </p>
  
  <pre><code>dir = c:\\mydir
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>Needed</strong></p>
  
  <p>I need some way to accept a properties file where the values are not escaped, so that the users can specify:</p>
  
  <pre><code>dir = c:\mydir
  </code></pre>