The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-11-28
American Wastefulness.
From the Springfield Republican.

From the Springfield Republican.
Wise men and Christian men get advan-
tage out of misfortuncs "Sweet are the
uses of adversitv," to those who appreciate
and improve the lessons it teaches, and, if
the present suspension of business activity
and the consequent embarrassment & distress
shall impress its approp riatc lessons upon
the people. its results may produce great and
permanent blessings. There is one aspect
of our American life that always strikes
foreigners with surprise. 1t is the wastctu-
ness that everywhere prevails, and which is
the result doubtless of long series of years
of plenty and prosperity. We talk economy
and portion ofthc people practice the virtue.
But the general fact is that among all classes
and conditions economy is something vet to
be learned. In every branch of business
there is great waste of materials. in house
keeping waste of the means of living. and
IN the means of amusement and recreation a
lavish expenditure that is absolutely reck-
less.
1t has been said that Il Frcnchman can
live luHurouslv on what an EnglShman
throws away. But the English are far ahead
Of us in domestic economics. and We have 10
doubt there are many American families. who
have never entertained the thought that they
were living cXtravaSantly. in whose Kitchens
enough light be saved by proper economy
of materials and better modes of cooking. to
supply the tables of other families who are
likely to suffer for the simplest means of sub
Sl>tcncc And this is not true of the rich
alone. but of the middliny classes. and in
numerous instances Of those who depend on
their daily labor for their daily bread There
are thousands Of Industrious mechanics and
day laborcr> in our cities. who have been
accustomed to the receipt Of from ten to
twenty dollars week for their labor. and
have spent it as fast as earned and
ness places them among hrg-ar>. and makes
them quiet sufferers or desperate plunlcrcr>
OF their more thrifty nciyhhorrr~. These
men lH;@ht have saved from one third TO one
half ii their daily earnings when bu>inc>>
WAS good. and they would now have had
enough ON hand To have gone through thr
crisis indc,cndant Of assistance from others
and with no temptation to crime. These men
certainly have a lesson to learn from their
present distress. and it vii. hc we'll for them
il they rccolr,t and practice upon It all their
lives. An ablc bodied mechanic who has
good work and wages for wears. should h,.
ashamed Of hiM>,I: 20 become a pnun,r lN
Jew weeks or months OF COMPULSORY iIlcn,>>.
Nothing but wa>rctunc>s and utter want Of
.orc-thourht could have hyouglt him TO such
degradation. But he has only triitcd with
the currcu, and c,,.icd the nro,}ir,li,y ,hai
has pcr,ad,d all cls,,c> of society alike.
1t would be easy to :" into the dct"ii, o.
this general "A>tetuinrs>. and polit out
thousand particulars in which rctrcuchmcnt
is possible with 10 loss of Substantial comfort
and in many instances with improved health
and happiness. Look at New York. thou
sands of desperate men are paradiny the
streets Of that city. threatening rio, and plun
der if they are not >,lup]icI with work and
VET TODAY in that ci,v m,re ,h,, cno,,rb
money viii ho >n,n, -, ,L. l,rcr lo.. ..,l,,,,,,,
and low tip,,l;uu >hons to S,Irn)v every Irs,;-
titc family in the city with Sufficient and
comE,rt,llc tnod--,,d This ,,,,.v c,w,..
,oo p;,c,outb~ :, from, N. ,..c, ~. of H.,
very l,bornr classes who are rrducrj .o hcr-
o,rv hv few weeks loss If ,r,,lo,r,.,,,
S,r.l, ,horo :. ,!,o,, IT,,
OH inc "f''h upon 'h' resources "t 'i'' com
munity made l'y vicious and hurtful cXccsScs,
~
I''' "'. '''' "'>''."'' "'" ''''' anu ''''''''
Here is an opening Tor economy that YER!
many men would find personal advantage,
every way. in improving.
1t has been said that those who have amul,
,,.,ns should ,o, ro,rouoh ,ho;x
''''', ''''' "' ',>'' '''N' ''>''''i>
a' Sucii Il '''''e aS 'il>' because y! SO DONG
they take from others employment and sub
sistcncc. But there NAV be economy with