Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-09

Trying to Better Themselves.

Trying to Better Themselves.
There is great emigration going on from
the New England States, especially from Maine
and New Hampshire, 10 The Western terrific
ries, These omRrnn,s are for the most part
people of pecuniary means, carrying with them
health, strength and monoy-excellenl material
in every respect TO form new States, but moi
such as the old States can well afford to part
with. We are sorry 10 see such men leaving
US. They are trying to better themselves"
and we hope they may succeed, but we doubt
it. This going into the new territories to seek
living is rough busness-nolhng more
than these hardy pioneers are able 10 endure
and TO conquer, but it takes long time to make
farm that will yield fair return, and in the
meanwhile the settler has to cut his coat accor
ding to his clolh-live upon hog and hominy,
do without the luxuries he has been been accus-
toned to- aud be content with log hut, pine
table, and such chairs as his ingenuity can make
out. This is good training, doubtless, espec-
tally for the young, who thus become habiiua-
ted early to the knowledge Of how little is alb
solutely necessary TO sustain life, and how easy
it is to get ahead when content with tina, little.
IN this view of the case the younger portion of
these emigrauis better themselves by the ex-
change, and perhaps the elder, also, inasmuch
as they would not be content to live here in the
same style in which they will be obliged to live
there, but will be content there because they
will live as well as their neghbors do.
Doubtless a man. AMI even woman will be
able to get along very well without luxuries,
without furniture, and with the mcanest sort of
clothing, when nothing of higher order is to
be seen amongst the neighbots, and doubtless
it is very hard to do SO under different crcum-
stances; otherwise our emigrants would not
leave their old homes and seek new ones for
we are very sure that with the same economy
exercised at home, which they will find an alb
soute necessity in their new location, they
would get ahead faster here than there. The
difficulty is not that labor in New England is
not we'll paid, that New England farms do mo-,
reward the tillers Of her soil, but that the ten
dency of our people is and long has been, to ex-
travagance and luxury TO such an extent that
no wages Of labor, no production of the farm
can pay.
We have heard il said, over and over again,
that the reason of increased expenses is owing
to the increased prices of house rent, and of ev-
eryihing we consume, but we doubt the correct.
ness of this assertion. Many things have ad-
vanced in price certainly, but it is equally true
that many others have declined, and with the
same habits which prevailed half century ago,
we believe the expenses of living would be found
no greater now than then. If meat is dearer,
clothing is cheaper. Fifty years ago people
we're content to eat meat once day four DAYS
IN week now we want il twice day for sew
en- days in week. Fish, peas, beans, &c.
which used 10 form considerable portion of
food, are pretty much ignored. People in mod
crate circumstances used to be content with lust
such furniture as was absolutely necessary, with
just as much house room as they required--the
outlay for furnishing was SMALL wear and tear
was small, rent was small. Now we all want
house TO ourselves, fitted up with extensive
carpets from parlor to garrett, and fully furnish
ed with mahogany, &c. In those days pewter
spoons were made 10 answer all the purposes
for which spoons are used. Now, nothing
aaeaner than silver will answer Then, home.
spun ami Iude Dav,,n.g.-
Now, no wardrobe is endurable without lib
-eral portion of broadcoth for the males, and
silk for the females-and these of the finest
Let any one follow out these matters in all their
details, and we think he will come to the con-
clusion that the increased expense of living
grows out OF the change in our habits that the
same economy which was practised fifty years
ago would reduce our expenses below the
amount expended then. We know very well
that no one will be disposed 10 give up his own
and adopt the simple habits of by-gone days,
unless compelled thereto by stern necessity, but
we are quite sure that general change in this
respect would effectually extngush the idea
THAT our expenses are increased by higher pri-
ces.
And it is this change in the method of living
which is now sending our people to the West
ern Notwithstanding to better themselves
and not the want of employment, at fair wa
ges, nor the lack of produclveness in the sol
of New England.