The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-29

Thra is great enienation going on from
the New England States, especially fron
Maine and Nav Hampshire, to tho Wcsteri,
Territories. These emigr nts are, Tor the
most part, peopleor pecuniary meas, ca. ~.
ing with them health. strength and money
excellent material in every respect to form
new States. but not such m the old S.atts
can we'll .ford to part with. We arc sorry
~ 500 such men leaving us. They are " try.
ing u better themselves - and we hope they
may succeed, but we doubt 1t. This going
into the new territories to seek q living y
ruugh Understanding more than thes,'
hardy pioneers are ablo to endure and to
conquer, but IL takes long time to make u
iarln that VIII yield fair return, and in
the meanwhile the settler hns to cut his coat
ccordIng to his cloth II live upol hog and
honony, do without the luxuries he has been
accustomed to, and be content with log
hat, pine table, and such chairs as his in
genuty can make out. This is good train.
ing, doubtless, es specially for the young. VIII"
thus become habituat-d early to the knowl.
edge of how little is absolutely necessary to
sustain life, and how easy 1t Is to get ahead
when content with that little In this view
Of the case the younger portion Of these EN-.
grants bitter themselves by tho exchange,
and perhaps the elder, also, inasmuch as
they would not be content to live here 10
the same style in which they will be Obliged
to live there, but will be content there be-
cause they will live as well Us their neigh
bors.
DOUBTLESS man, and even woman, will
be uble ~ get along very we'll without luxu.
rie., without furniture, and with the mean
est sort oi clothing, when nothing of higher
order is To be seen among the neighbors, and
doubtless it 10 very hard 70 do 30 under diff.
ferent circumstances otherwise our emf
grants would not leave their old homes anc
seek new ones; for we aro very sure that
with the amo economy exercised ut home,
for which they will 6nd On absolute neccssi'
ty IN their new location, they would &c,
ahead ster here than there. The difficulty
Is not that labor In New England is not well
raid, that New England farms do not re.
ward the tillers Of her soil, but that she
tendency Of our people Is, and long has
been, " extnugance and luxury to such
an extent that no wages Of labor, no pro
duction Of the farm, can pay.
We have heard il said, over ana over
again, that the reason of increased expenses
il owing to the increased prices OF hous.
rent, and Of everything We consume, but W,
doubt the correctness Of this assertion
Many things have advanced in price certain.
ly, but it is equally true that many otherr
have declined, and with the same HABITS
which prevailed half century ago, We be.
lleve the expenses Of living would b. found
greater now than then. IL meat is dearer,
clothing is cheaper. Fifty years ago people
were content 10 eat meat once o day for four
days in u week; now we want It twice u
day for seven days In week. Fish, peas,
beans, &c Z, which used ~ form considera
lie portion Of food. are pretty much ignorsi
People in moderate circumstances used "a
bs conten: with just such furniture NJ wa
absolutely necessary, with just Us mucl'
house room Ms they ryquircd-the outlay ior
furnishing wus small, w,nr and tear wa-
small, rent WIS small. Now we all want a
house 10 ourselves, fitted up with expensive
carpets from parlor To garrett, AMI fully fur.
nished with mahoyany, &c. In thoss day.
pewter spoons were made to answer oil The
PURPOSES for which spoons are uscd. Now.
nothing meaner than silver will answer
Then. homrpun and India cotton served for
riothing. Now, no wsrdrobe rs endurab:s
si,hout liberal portion of bruadcloth for
the males. and silk for the femalss-aDd
there of tho finest Let any one follow out
these matters in NIL their details, and We
think he will come 10 the conclusion that
rhs Increased expense Of living grows out OF
tho change in our habits that the same
.conomy which was pract tsed fifty years ago,
would reluce our expenses belyw the amour,
expended then. We know very well thai
no ono will be disposed to give up bis owl
and adopt the simple habits OF by -gon.
days, unIcrs oompe led thereto BY stern ne
ccssity. but We are quite sure that o genera
change In this respect would e6cctually e.
dnguish the ida that our expensss arc In
creased BY higher prices. d. .o1ci.z.
Aud il 10 THU, change In the method Q
living which p sending our people 70 th'