Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-30
.u.rl rsme.r and What it nreans.

We hear Of hard tmeS-we read of hard times we
feel hard times and yet few of realize the meaning OF
that expression in its full significance.
It means practically hundreds Of thousands thrown
out of employment without of support for them
selves Oh their families, without money to pay rent for
the roof that shelters buy wood or coal to warm their
shiverng frames during the rgors of fast approaching
winter-it means restitution even OF the food
necessary to keep soul and body togeherit means to
many and many an one dependence upon the bitter
bread of charity.
| Let us turn from the mass to make an analysis of
some particular instance to illustrate the general propO
sition.
| T1rn we to quiet home-the home of humble
but self respecting workman with family Neatness,
with some pretensons to ornament had made that home
pleasant one. Wages, under the stimulus of expan-
sion had gone up-the older children had been employed
But the cost of living had even than kept pace
with the increase of wages, and little could be reserved
for the hour of trial. The pressure comes with its omi
nous cloud-wages employment becomes precari-
ous-the final crash comes and the Of the strong
man is paralyzed his right hand forgets its cunning
he returns home to his family weared from the uitles
search for work-for the of living. One by one
the younger members also lose their situaonsthe little
household must meet its rigors, moneyless without
employment the hope Of employment or the prospect
of any resources upon which to fall back That is pres
sure and when that pressure is aggravated by sickness
when some loved one seeks in vain for the little
forts or even necessarics upon which life may depend
who can tell how much its agony is increased When
We read of the discharge of thousands of at the
North it means that thousands Of families must face the
g. \ IL
of the pticss storm without the means of procuring
sustenance or shelter.
Again another home rises before U.s. the acquisition
of years of labor and devotion to business It's
has striven to make pleasant abode for his family
and calm retreat for his declining years. At length
the coveted reward of his persistent energy appears
to be within his grasp. few years and he will
be independent. But the storm overtakes him. The
circle contracts around him. He cannot realize what is
due to himhe cannot pay what he owes-his property
swept awaythc home of his declining years is sacri
feed and he goes forth ruined wreck unable to make
sail on the camest This another incident of the
hard times another result of the pressure and
; isolated one.
The fair damsels, who like Miss Flora McFlimsey,
have nothing to wear, the Spectator who srspends
yet lives in af1uence-nonc of these know for
these things but they the really painful features of
p" hard times
MA Correspondent Of the Charleston courier
proposes to organize the next House of Representatives
by cectng Mr.. Orr. of S. c.. Speaker, making Allen,
of Illinois, or Robbins, of Indiana, Cerk-some high
toned Southern Democrat from Virginia, Door Keeper
l-Grosyenor, of Pennsylvania Sergcant-atArms and
johnson, of New Jersey, Postmaster.
no (or
the Speakers Chair, for which he is well qualified by
ability and parliamentary experience. We sincerely
trust that Allen may be Clerk He has our vote which,
unfortunately, don't count johnson, the proposed Post
Master is very clever fellow and knows the business
of his Office which he held before He discharged
its duties then to the general satisfaction of all
led We have not yet decided what Office will have.
g By the way among the officers" of the two houses
we do not know that the pages included. These
youthful persons would elsewhere, presume be called
crrand-boys The little fellows get something like three
dollars day, and doccur in the shape of an extra
allowance voted every session 1t is somewhat anus
ing to enquire into the disposal made of their surplus
funds by these embryo statesmen. Last Spring several
were pointed out to lis who had become spectators in
Western lands-purchasers of land warrants The pre-
vaing epidemic had reached Them and taken the form
c ences
As a rule the little fellows seemed to be quiet and OBJ
a lging and generally economical. The Door Keepers
were generally polite set of men, with exception
s pupaced, consequential looking youth, who al
ways in fuss, and had constable around three times
in day, We hope he'll be turned out at any rate
s Uncle Sanathat is to sayyou and !, and all of u.s.
pay literally, and ought to submit to nsolencc
$ pigheadcdnesS from our servants
But oficc-ofice is great thing, and what are call
ed the spos of Office also great things-some men
!, succeed in public ethey succeed in living and retain
ing their serespect and the respect Of others, and we
think that if had full competence ahead the ex
= cemen might be pleasant but the chances are too pre-
carious to calculate on for lvngthe first thing to be
If looked to in this life.
a We wonder much whether the doors Of the new Con
gress will be closely beseged by those DESTROYS tc
plunge their hands into the public purse as were the
doors Of the last Congress We think the mania fol
andsteang and land speculation ought to be somewhat
abated by this time The burstup of the Illinois Cen
trail and the Michigan Central Railroads ought to afford
lesson and, no doubt, will for short time But af
ter this fall will another rebound and people will
u 90 it with bigger lick than ever.
= Some twenty years ago, q bl-a deposit bill
bill to give TOTO distribute among the States, under
the name of deposit passed both Houses and received
the reluctant assent of General jackson.
Soon that game stopped The surplus to be de-
posted turned shortly into deficit and the United
States Treasury was bankrupt, while money had to be
borrowed 10 meet the actual expenses of the Govern
ment aud it ,ros borrowed, at shave too This time
the same thing tried and if deposit bill had pass