Smyrna times., 1857-10-21
Or Correspondence.
Written for the Smyrna Iinss.
HARD TIM ES.

For promoters of hard times, we have also
some of the slOth kind. The animal SO called,
is rather inoffensive, and probably does as much
work as is required of him then living. as he
does, in forests and feeding upon the leaves OF
trees, he lays no tax upon the world. But peo-
pie of this sort must be fed and clothed,-thus
adding TO the burdens of the industrious, and
increasing the risk of various arrangements IN
the affairs of society. 1t has been said, more
ove-, that "the idle mans brain is the DEVILS
workshops" and again, that
:" Satan finds some mischief still
For idte hands to do;
and hence evil must come of it, whether per-
ceived or unperceived.
One may detect himself as OF this class, when
he finds at the close of the day, that neither
money nor thanks are due him for services to
his fellow men. To spend day in moderate
health, without having earned some kind oil
wages, should be Stunned as a mark OF deep
and abiding dishonor. There is no excuse for
it, in any of the common circumstances of life.
There is good enough to be done IN the world,
and power enough to do it,-so that any palpa-
be neglect is really the mark of bad man.
For the slothiu to reform is not SO easy
Vigor of life, skill for useful tasks, desire to do
good, and conscience binding one TO the dis
charge of duty, are not purchasable commodl-
ties, and are in no way easy of attainment for
those who have learned to live without them.
They have no sufficient apprehension as to
whose they are, and why they were created
Could they comprehend it,-that they were in
tended to be stewards of divine bene6cence to
ncn, and that they are really commissioned, by
the possession of various faculties of body and
mind. 10 act as the benetactors of their race,
they might be reclaimed from the paths of sin
and folly ; but so much is rarely accomplished
for them. Hard times will compel here aud
there, one to arouse self,-religious influ-
ences may have this effect, (and otherwise
mans religion is vain); but the most OF this
tribe leave the world without vacatng any
place that requires new appointment to fill it
The peacock tribe is also noticeable. Their
adornments are in part the occasion of insol-
Wencies with individuals, and consequently with
at home and abroad. They require many diver
sions of time, and skill, and thought, and capi-
tai from their natural operations, and thus help
on various crisis in human affairs They can
be maintained only by such expenditures of the
means vouchsafed for the supply Of real wants,
as will tend, more or less, to derange all the
affairs of life. Mr.. A. tails, partly because
Mrs. A. and the Misses and the Masters A. ex-
pend too much on dress. This, by itself, might
be no public calamity; but it is taking away a
brick or stone from a wall, and 1t may happen
that others so rest upon l., that the whole gives
way and becomes mass of ruins. If, as is al.
legged, the failure of Life and Trust company
was the beginning, and (by exciting a panic
partly the cause Of our present straits, it is
only going little farther down to trace this tC
some single debtor, made SO by an extravagant
family; and what might possibly happen if this
folly were but occasional. is likely enough tc
hapPea when it is almost universal.
1t Is not, however, in this shape alone tha
evil springs from the folly in question (foIIy il
is, and not wisdom: let some proud people lay
this to heart, and not feel Aattered). Thes,
worse than useless expenditures often subtrac
from due appropriations to other and better OBJ
jects. Schools and religious societies are FIRE
quently crippled, in want of only SO much a
will over-dress half dozen of the gay tribe il
Ghe families looked to for support. The bes
influences of society are thus deprived Of thei
proper vantage ground, and the moral ill
which they would counteract, are left to brini
us the multiplied common and physical suffer
ings which naturally follow in their wake
One thing drags down another, and all in tn
line of final perdition.
Say not, good people, that this is taking tn
matter too seriously. 1t is no whit more seri
GUS than the Providence of God, which som
see asd some do not, in the affairs of life. Th
penalties of human folly are somewhat deeper
and much more lasting than the qualification
that require them; and they who take note @
this beforehand will be more prudent than the
who "pass on and are punished" C.