Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-12-06
WHAT THE SOUTH Ia LEARNING.

1t has been quite truly said that every
loss has some gain connected with it.
Some of the Southern papers are even
beginning to admit that their loss by
the rebellion is not without compensa-
ton, and the destruction of slavery is
already regarded as something that, in
the end, will be a blessing to the South.
The Richmond Wing, in an article upon
this subject, says: /.
WHAT WE R LEARNING IN THR SOUTH.
The condition in which our misfor-
tunes placed US has been unpleasant
enough, but it has taught US some val
liable lessons, and impressed them so
strongly upon US that they are not like
ly to be effaced by a return of prosper
ity. We have acquired habits of econ
omy, frugality and industry. In our
former days of ease and abundance,
when we only had to plant, gather and
enjoy, we grew careless and prodigal.
Not only did we live in luxury, but We
wasted much of valuable substance
We bought many articles that might
easily have been dispensed with, and
either neglected to raise, or when raised
withheld from market many of the pro-
ducts of the earth. Almost every
well-to-do farmer kept one or more
fancy horses to do nothing. In every
neighborhood were packs of hounds; on
every farm were supernumerary negroes,
besides the usual troop of young ne
groes, who did not work, but had to be
fed and clothed. There was Il general
looseness in domestic management; and
stores were laid in for every season
without regard to expense, and were
subject to constant pillage at the hands
of the numerous servants who had ac-
cess to them. Probably, on an average,
as large q proportion rs one-tenth of the
stores laid in by our farmers were thus
taken and consumed. There was, more
over, much carelessness and waste about
every kitchen and every table. The
house-keepcr who had ten mouths to
feed, exclusive of his farm hands, had
enough cooked every day to supply ff-
teen or twenty. Few sold their small
crops, such as potatoes, onions, cab
bages, etc. 1t was reckoned beneath
the dignity Of the farmer to send his
surplus fowls and fruits to market. Or
chards dropped their delicious products
on the ground, either to rot or be eaten
by hogs; and fowls that might have
been raised in abundance and made a
source of considerable revenue, were
allowed to die of old age. A new era
has dawned upon us-not, it is true,
under pleasing auspices, but promising,
we hope, profitable results. Emanci-
patton deprived US Of our slaves, but IN
doing so relieved every farmer Of a
swarm Of expensive dependents. We
hire only such laborers as we need, and
every one is rapidly learning how to
turn it to the best account. Every hour
and moment Of the time allotted to work
is now utilized in some form or other.
There is saving in every family. Milk,
in many families, nov supplies the place
Of tea and coffee, and the expense in
Cured heretofore in the purchase Of
these Injuries is saved. Those who
continue to use tea and coffee have
learned to economize in their use. One
fourth of a pound will, in many families,
60 as far as a pound went before. The
cotton patch is not forgotten, and wool
is carefully looked after. The spinning
wheel and the loom which, twenty-five
or thirty years ago, were found on al
most every plantation, are again being
brought into requisition. The DISPOSE
ton is growing among our people to
save all they can, and to make within
themselves all that is possible to make.
Habits Of industry are everywhere be-
ginning to prevail. Men, who, in the
prosperous days that have passed, rarely
rode over their farms more than once or
twice a week, now not only give their
constant personal supervision to all the
operations they are conducting, but
lend a helping hand. Young men who
spent their time in visiting, hunting,
and in the amusements Of the country,
now engage actively in field labors.
The spirit of industry and thrift has ex-
tended to the young ladies, who assist
in the various offices Of domestic man
agement.
Our habits, our objects Of life, our
occupations are rapidly changing under
the new order Of things.