Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-12-25
The Great Needed Reform.

Some days ago VIC published an editoria
on hard times" and we are glad to perceive
that the views expressed there, are sustained
and endorsed by various leading journals o
the South. It's needless to- teR any one
who makes the least use oc his spe-ccptivt
faculties, that times are hard. The profits @
nearly every tradc.arc swept away by taxa
ton and incidental expenses, and hence the
necessity of adding line upon line, and pre-
ccipt upon precept, to induce our people, il
possible, to reflect upon their present condi,
ton and future prospects. There is a pros.
pect of pinching want before thousands, and
this prospect is not confined 10 those unlux
urious glasses, Of whom, as it is fablcd, q
French Queen thought it astonishing, when
they crie;l.lor bread, that they Should not cal
cake. rather than staryc. The grim spectre
OF starvation, as We and many OF our fellow
citizens know. is no stranger in circles of re
fnemcnt and culture. Many spoiled favor
itc of fortune, to whom sumptuous living and
the indulgence of expensive tastes have be-
come second nature, is forced to contcm-
plate the necessity of coming down, and ad-
iusting the scale Of this attainable want 10
the standard ofthc strctest moderation. No
other victims Of the hard times" are, per-
haps. subjected to more terrible ordeal than
The people Of this class, who arc numerous in
our Southern States. No act is more delicate e
than thatiof coming down with dignity and
grace and no philosophy more difficult than
that of starving acquired appetites, and re.
nouncing luxurious superfluities, without Bit
terness and vain repining.
Tl 0pI6 (Ifocronf
says, that this picture is not exclusively ap-
plicablo to any particular sections; but, as we
have remarked in former articles, and with
which our cotemporary agrees, that the South
lis where itsmay be seen in its most sombre
colors Here the agriculturist has been equal
" disappointed with the merchant. Here
the calamity of q short crop. of cotton is ag.
grayated by an almost simultaneous fall in
price; here. labor has been Inefficient and dis
organized, and threatens ITO become more SO
hereafter. Under these disheartening Cir
eubistances, it is surRising that people should
BE found persistipgsin thoughtless habits of
e1traragance.~There can be but few who can
afford profuse expenditure in amusement,
in dressing and feasting. But, putting aside
these exceptions, the situation is one that
demands, upon the part Of the mass otsour!
people, the practice of thoughtful and syatesss
matte economy, Jas both o public and private; atte;;
duty. One of the first requisites to- the dis
Charge Of such q duty is. moral. courage. lfi
that once couquers, all tte,rest is easy. z W
One Of the greatest findrances to the much
needed reform in personal and household.
economy is generally attributed to the. .ex.
travagance Of the female members Of o sfatni:
w. But, admitting thattojbs a fact,eissaot'
much blame to be; attached to the malc-head
of C. fanily,Sin not enjoining The slricsest
economy upon his wife and daughters2 He
may expect that the vague illusions (which
may be made in their presence to pecuniary
troubles and embarrassmcnts should be sufh I.
cient; but such illusions are generally mis-
understood. and, even when they are perfect
" ineligible, they standardization frequent
r, iSdeta@-fafi tuy-prctlrcc my: wholesome
impression. Women, 10 matter how gentle
in breeding or exquisite in culture, who are
thus hecdiess, cannot be either hci p.meets or
ornaments in a family.
II is vcrv true that women should not be
invited to buffet in the rude struggles Of bu-
siness, and should be tcnlc.iy guarded against
tic sterncr har:ass;nem;s to whcn r:cn are
liable hat eyenat nc risk of being prouounc
ed unga!!ant, IL Our wordlywisc lectures on
economr, We must say that it is 10 be dcp!or
cd II, In such times as these. their education
shcuid not have lifted them 20 comprehend
responsibilities anu emergencies whicl. h;ls-
haads and E.;hels arc obliged to face, or If
their bent c( mind should have been 50 per-
yc:tc.i as 10 make them Indifferent 20 the
cares Of chose who have to provide for them.
'.hc women ofthe South, as We Lave had ire.
qrant occasion to say: are true and s.i-sacri-
icing in: al emergencies, l;bIic and private,
w!;ch require their efforts and aid but Ibis
little si,. vi cxt:ava tlncc is too little thnrght
Of, although it may prove 10 he the clnkcr
wor:n e ;hgir riiuic peace and happiness.
Thei. a:::trll7a..ance is TOO frequently submit
ted 10 b. ::nab;als anl fathers from motives
nl .a'<c ordc. AID loo often we observs the
hocdle,s wasting Of the money OF men in whose
honies and hearts they rc;gn--iaoncy which
prudence Cannot a!htord to spare. We c9m-
mc:.t! these views to the thoughtful consider
asion Of cur readers this day--it may prove
as profitable rs The sermon they have lisicned
:o-tat is, ia = worldly point of view. The
spiritual wants o! any people can be much
easier y,ti.iad If truth, conscience and right
Guide tlc:,: il. Tic every day business bt life
Co!umj;. PhCcaiX.