The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-07-16
WAYNE COUNTY, IND. Jul
Rags.


Amy ra-a-gs to day, mum ?
Nor And the housekeeper turns
away, grumbling to herself at the
annoyance of these 'pesk' aggath-
erers.
Stop a moment, good woman.
Did it ever occur to you that the
patient-looking, plodding man,
who interrogates you after this
fashion, is a real blessing,--a gen.
uine humanitarian agenJ-a works
er for good, with whose services
you could hardly dispense No 7
Then let US look at the matter a
little.
Have you not often noticed a
skillful nurseryman transplanting
trees ? Branching out in every
direction from the base of the main
stem, you will see thick, tough
roots. These again branch off into
smaller, and smaller, and still
smaller fibres, until the extremities
appear like perfect web-work of
fine, frail, dirty-looking branches.
You sec, perhaps, one Of these lar
ger roots broken or bruised, and
express apprehension for the safety
of the tree.
That does not NATTER he will
tell you, the life all lays here in
these little fibres.' 1t may appear
to be g strong statement, but it is
none the less true, that in just this
manner all the intelligence of the
world depends for its very life and
existence upon this corps of rag
pickers and gatherers. Every pa
per mill, every sorting room, is the
trunk OF little tree Of knowledge
in its own neighborhood, whose
foliage furnishes food to the mind
and intellect OF the citizen. Do
you reflect, when enjoying the fruit,
how indispensable is this little net
work at the roots ?
Civilization depends upon paper,
in its various forms. Paper de-
pends upon the rag eatherer. Are
we, then, exceeding the bounds of
truth when we say that the rag
gatherer is the basis upon which
the superstructurc Of civilization is
built THAT the intelligence of the
world is dependent upon him for
it's very life !?
1t is true that many substitutes
in part for rags have been employ
ed in the manufacture OF sons
kinds of paper; this was rendered
necessary by the gradual but con-
stant and growing elimination in
the supply ; but no complete sub
sti.ute has ever been discovered,
and they are just as indispensable
in the production of paper to>day
as ever.
Suppose, good housewife, for a
few moments, that your wishes
were fulfilled. Suppose that for a
two years, the rag gatherer were
to be swept out of existence
What would you then do for the
many things which you now obtain
through his agency =? Where
would you then get your daily
news? Your fashion magazine?
your novels ? your collars ? your
cuffs ? how hold correspondence
with your friends ? Even the
money with which you procure all
your little nicetics and comforts, is
printed on paper-its production
dependent upon him. From what
source would come the books and
charts by means of which your
child rccei -cs his education :?
Where would your music come
from ? How would you pattern
your dresses
You see, my dear housekeeper,
it is you who are the servant
Probably it never occurred to you
how absolutely you are at the mer-
cy of the rag picker. Pray, now
you have found it out, be q little
careful. Don't grumble, and fume
and wear such a scornful look at
your-master, did we say?-when
he comes around again.