The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-01-14
MARIETTA GEORGIA FRIDAY MORNING JANUARY ID 1870
Che selarietta Sonrnal.
MARIETTA, GEORGIA.
o.
Friday Morning Jan. IA. 40.
PLANS FOR TEE NEW YEAR.

While our people arc laying plans
and forming purposes for the new year
why should not, each for himself, form
the bold and rcsolute purpose to be in
dependent-to live as Georgian should
do, upon his own bread and mcat-to
disregard the idle, ridiculous and ex-
travagant fashions which are imported
here from the North-to abandon pain
full and inconvenient ostentation and dis
play in dress and oquipagc-to culti-
waite frugality, sobriety and simplicity
in all his habits and demcanor 7
Nothing panied the Southern man
more than the eagerness of our sons and
daughters, after the close Of tho war, to
copy the dress and habits Of those who
had gained a sudden and Fictitious wealth
in the subjugation of our people. The
war had evoked the most noble, patriot
ic and devoted spirit in the daughters of
the South They had become unhappi-
" SO familiar with the most calamitous
changes in fortune, that mere externals
had been Invested, to a greater extent of
their Importance. The noblcst of their
countrywomen were clad in homespun,
and thousands of them were homeless
and destitute. This had taught them
that the gauds and gewgaws of fashion
formed no essential part of the true gen.
tIewoman and no condition of happiness.
Simplicity, kindness and generous hos
pitality and affability were, in those dark
days, more than ever the characteristics
of the Southern people, and remained SO
untlt1e marfs of trade were again stored
with the appliances of an unworthy and
frivolous ostcntation.
Why have we abandoned that sinplic-
ity of life which became US SO well during
the war, and would have been a wreath
! of glory round our brows as conquered
people defcnccless, insulted and OPP
| pressed by our enemies |! Surely with
in ourselves and, divcsting our society of
all useless, expensive and ncretricious
ornamcntation, consult only comfort and
utiity-that time is ROO. Without
friends outside ourselves, if we would be
our own most efficient friends, and cxtort
respect from our enemies, it would be in
the course of something like a Spartan
simplicity of life and dcmcanor. This
would soon free us Of dcbt-surround US
with all the real necessities and COM
forts of life, and enforce the respect Of
outsiders from whom we required and re-
ceivcd little or nothing.
If our young farmers now, in this new
year, will put sudden stop to their in
ordinate lust for large cotton crops, and
resolve hereafter TO look first to their
own food suppIies-if they will learn to
put their own farms and dwellings and
barns in order-gc. supplies of good
stock and surround themselves, as their
first care, with that we believe will be
the first true step towards solid agri-
cultural independence and prosperity.
In one word, the most useful lesson
for the times is to look to ourselves and
set our own fashions our own social
habits and our own associations as pco-
pie. AS the outside world assails US with
obloquy, persecution, oppression, treach-
cry and misrule, We should learn to gath
or closer together as one family of Gcor-
gians for mutual succor, support, con-
ISOLATION and enjoyment. To draw from
our own friendly soil all our sus:cnancc,
and cultivate spirit of disregard and
indifference for the fashions of our enc
mics, instead of servilcIy copying them.
Macon Telegraph.