Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-01-25
Can Lessen My Expenses,

( Il
bune, published at Lancaster, Pa, printed
the following article, under the above ii
tie, in its issue of the 18th instant. 1t il
worthy of a thoughtful reading by al
classes of our citizens:
Few working men in Pennsylvania are
laying up any money. 1t take all theil
income to live. Adollar and seventy-fvc
cents day leaves but little, after paying
rent and subsistence bills. The workman
can't lessen the price of -four, sugar, OF
| pork; nor the price of calico, sheeting,
woolens, or boots and shoes. These
! things must be had and paid for. Ger.
tain outgoes can't be helped. If these
outgocs balance the income right along,
there is poverty holding its own. Tee
experience Of most working men nova
days is, that after paying rent and provis-
ion bills. at the end of the week they find
they have nothing left. and generally a
hat, cap, dress, or coat unpaid for besides
Things are not as they were in 1866 and
1867, and the laborer finds himself grad
ually obliged to lop off wants.
But" says one, ''you don't pretend to
say, that the laborer has harder time
now than five years ago." OF course we
do, and can prove 1t by every working
man we meet. Look about and find how
many laborers are buying and paying for
homes and then find out what per cent
are in debt for rent, or store bills, or both.
The outlook is not very encouraging, and
is enough to dishearten half the working
men there are. For man to only live
from hand to mouth. is to be in constant
peril OF public charity; state Of things
not the most pleasant to contemplate.
The fact of it is, working men who
work by the day don't get ahead. and
very many are heels over head in debt
besides. What is the trouble? VIII
every working man take the trouble to
ask himself the question? We answer it
by saying:
1t costs too much to live-too much
money goes out To enter into the dis
cussion of the price of the necessaries of
life. whether too high or not, is not our
purpose. We wish to call attention to
the bare consideration of the facts as they
are, saying nothing of price or circum
stances Leaving out of sight what might
and what ought to be, if labor received
its due share of its products, we take
things as they are, and say, it costs too
much to live.
1t is astonishing On what small in
come people can live if they are driven to
it. Cornmeal and water don't cost much
There are people who live on less costly
diet. In some parts of Germany, the
workers only have meat once a year.
There are cellars and garrets in cities
where there is no fire the year round, and
the inmates sleep on rags and live on Eve
cents day. 1t is a good ways from the
present status of the majority of the work
ing men to the bottom of the ladder. No
state is so bad but there is lower story
still. This picture is not very facinating,
but is, after all. good one to look at
People take courage very often by finding
that they are not so near the bottom Of
the hill, after all.
The remedy by which to get out of
scrape is the thing that you 60 in-some
of the hair of the same dog. If a man
has got head over ears in debt by eating
too much cake or beer-witched Bologna
to get out, lie must shut down ou these
vampires of his stomach. If broadcloth,
chandeliers, hat-racks, and sardincs did it,
they must be cut of-expenses must be
iessened. No man should spend more
than his income, any more than be should
put his fingers into the fire. But how
can it be helped? Just here is where the
rub comes in. One of three things must
happen to every man. Either he spends
less than he earns or all that he earns. or
more than he eursn. Here is hard-pan to
start on.
Now, working men, which of these
things shall happen you? Not what has
happened, but What shall happen hereaf-
ter? If a man only gets ten dollars a
week. he must live on eight. There is
no use in crying baby, and say yeu can't
You must.
A man, to be good for anything, must
have little cast-iron in his composition !;
must be able to say, That which is ne
cessary, that shall be- a man who can
not master his craft is sure of shipwrcck-
If necessary. cut down expenses with a
hand as firm as a rock. You must cut
your garment according to your CLOTH
! The common run Of life is not made out
OF May flowers, doof-yard grass, pressed
brick double skirts. and pink ribbons,
but cut Of night and day, sickness and
health. weary years oftoi, dangers and
perils. appointments, struggles, decay
and helplessness. Pride has no place here
to be king. 1t is "a good spur. hut a fatal
master. The man who would master his
necessities must step in and take the
reins lie must plant himself like rock
against the flood, and say, Thus far and
no farther" Messrs Expenses. 1t re-
quires little self denial, but it matters
not. Self-denial never killed anybody
Will working men meet the issue end les
sen their expenses? They can, if they
will. They must, if they would be free
men