The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-19
Hard Times!
From the Thibodaux Sentinel

L wan IAN IA
This has been the cry for some time
past, and the short crops. and low
prices for the productions of this Parish,
do not enhance the prospect Of any i'm
prOvement for the present. We are
not disposed to regard the outlook with
as much dependency as many of our
friends do, but are inclined to the OPT
Mon that the worst is over. The pcO-
pie in this section are being forced into
a method of ~transacting business that
is different to their past experience,
and, n which will ultimately prove OF
great benefit to q large majority of the
citizens. Paying cash for every thing
is becoming the rule, aud whilst it may
be incOnvenient for many who are dis
posed to pay honestly for everything
they obtain, the wants of the commune
ty will adopt itself to the system, and
enable the purchaser to buy whatever
he may need at much less figures than
he did under the old method. It is
true, that there is a portion Of the COM
munity, who have been accustomed to
supply themselves with merchandise,
provisions &C., with no intention of
paying for them, leaving their creditors
to charge twenty five per cent extra IN
their sales to good payers, to make up
for their deficiencies, who will doubt
less conclude a system OF cash payments
will be utterly ruinOus to an enterpris-
ing class Of people, such as they are,
and the necessity of expending their
money for food and clothing which
they honestly earned for the purpose of
gambling, drinking, Sc, maj appear to
them very much like an imposition on
good nature, but, we presume, that the
sun will continue to rise and set ON the
Just aud unjust, as usual, notwithstand-
ing their piteOus complaints.
These hard times have already
brought prices down to a much lower
| figure, than they have been for several
| years, and it is p%erceptible everywhere
that the purchaser who goes with cash
in hand can secure much better bar
gains than the time purchaser, whilst
MANY of this latter class are. completely
| declared from purchasing at all-and
we have every indication to infer that
after the first of January the line be-
tween cash and credit buyers will be
| drawn more stringent than it is even
now. ~ 3
We believe that business will improve
because a large proportion OF the peO-
pie have incurred few or no debts the
present year and are now able to do a
| cash BUSINESS when, Will puG more
money in circulation next Year than
they have during the present one, be.
cause the reduction in the prices of
groceries, provisions, and Of every ar
| ficle that is requisite In a family viii
satisfy more wants; because necessity
has, in d great measure, forced people
to practice economy and simplicity in
living, thereby crushing down those
high and elevated ideas which are the
natural ft-sprlng of prQspegity because
people are habituating themselves to
i've in a more frugal manner, and dis
pense with luxuries and delicacies that
only eneryate, and depress the mind
and, finally our citizens are commend
ing to understand that each ono must
support and maintain himself, and, are
| determined in the future, to look only tc
their own industry and efforts to SECURE
o competence and support.
Let dependency cease its murnur,
ings, let retrenchment and economy be
cultivated, and then whoever will put
his shoulder to the wheel, will be en-,
abled to prosper and secure a comfort,
able support