The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-18
Sensible Words.

John II. Dent, of Floyd County, Ga, writes
as fellows to the Country Gentleman:
We hear from all quarters the general COM =
plant that farming don't pay" ard see,a gen
eral disposition to change to some other occu-P 7
patton Why does not farming pay? The
earth produces in abundance; grain, they say,
has become drug the grasses are abundant;
all other crops are bountitul; as much cotton
made as when cultivated with slaves. The :
truth is, the farmers have changed from their
former economical and. prudent habits, and
embarked in extravaganza. Hence our expen:
ses exceed our incomes 1t is all folly for the
farmer to try to keep up the appearances in his
family which we see among persons OF great
wealth. Our incomes are derived from hard .
work in cultivating the earth, from which only
so much can be made, whilst with bankers,
stock brokers, merchants, and others who live
by speculation, fortunes may be- easily and =
RAPIDLY made when in luck. But how many
fail to the few that succeed With the farmer
it is different; rapid fortunes cannot be -accu--
mulated but steady. income can be made)
annually from farming, and although small, it,
NAV become an Independence if judicious
ECONOMY is observed. l remember we'll when
our wives and daughters required only seven
yards of calico to make dress; after q while
they came up to ten, now to fifteen yards. So
it is with everything else. Hence we may,iay
it more to the fashions than to anything else,
that farming doesn't pay, Our wants have,
become unreasonable. This is not confined to-
the women of the farm alone, but the men areo
rather in the advance. Every department Of
business has become tainted with this mania.
Hence the prices of everything must be ad
vanced to keep up the order of things But
only so much food can be consumed; conse-9
quently its price is regulated by supply and
demand When it comes to pleasures: fashion
and imaginary wants, the demand is unlimited;
hence the cost becomes heavy and extravagant.
Great hopes are entertained of the Oranges
doing something IL promote the welfare of
agriculture. They will, if properly managed,
and maintained strictly as an agricultural
body. But this must be borne,n mind Grange
or no Grange it is as the farmer manages his
affairs that his success will be. If reckless and
extravagant, fall short he must. Success with
him is as with all other classes, depending on
good management and judicious economy.
Reformation is what is wanted, going back to
first and sound principles-that is, living within
ones income. If we are poor, we must I'VE
humbly. If in ordinary circumstances, 1--we IN
an ordinary way. If rich, then indulge in eX-
travacance but never attempt what we cannot
afford If we do so no business will pay, hon.
estly conducted. The general cry now is, cor
runtion and dishonesty have seized upon all
classes. Such is the result of extravaganza in
IDEAS as we'll us in living. Millions are con-
sidcred as no more than what thousands once
were and the effort is to become millonaires
bv the shortest possible route, let it be the
right or the wrong road. Hence, if any pur-
suit cannot support wanton extravaganza, tits
said "it don't pay"