The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-12
From, the Rural CaroEi,,ias for November.
Domestic Economy.

From the Rural Garoziniam for November.
Domestic Economy.
The late war entailed upon the South uni
Versai poverty, and so complete was the bank
rnntcy to which every farmer and planter from
Virginia to Texas was subjected, that had any
one of them singly and alone been overtaken
nv such calamity, little else than alteration
5of mind would have been the consequence.
But so universal was the suffering, and so thor
ouch the annihilation of property, that no one
had sympathy to extend to those who VEN
tured to recite their troubles, trials and losses:
! rssI lost as much as you," was the feeling OF
eyery man, hence no coincidence, but each had
to lament his own poverty, and endure his own
adyersity. Right we'll and heroically have the
Southern people sustained themselves IN their
unprecedented suferings, and those who have
drunk deepest of the cup OF attl!ctlon nave
complained least, manifesting tortltude and
patriotism worthy the Christian martyr.
But when the reverse of this picture has been
examined. have their virtues shown as bright
ly? They have manfully sustained their losses,
but.have they struggled with the same energy
and perseverance 10 recuperate their lost for
tunes? Have they practiced that economy
which becomes a poverty stricken people !?
They, we, all admit our poverty, but have we
not lived as though we had plenty? Indeed,
are We not, as friend facetiously remarks,
<spoor folks with rich mems ways?" Let US
cast about and look into our domestic manage
ment q little and inquire whether or not we
have everywhere, and at sill times, practlced
judicious economy since the war; -,
The first step in this investigation reveals the
fact that we are q nation of purchasers. AL
ways wanting to buy, and having nothing for
SALE is blight upon the attempted prosperity
of any people. True we have cotton for sale,
but most frequently to pay for purchases pre-
vieusly made, and at price often below the
cost of production. But this obstacle to South
ern progress is so patent, and has been SO con-
stantly cited as cause of our continued pow
erty, that this simple allusion to it must suffice
for the present. Let us look more mlnutely
unto the operations of the household and the
farm, and learn where and how economy has
or has not been practiced.
Anterior to 1861, Southern farmers and plan
ters, like the centurion of old, had servants
under them to whom they said go, do thus and
80, and it was done. This authority ended
with the war, but the lesson taught has not
been committed to memory, nor have we at
tempted to forget this peculiar, but lost privi-
lege. A servant to black my boots as we'll as
to harness nay horse, to fetch me pitcher of
water, or to build me fire, to 60 on errands,
or otherwise censume valuable time, is per-
picking luxury too frequently INDUCED in by
men who confess their poverty, and are ever
ready to lament their condition. To be waited
upon is normal arrangement of Southern
life. The cost of such indulgence is an after
thought. and is seldom calculated. From seven
to ten dollars month and his board, 1.-THE lat
ter often considered the scraps from the table,)
is thought to be the sam total OF the cost,
whilst the Scraps" if vigilant economy were
habitually practiced, would be found 10 exceed
in value the monthly wages, and the countless
perquisites of his position, would amount to
more than both wages and board. These EN-,
ployees are everywhere amongst farmers, and
they are expensive supeSauities. Should they
be discharged at Christmas, and the farmers
resolve to do this work themselves during 1875,
one years experience will teach them how ex-
travagant and useless are such attaches.
This ubiquitous servant frequently has q
wife, who is the cook or washerwoman, with
an attendant tribe of little ones. These must
be fed, and they, too, seemingly get scraps" }"
which are oftener thrown to the dogs and the
pigs, because the perquisites of Office supply
much more dainty food But wood must be
cut and hauled, and fires built to keep these
brats warm, for negro children seldom wear
lack of economy. If the farmers house is on
the road side, the wood pile is on the opposite
side. the kitchen as far in the rear of the house,
the well of water is away off at the horse lot
and the "cabin" is, perhaps, still farther off in
the woods, or beyond the spring. But time
costs nothing, and the cook spends hers hunt
ing up wood and water, and looking after her
"chillun," except when standing over the
Kitchen fire, built of a cord of wood, and hot
enough for smelling furnace.
Let us systematize little just there, and see
what result might follow Rebuild the kitchen
within twenty feet of the pantry, connect the
two by a shed, under which have the we'll or
pumps, with the wood shed hard by filled with
seasoned wood; and why should not the farm
er's own daughter become the cook? The
wholesome exercise of kneading the dough
with her own tiny fingers, and plying the i'm
proved stove, would develop her into matron-
Iy robustness, the very envy of many hot
house plant. And other beneficial results
would follow this change not the least of
Southern kitchens proverbially clean Not
more so than negro cooks who are systemati-
cally filthy. They are adopts at hiding clean
illness with dirt, and, consequently, most house
wives arc ashamed ever to have visitor think
of stepping for moment into their kitchen.
Southern farmers, look inspectingly into the
conduct of your cooks for one week. See them
throw the coffee grounds here cut of the door,
there sleps through the cracks, yonder pile up
egg shells and bones on the shelf in the corner !;
mow securing table all smeared with filth
with a dirty dish rag, and then sousing the
same rag into pot of dirtier water to rinse it,
and then cleaning out with it the pan or oven
into which the food is Immediately dropped
that is to grace your table, or tickle your pal
ate within an hour. Is it any wonder that
each of us eats his peck of dirt before we reach
our eeens9 And yet negro cooks are univer-
salty at the South, and our daughters are sci,
dom taught to perform this daintiest OF all
work.
Cleanliness in the kitchen and properly pre-
pared food would not only result in substan-
tial economy, but would prove invaluable in
hygienic point of view. Nature has wonder