The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-03
One Cause Of Hard Times.
From the Toledo Blade.l


One of the chief causes for hard
times is owing to the fact that too
large a per cent. OF the people OF
this country are consumers, and too
small per cent. producers. Recent
statistics, considered reliable, state
that of the forty millions Of our peo
pie six millions are engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, two millions In
mechanical and manufacturing, aud
one million in mining. Thus. less
than one-fonrth are engaged in pro
ductiye business Making due al
lowance for women and children. it
still leaves an exceedingly large
class OF non producers. This result
has been brought about by false
education. Young men are led to
believe that it is more creditable to
measure tape. to keep books, and
to perform any Office labor, or follow
any pursuit which produces nothing,
than to hold the handles of the pillow,
shove the plane, or WELD the ham
Iner.
For years there, has been a con
slant stream OF the sons OF farmers
to the villages and cities. They do
not go there to learn trades, but to
bleach their hands and faces, to
wear fine clothes. and 'spiay the
gentleman Many farmers are
ruined by their efforts to make
"gentlemenn out OF their sons
through the channels we have indi
Gated. The result Of this false theo
ry of life has been disastrous. The
young men born in the city, do not
readily take to mechanical or agri-
cultural pursuits. The mechanic
seldom learns his trade to his sou,
but dreams of honorable position
for his boy as a merchant or pro
fessional man. Thus from all bran
ches OF the producing classes, there
has been a constant stream pouring
into the non producing ranks, and
| the result is too many men who rank
AS consumers.
The remedy for this evil must be
found in a change of sentiment
: which will make labor honorable
/, and idIeness aud Improbable EN-
] ployment disreputahle. Let tbs
e men OF brawny hands and strong
|, arms come to the front. The far
mer and the mechanic must be made
10 feel the full responsibilities o
: their callings. They must be made
!. to understand that there are n,
7 pursuits where intelligence can b
more profitably employed than il
j. their walks of life. They must b
i encouraged to apply knowledge t
d their business, and thus elevate i
s in the estimation of the intel!igcn
s and ambitious young men. III thi
t. way alone can the productive walk
of lite be thronged with workers
e and the non producing classes of 81
e ciety reduced. Let the men no,
e. engaged as book keepers, as clerks
/, as agents for sewing machines, etc
II engage in manufacturing pursuits
r. giving their places mp to thOrOnghl
Of competent women who are begin
8. for something TO do. aud the cOul
s. try will at once put on an air (
s. prosperity such as it has neve
Or before known. We want more worl
lie ers-more producers-and less co,
sumers. The young men must /
made to feel that work is honorable
# and idleness disreputable. 1t mus
- be more honorable to walk betwee
: the handles OF a pillow than to mea
a ure calico; more creditable to shoy
: a plane than to: keep books, an
= more profitable to WELD hamm,
It than to sell a sewing machine. L,
n. intelligence and labor clasp hands
n. let the producer be held in hight
~ esteem than the c0nsumer-an
ID then society will seldom, if ever, q
ar hard times.
II. TOLERATION.-Whe Abraham
d. sat at bis tent door according to Ii
st custom, waiting to entertain stral
n. gers, he espied coming toward BIZ
be an old man, hundred years OF ag
ut STOPPING and leaning on his stat
is weary with age and travel. Abr;
%, ham received him kindly, washed b
n feet, provided supper, and cause
as him to sit down; but, observing thu
We the old man ate and prayed not, II
ed asked blessing on his meat, aske
IS him why he did not worship the Go
re OF Heaven. The old man told biz
y. that he worshipped the fire only an