Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-02-15
Hard Times amsa &c onouoy.

Our exchanges through the whole mon,l
Of January bring t"us appalling account.
Of the desti.utl"n among the laborinl
classes, the people VIII" would work i
work was to he had Nils and nanufac
tories all over the country arc closing "'
running On shortened time: mechanic:
and retail dealers, finding their et"rcs ant
shops deserted by customers, are discl'arg
ing half their hands; and, rs a: Washing
ton. the employees dismissed from tht
Government service remain without work
and in many cases absolutely withou
bread. The same story is reduplicated ir
ercry town and village. On every side
Incomes are reduced and on every side
there is rctrenchment. The American
people are learning for the first time the
lesson not only how to deny themselves
the things which, they can spare, but those
which they cannot, without stringent LACK
of c"tut'rt. Theatres are deserted, rt>';!n
rateurs and caterers find iir;r order books
empty. fashionable tail0rs and miIin"rS
grow dcspairing; households are kept up
With half the number "f servants. Even
the physicians complain .lia, sick patients
prefer the risk Of diving to the crrtasniy ut
i doctors bill. Wherever II luxury can
BE- spared, or dollar saved, it is done.
Now, one word on this matter "f re
trcrchnent. 1t is u two edged sword and
cuts both ~ays; while it saves AS lii: it
is murdyr 10 b. Whether it is Il pru'ien'
or even Christian thing depends wholly on
circumstances. The mistress Of an cstab
iishmcnt diSmisses u servant. and g" gains
Let u say. 81 per week. She is left wi'h"u
money and food. and is sn much The looser
She adds one t. the great needy ma "ri,y.
and society IL So much the loser. lt,heSe
- are spent fx a bit ct useless fnerv. VIII"
is the gamer? We shall be told, the fash
ionalle n"tliste "r ,eweier; bat thes" l'nr
v.ynrs Of iuxuries have had their summer
aud harvest, aid If they have not provided
for this winter time, they should he the
FIRST 10 tecl its cold. Or suppose. az is the
case in . large number Ut families, the
money sayc,l is laid away for Il rainy day
not invested in any way, but literally
hoarded, The great mass Of silver pieces
now in circulation, dated before the wAr,
proves how widespread this habit Of
hoar@;in. is among our INLAND population.
Every collar removed from clrcnlation
now makes the chance of recupera,i"n less
for business. and adds another wei ght L"
the mass Ut m1sery. Every dollar judic-
iousiy spent goes on its way giving work,
revivlng trade, filling many hungry
mouth.
We urge our readers not to think they
are helping themselves or their neiylbors
when they simply greedily become misers.
Let us ecOnOm'ze strictly. not only in dol.
lar: but pennies, if need bc; but let econ
omy bc tue denial to ourselves Of sclh~l.
pleasures. which bring employment and
comfort to nob"dy. Individual action in
the present hard times may do much; 1T
every head Of an establishment Or house.
hold reduce the wages of his or her en-
ployes instead Of reducing their number.
Give work whenever possible instead of
aims; and above all, let nothing go t"
waste The half: worn clothes stored away
and forgotten, the scraps Of cold victuals
thrown out rs garb !gc. would keep many
a poor body from want and soul from dis
pair The more refined anil cultured i
man and woman may bc, the more is it
their cspl ciNl work to see IL these things.