The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
HARD TIMES.

Me-. EDITOR: A few thoughts on the SUBJ
jcct of hard times" may not be out of
place; especially if persons reading them
would govern themselves accordingly"
Who of us do not feel to q greater or less
degree, the pressure of the present hard
times? Indeed, so sensibly is this felt that
every one is ready to ask for the cause and
remedy. Various causes, no doubt, are
combined in producing effects so much to
be deplored. Among them we may men,
ton, this year, short crops, from natural
causes, as storms, rust, drought and so on.
In many parts Of the County these were so
great as to reduce the yields Of the cereals
and cotton to one-half, or even less. The
decline in the price of our leading staple,
cotton, is another unexpected cause of the
financial pressure. With the adjustment Of
European troubles, last spring farmers fiat
tered themselves they would realize = fair
price for their cotton this fall, but their
hopes have been disappointed. Old debts,
contracted under high prices, press also
like mighty incubus upon many, who
find it hard indeed at present prices for cot
ton to pay off the same. Unreliable labor
comes in also for q share in producing hard
times. 1t is q sad truth that our labor sys-
tenn is exceedingly defective. Among many
laborers common error prevails that six or
eight months in the year is sufficient time
to make good living. Industry, care,
economy and good holding on" to work
are at q premium.
But there is yet another fruitful cause Of
hard times: the yielding to the disposition
common to US all to buy too much. We
magnify our imaginary wants, and either
greatly strain our credit or deplete unnec-
essarily our purses. Fashion urges to ex-
cessive purchases, and its devotees sink in
financial ruin. And it were well if the ruin
was confnd to the dcvotees; but rarely so,
for they generally drag Others with them.
Many men find it exceedingly difficult to
keep their families ain the fashions" They,
like all other men, love their wives and
children. and dislike to sec them behind in
thelateststyles, hence they risk their earthly
all in trying to keep them up. Often while
the family rejoices over the new, fine goods
just purchased, he whose duty it is to foot
the bill is almost ready to weep over the
gloomy prospects for funds to doso. Wives,
daughters and sons, let all foolish fashions
and extravagancies so. Let the originators
of the many foolish styles and fashions
gather as few followers as possible, and soon
they will come to you for work and bread.
Ladies and gentlemen both, in the full sense
of those terms, can be ladies and gentlemen
without dancing all their time to the costly |
music of fashion. Dress excesses are fol-
lowed often also by table extravagancics.
1t is hard for some people to get out of the
way of high, luXuriant living. If, how
ever, you make it at home, and don't have
to 60 in debt for it, you may afford to live
well. Again, We say we buy too much. Let |
every one keep clearly within his income,
and hard times will spread his wings and
fly away. To do this he must live upon
what he makes or produces. Every farmer
should make his own meat and bread, wear
largely, if not altogether, clothing made at
home; and, in short, have nothing to buy
except salt and iron, and such other articles
as he is unable to make or produce. Let
cotton be the surplus crop-the supplement
of the farm. not the main crop. Above all
things, keep out of debt keep out OF debt.
UNUs.