The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-25

not large enough to do much q10R among
the mlllIon inhabitants of North Carolina.
But We are hopeful of better things. Our
State and section Is advancing our people
growing more cheerful our merchants are
learning that the readers of the FARMER
AND MECHANIC are substantial family folk
who feel that they can rely fully on the hon
esty OF any advertisement In these columns:
and. We repeat. We are hopeful Of better
things before very long.
We have tried to do our full duty to the
public. to our readers, our State. and our
section. More than two hundred letters
from subscribers kindly declare that our eff
forts are regarded IN that light. Now and
then an individual, not fully informed as to
the facts, and too vehement III his W opin-
ions to tolerate any divergence therefrom. or
criticism of his pet hobbies, will take UNI
bragg but that is to be expected. The
man who doesn't make enemies in these
days Is a mllk-sop. The man in a public po-
sltlon Who doesn't stir up a great deal of an
tagonlsm Is worse than a milk-sop, he is a
trucker, a tlme-Server. a demagogue worthy
to be watched and distrusted by all manly
men.
In this connection it may be proper to
mention that with the first number in this
month the subscriptions of more than one
hundred agents of the Agricultural Depart
ment expired. We have cut off none of
them, because nearly all are representative
farmers IL their several localities, many of
them are our personal friends, and quite a
number had notified Us not to erase their
names: while others have already renewed.
Two worthy gentlemen (Mr. A. j. Nc
Bryde, of Watauga, and Mr.. A. j. Hester,
OF Person., wrote that they would pay
double price rather than give up the paper.
Capt. :. b. Alexander wished to pay back
subscriptions knowing that we were losing
money on all these gentlemen but, of
course, his kindness was not allowed.
As heretofore stated, these copies,-to
agents, furnished at h~oJ;pIlce; the
consideration being that they would act as
agents for the paper also. The money paid
by the Department went to the former pub |
the present editors and proprietors
have never received a penny from the De-
partmen on any account, and have been fill
ing these subscriptions (ot q dead toss to
oursetres) for nearly ten months. 1t was of
perfectly right that we should do so
and the matter Is mentioned merely that the
gentlemen interested may understand. If
they desire to continue we shall be gratified
to have them do so we aim to introduce our
paper to the leading citizens of every com
nunlty, and 1T is a source of regret when a
good man drops off our list. But should
my desire to stop, it will be AL right and
10 harm done Frankly, we have no de-
ire 10 send the paper to any one who thinks
t not worth two dollars a year. All we ask
5 that those wishing to stop will notify us
promptly, and not allow a month or two to
BASS before doing SO During the twelve
ears of our experience with various news
papers. We have been detrauded of perhaps
more than five hundred dollars by persons
Who after getting three months past their
ERIN Of subscription chat is 30 cents apiece
would write-''As my time IS obout ont you
yill please stop"
This is the meanest sort of swindling, be-
it is taking advantage of the courtesy
nd accommodating spirit of the editor. At
he North no editor thinks of allowing the
ubscriber to nave the use of his capital
ear after year. But Southern publishers
that our people are poor, and our
in particular do not have much
money except at certain seasons of the year.
Besides the mails are risky, and many per-
prefer to wait for a convenient Oppor-
unity to settle their subscriptions. Hun
reds of others ask it as a favor not to cut
)ur readers will admit that we rarely dun
hem. through these columns or otherwise.
he large majority Of them are substantial,
igh-toned citizens who would scorn to read
paper at our expense, knowing, Us all do,
little we can afford it. But as some
nay act from thoughtlessness we make this
GRErN,BoRO Estate" ITEMS.-A hop
yas uiyen at the McAdoo louise last night.