Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-27
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 81. 1879.
THE UNEMPLOYED IN TOWNS.

TILE ED LIN IOWNO.
Whatever else of good may be said about |
a community nothing can be better than a
dozen words we have recently read writ
ten about Virginia town-"there's hard
" a lazy or unemployed man in the town."
Nothing can exceed that recommendation.
Wealthy citizens do not make town,
handsome edi6ces do not do it. large bust
ness houses fall short of it-all these may
be there and yet general activity, industry
and thrift be absent. 1t is your town
that hasn't a lazy or unemployed man in
it, that has sound vigorous health and
good foundation for all business enterpri-
ses that may be drawn towards it. The
presence of the unemployed has chilling
effect to the stranger who is LOOKING
around for place to settle. He neltner
knows nor cares about their earnest de-
sire to work if they had it to do. he only
knows that they are unemployed ana tnat
it is an unhealthy symptom. Every now
and then when worthy young men leave
community the local paper expresses its re-
greet and perhaps some apprehension about
the prosperity Of the place. But the fea,
is groundless. Every man who is without
employment in city would benefit him
self by a change to another locality II, by
any possibility he can make it. The pop
ulation may be reduced but those who are
left are busy. In the country it is differ
emit. There the departure of man is a
loss because on farm he can get his living
out of tho soil-the only true independ.
ence after al-and his departure lessons
the number Of the producers. But in a
city no man can get his living out Of the
brick pavements and having through thu
stress Of circumstances lost his place II
the ranks of the employed he must fall in
to line with those who not only do no.
produce but necessarily consume the SUD
stance of those who do.
Change Of locality has been the rule FOL
improving ones condition ever since the
world was made. Those venerable patrl
archs of whom we read in sacred writ
made that cardinal principle and, Whethe
too lazy to plant and reap, or from spirit
of adventure, passed their lives in pulling
up their tent pins and moving to fresf
pastures for their focks. The same has
been true of every nation in the centuries
that have followed, whether the emigrant
have sought the new pastures with swort
or pen or plane they have always been vic
torious over a better living than the!
left at home. In the New England State
of our country they seem to breed children
for tho very purpose of emigration, and il
former days Virginia was not behind New
England in the same economy. 1t is
good example to follow.
But while prescribing the medicine W
would not underrate the patient. In tn
past few years some Of the most industrl
Gus and frugal men in all occupation
have been among the unemployed ant
have suffered the pangs that spirited mel
feel when they lose their independence o
their fellow men. They have deserved
and had respectful sympathy, but more
encouraging time has arrived and now il
their opportunity to take advantage OF it
Don't wait until the advancing tide shall
have filled your particular hole on the
shore but look around and see where the
water is already running in and 60 there
1t is very true that rolling stone may
gather no moss, but we have always nc
ticed that rolling stone will knocl
things around livelier, clear the way NOR
effectually and finally settle comfortabl
in snugger permanent place than an
land logged stone that was ever made.