The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-21

NAsrAcHrE, La, July 10. 1883.

Gle of the It'll inst, II Old loss nao
died out during last winter. Con-
siderable vitality in the old fellow
vet. The present summer has gone
harder with him than the last winter.
He has been waging an incessant
warfare against grass. Excessive
rains hath brought about the whole
trouble. We move the grass around
and it fourisheth still. We could
hire no extra labor, and the conse-
quence is, grass, grass, and no rest.
Corn is fine, will double the quantity
made last year. Cotton, less acre
age and not so good, and it is thus
in this neighborhood. Some of my
neighbors (grangers) are carrying
out the grange principle of becoming
independent. That is they are get
ting into that situation by raising
corn and small grain, stock, hogs,
mules, etc. They have young mules
of their own raising that will COM
pare favorably with 6rst-class Mis-
souri, mules. It is all mistake that
fine mules cannot be raised here.
This year promises to be one of
plenty-bountiful corn crops and a
good mast. So we may reasonably
expect hog and hominy. Certainly
there is no danger OF Starvation. 1t
is all nonsense to talk about starving
in our country. / have in mind at
least one family that has made no
effort whatever, disdaining work Of
any kind, although the family en-
braces several adults. Still, live they
do, and keep fat. Whether good fat
or no, / am unable to say. My time
has been so taken up on my farm
that I have been around but little,
but / hear some talk of prospective
candidates for the next election.
Well, Mr.. Editor, I must brag q
little on the Nantachie Lake and pine
woods region as being the very best
stock country in north Louisiana.
Horses, hogs, sheep and cattle, all
do we'll. Ny neighbors did not sell
their cattle to Texas stock men. In
that they were far-seeing. Cattle are
going up, up. tits good business,
that of stock raising. Our farmers
are beginning to see the great error
of the all-cotton plan, but it will take
time to learn our people that the
credit system abused will keep their
faces to the rocks. This is good
year. or I should say the next will be.
to commence retrenching. With hog
and hominy to start on, why not
curtail for year or twof When
circumstances forced rs during the
war we could live at home. Now, we
can draw in and still not be COM
PEELED to deprive ourselves of many
Injuries that in those days it was
impossible to obtain. We have got
SO in the habit OF wanting all we see
and the credit system is so univer-
sal, we think we must have it. Don't
you suppose the merchant, after be
has furnished all the grub his GUS
toner has used, and that customer
owing him about twice as much as
his cotton at 6 or cents will pay,
dislikes to see his customer two or
three days in the week aud every
Saturday by way of variety. getting
more and more goods. "buying,' as
he terms it. The merchant. through
courtesy, asks "what else,' hoping
against hone that his customer will
say, nothing more" But, "hand
down" is the word. Ye people, far
mers, is this right? Will abusing
those very merchants for their ex-
treme courtesy ever make you inde-
pendent? No, never. You must
view this credit system as an evil
that has grown upon you, just rs in
temperate habits grow from moder-
ate participation. Then, now is the
year near at hand for grand refor-
nation in all things that work good
for our people. We should remem-
Der that credit abused is like all
other curses. 1t brings the wolf to
the door, brings families, wives and
children, to bitter pangs of sorrow,
suffering and woe; it degrades off
spring and situates them TO low
walks of life, unedncated and only
fitted for holding the low positions
in society. Then, l would advise
that we view it as all other evils and
turn aside from it, be independent
and prosper. No longer will it be
necessary to blame this or that mer-
chant, or "luck." Take on higher
manhood. Look high, higher, away
mp to the top round of the ladder,
and look cover there" Yes. over
there. Yours, OH Hoss.
r