The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-25
or the Farmer aud Mechanic
. anted--The Press to do Justice
BY A LAWYER.


The Georgia Thunderer will publish a
paragraph somewhat after this style:
"Our old friend Peter COonskiu
caught a ppssum just over slippery creek
with a tail four feet long" Whereupon
the North Carolina dynamite will COPY
the statement and add, Squire Rice 5
sou Jeff caught last fall a possum with a
tail four feet eight inches long.
The Squire is well known to the edi-
tor of the Dynamite as a man of truti,
and is besides a good Democrat; the
truth il, brethren of the Press, North Car
DINA never did get credit for the length
Of her ''possum tails"
This is not all for which We do not
get credit. The object Of this article i.
TO point out many instance. IN which the
Press fails to do our people justice.
/. Our poor houses.-Every county IN
the State possesses a poor-house which
is so attractive as a place Of residence,
so comfortable for the aged and lnfiruI
that the rush for adInittance IL burden
some. Most Of these buildings contain
from twenty TO thirty rooms, and are
situated amid delightful gruves. and are
surrounded by very pretty flower gardens
The food is OF the best quality, and the
care and attentions bestowed upon the
inmates is all that the most captious could
demanl. The allowances made Tor the
support Of the lucky creatures who IN
habit these villas of repose by the c0un-
u authorities are not only liberal, but In
many instances prodlgal. Old age &C
c%ompanied by poverty Is a great blessing
In North Carolina.
2. Our ail.-Recognizing the fact that
our jaiis are merely places of detention
tor those accused of crime aud who are
too poor to give bond for their appear
ance at count aud who are presumed by
law to be innocent until the trial, our
county authorities have taken great care
III the Construction oil these palaces oil de
t%ention. Separate apartments are In all
cases provided for those who have been
convicted and those detained Tor trial :;
cach of these classes IS also subjected TO
different treatment, food, and restraint.
But prisoners Of both classes have plen-
~ Of space for services every Sunday
and allowed many liberties which are
seemingly lncous.stant with the public
safety. Most of our JaIls are very cool III
summer. hence Ice water is not needed.
In winter an invention at me unique and
~commendable serves in the place of fire
which as is universally admitted it would
tie inhuman to allow owing TO the temp.
tation to burn up oneself. This simple
invention consists ia all the prisoners
going to bed in one bunk and lying spoon
fashion. Hard 10 please indeed is the
wretch who can desire more in the way
of comfort than our jails afford.
3. Homes for fallen women.-Why
the Press have never called attention to
the many elegant homes provided in our
State for unfortunate betrayed and de-
serted women surpasSes comprehension.
Can it be they fear that by SO doing they
would offer a premium to women to fall.
This might be true at the North, but is
impossible here unless in localities In
close proximity to the North. Not only
do we give these poor creatures the hand
some sum of twelve dollars a year for the
support of their offspring. but with a
tender regard for their feelings We give
the Justices of the Peace jurisdiction of
these matters in order to avoid the pub
betty of a court of record and the scan-
dial attaching thereto. How much better
this is than putting the author of their
uHl>iblluutS III tic pCultCilIoIs AhC
locality Of these Homes for Fallen Wo-
men" is also kept concealed from the
same pure and modest motives.
A. Dumb animals Owing to the fine
ness of the climate our dumb animals are
incapable of fatigue or of losing flesh.
The heavier the load they are required to
draw the more elastic their spirits, and
their joy when thoroughly skinned up.
Being of a fashionable turn of mind they
keep their ribs well exposed while their
dignity and stateliness of carriage forbids
going over two miles an hour. Although
there are an abundance of horses and
mules in the State, there no steers-that
is small ones-there are of course a few
very large ones. The law against cruelty
to animals is an exceeding unjust i'm
putation upon our people.
). Charitable Bequests. i understand
there is a movement on foot among the
''Heirs at Law and the Next of Kin"
to have a law passed to prevent the max
ing Of wills. The reason is obvious. Go
to the offices of our Registers Of Wills In
every county you will read some nor
nous bequest to some charitable lnstitu-
ton. OF course this is not 50 much the
cas-, bow as it was before the war, but
still it Is SO extensive as TO create alarm
among the heirs at law and next of kin.
6. Country School Houses. These
buildings at once the pride and hope of
our people have been almost treated with
contempt by the State Press. Most of
them have very large window glasses and
doors with oiled hinges. They are built
up high from the ground and are ener-
ally painted in fancy colors. They are
not only comfortable, but very attractive,
this is necessarily 50 a. schools are held
in them the year round.
Now why is it that the State Press is
so bold and independent in standing up
for he length OF our 'possum tails have
failed tn do us justice in the above par
ticulars?