The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-01
HARD fIMES


farmer, and 1t 10 Q good time 70 study
how he is to weather the storm. Such
things. indeed. are part Of tho disci.
pine Of life, and especially of farm life.
Were it always smooth sailing there
would be little chance for developing
our modest faculties for In.
stance, of sympathy and self-denial.
Prices for agricultural products havl
reached . low ebb while the element:
81 cost are comparatively unchanged,
The ARTIFICIAL wants that are developed
during seasons Of prosperity, such al
have existed much Of the time since the
war. can hot be laid aside in moment
dor, indeed, at all, unless under GER
tsin measure Of compulsion. But it Il
a period Of compulsion with many, par.
ticularly with those farmers with mort
cages to carry Or other debts approach
ing maturity. The recent style OF liv-
ing, in many cases. will have to b
changed or worse results be accepted
such as the loss of the home, then 8
home on a rented farm, Oh; perhaps 9
partial break Up OF the family, the
younger members to go ont to do worl
of some sort, and the old folks-wherel
| But in many cases, or some at least
and reform" These are political catch.
words, it is true. but to farmer in dis
tress they ought to be full of meaning
and hope. Have no mistakes been com
mitted? Have, no, foolish. wastefu
fhethodt of farming been pursued and
upheld. mainly because they were old
Have no costly artificial wants grown
up and been INDUCED in that wer,
strangers to our fathers, some OF which
have no other justification than tina
they are 1.-The fashion" now, in spite o.
sense or season, and others that the,
crafty newly-formed. tastes. though
Bot positively essential to our happi
ness? Many things are proper or i'm
proper according to circumstances, sucl
circumstance, for instance, as tn,
ability to pay for them readily, and tn,
fact that to crafty the taste for then
inculeates no immortality. But wher
the horrors Of debt confront man
with tie added horror Of possible u
probable loss OF the homie, then il Is
when the family is Of the right mettle
that some Of the noblest OF human quail
tiles are developed; and in this way
hard times may be blessing. becaus
they bring us back to simpler and bit
ter habits.
viii any farmer who complains o
hard times and low prices think fer ,
moment that it is his duty now to aban
don the use of bacco-proyided he il
addicted to that unnecessary and un
clean habitp But there ought to b,
thousands of them ready, because thou
sands use the weed in one form or An
other. IL the manliness all gbne tina
could bring an honorable man to sucl
a stepP Can such a man consistent,
urge his family to extra efforts in econ
omy in order to keep out Of debt or t.
meet its annual interest, while, he make
the usual outlay fur tobac6os viii h,
ignobly say Il can't stop it, whei
everybody knows not only that he can
but that he ought2 Win he ask hi
dau ,hters to relieve him from proms,
of presents of jewelry on their mex
birthday because of the hard times
while he continues to indulge in tn,
most irrational habit ever contracted
Possibly he may, as hot many men arj
not manly enough Tor self-denial of tina
sort
The family table. perhaps. has I
number of articles on it of diet or drinl
that if hard times would drive away
hard times would be blessing. Te,
and coffee satisfy artificial wants alone
No healthy function Of natufe demaiidi
either, while strong decoctions o
them are very injurious. In tn,
first place the habit of drinking
anything at meals is artificial Bq
if any thing is required, plain. siinpl,
Water, warm like the rest of the meal, OF
milk, answers natures purposes fal
better than any unnatural substitute
Water costs nothing, and mi k is to bt
had on every farm, and is both food anC
drink. The time to drink is when ont
is really thirsty, but the thirst tia
seems to attack so many people at the
table is not real thirst, but rather {
| counterfeit. Give it no heed until ths
meal is over, and usually it will be for
gotteh until thirst comes in the natura
way. A stomach forced to its digestive
work with an excess of unnatural fluid.
in it does its work badly. Every mar
and woman troubled with bad diges
ton, stomach-ac dyspepsia. eructa
tons of wind after eating, or any othel
stomach disorder, ought to know thai
nature does not cause the trouble, bn
that improper eating or DIR mixing doe,
it. And now, with the excuse of hare
times there Is an extra reason for re
form. Tea. coffee and other artificial
drinks at meals should never be giver
to children at all partly on account o.
the effect on health and partly to keeT
them from an expensive habit entirely
Useless and often harmful. When they
reach maturity, furnish their own ta
bles, and have tie means to buy what
| ever they like that is sensible, it will BIT
time enough to indulge id these enjoy.
ments-in case they look upon them al
en,oyments. Used in moderation they
do little or h } harm, but in the quaint
ties and strength go often seen in rura
homes they are ruinous to health anc
| purse,
While this period Of depression lasts
many distressed farmer will be.ap
| pealing to some more fortunate ac
quaintnnce for loans 10 save his home
and tide him over interest day. BIZ
| what just claim has man TO- sympathy
and aid W. en- he will not lift finger
toward a refo IN in the matter of foolish
artificial wants in family mat err 2 The
lender is asked to take serious risks
and, largely, that the borrower may
continue style of living which is IRA.
tional. unhealthy and expensive! When
this is known to he the case, a fiat re.
fusal, with the reasons kindly but firmly
stated, Is in order, and common sense
and morality justify it, When storms
threaten TO sink an overloaded ship
| everything that can be spared goes over.
| board. When farmer is threatened
with financial ruin, the first thing to dc
is to throw ov srhoard all u'eless o. dan.
| gerous hab is that cost, and adjust him
self to the changed financial weather
Ii he will not do it, who is to blame il
he fares worse?
| Our tramps and criminal classes are
| instructive examples of the power Of
artificial wants. But, with such exam.
Piles before them, the commonest kind
of common sense ought to teach oul
| rural population not to fasten habits or
their children which experience shows
| are always drawback, and often ruin
health, character and life. --Pai,ip Say
der, IN N. Y. Sun.
Kill the Cut-Worm.
There is really but one way to save
the corn crop If the plants are once at.