The Iola register., 1885-07-17
HARD TIMES.
The Artificial Wants which May BE Aban-
doned.

The Artificial Wants which May Be Aban-
doned.
Hard times are closing in around the
farmer, and it is a good time to study
now he is to weather the storm. Such
things, indeed, are part of the disci-
pline of life, and especially of farm life.
We're it always smooth sailing there
would be little chance for developing
| our noblest faculties-those, for In
stance, of sympathy and self-denial.
Prices for agricultural products have
reached low ebb, while the elements
of cost arp comparatively unchanged. d.
The artificial wants that are developed
during seasons of prosperity, such as
have existed much of the time since the
war, can not be laid aside in a moment,
nor, indeed, at all, unless under GER
tain measure of compulsion. But it is
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 be
changed or worse results be accepted
such as the loss of the home, then 8
home on a rented farm, or perhaps 8
partial break up of the family, the
younger members to go out to do WORK
of some sort, and the old folks-where;
But in many cases, or some at least
| it may be averted by "retrenchmen1
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
methods of farming been pursued AND
upheld. mainly because they were old
Have no costly artificial wants grow
up and been indulged in that were
strangers to our fathers, some OF which
have no other justification than thai
they are s.the fashion" now, in spite o.
sense or season, and others that they
| CRAFTY newly-formed tastes, though
not positively essential to our happi
ness? Many things are proper or i'm.
proper according to circumstances, sucf
circumstance, for instance, as the
ability to pay for them readily, and the
fact that to CRAFTY the taste for then
inculcates no immortality. But wher
the horrors of debt confront a man
with the added horror of possible Oh
| probable loss of the home, then it 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, because
they bring us back to simpler and bet
ter habits.
Will any farmer who complains Of
hard times and low prices think fer g
moment that it is his duty now to aban
don the use of tobacco-provided he is
addicted to that unnecessary and un
clean habit? But there ought to be
thousands of them ready, because thou.
sands use the weed in one form or an.
other. Is the manliness all gone that
could bring an honorable man to such
a step9 Can such a man consistently
urge his family to extra efforts in econ
omy in order to keep out of debt or &c
meet its annual interest, while he makes
the usual outlay for tobacco? Will he
ignobly say II can't stop it, when
everybody knows not only that he can,
but that he ought? VIII he ask his
dau. .hters to relieve him from promise
of presents of jewelry on their next
birthday because of the hard times,
while he continues to indulge in the
most irrational habit ever contracted:
Possibly he may. as not many men are
not manly enough for self-denial of that
sort
The family table, perhaps. has a
number of articles on it OF diet or drink
that if hard times would drive away,
hard times would be blessing. Tea
and coffee satisfy artificial wants alone.
No healthy function of nature demands
either, while strong decoctions OF
them are very injurious. In the
first place the habit of drinking
anything at meals is artificial. But
ii anything is required, plain. simple
water, warm like the rest of the meal, or
milk, answers natures purposes far
better than any unnatural substitute.
Water costs nothing, and milk is to be
had on every farm, and is both food and
drink. The time to drink is when one
is really thirsty, but the thirst that
seems to attack so many people at the
table is not real thirst, but rather a
counterfeit. Give it no heed until the
meal is over, and usually it will be for
gotten until thirst comes in the natural
way. A stomach forced to its digestive
work with an excess of unnatural fluids
in it does its work badly. Every man
and woman troubled with bad diges.
ton, stomach-ache, dyspepsia, eructa.
tions of wind after eating. or any other
stomach disorder, ought to know that
nature does not cause the trouble, but
that improper eating or drinking does
it. And now. with the excuse of hard
times there is an extra reason for a re.
form. Tea, coffee and other artificial
drinks at meals should never be given
to children at all, partly on account OF
the effect on health and partly to keep
them from an expensive habit entirely
useless and often harmful. When they
reach maturity, furnish their own ia
bles, and have the means to buy what
ever they like that is sensible, it will be
time enough to indulge in these enjoy
ments-in case they look upon them as
enjoyments. Used in moderation they
do little or no harm, but in the quanti-
ties and strength so often seen in rural
homes they are ruinous to health and
purse.
While this period of depression lasts,
many distressed farmer will be ap-
pealing to some more fortunate ac-
quaintance for loans TO save his home
and tide him over interest day. But
what Just claim has a man for sympathy
and aid when he will not lift a finger
toward a reform in the matter of foolish
artificial wants in family matters? 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