The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-11-18
These Hard Times.

The average farmer Of Spartauburg
expects no relief from the pressure that
is now on him from acts of the Legisla
ture, State Fairs, or Tillman conventions.
These may all be good and helpful in
their way, but they do not take the place
of constant and we'll directed labor, wise
economy and keen foresight. Away
back in the first half of the century our
grandfathers seemed to have time enough
to attend all the big musters and stop all
hands and 60 seining or, when laying
by time was over, they could spend
few weeks in hunting and visiting. They
appeared to get on pretty well lalthougn
they did not move very fast. One could
do Just as we'll in this day and time, if
he would live in log cabin, buy.about
$500 worth of sugar and $500 worth of
coffee for the year, and if the wife would
do all the cooking, washing, making of
cloth and clothes, and wear Sunday
dress made Of six yards of calico, ,sas was
done in those days. Time have some
what changed and there is a quickened
activity in all industrial departments,
and he, who attempts to apply the meth.
DDS of 1926 to 1886, will be left lfar be.
hind.
The price of good living, decent
clothing, and q common education.f for
the children and freedom from debt, on
an average Spartanburg farm, isl eternal
labor coupled with goodi common sense.
It would be we'll for farmer, who calls
himself industrious, to count up at the
close of the year and see how many days
he has lost. There is no. business under
the sun that will prosper long unless
constant and unremitting attention is
given to it. If a lawyer should be absent
from his office two days in the week, he
would soon be without clients. If a
merchant should leave his store to un:
trained and uninterested clerks several
days each month, it would not be long
before an sssignee's advertisement would
appear in the paper offering his goods
tor sale. The farmer who loses time in
riding around the county or piddlins
about at something that will do no good,
will always get behind. He will never
be-ready to "take time by the forelock."
His preparation for the crop is late and
he is always behind in the cultivation
and when gathering time comes he is
still behind. Such men are the ones
that grumble at hard times. They are
the ones who are always ready to join
the ranks of the disaffected. But the
best farmers, who manage we'll, are now
depressed on account OF light crops TOR
several years. There is no doubt as to
the scarcity Of provisions and money at
this time, and the farmers have nothing
to bring money after the meagre cotton
crop is sold. The first of next March
will find our farmers in low condition
as to supplies. Much corn and -four
will have to be bought on time. 1t is a
good time now for each nan to look his
own o situation squarely in the face.
In the first place, there is no reason for
despair, Or even dependency. If your
Indebtedness is beyond your means, 60 at
once to the man, or men, you are owing
and make fair and frank statement and
then y every possible cent yoa can.
That course will insure the respect OF
those you owe and perhaps longer indul-
pence. Hard times demand honest
dealing. Then many people willhave to
turn over a new leaf at home. Their
work must be more systematic. A wise
farmer, in the arrangement of his fields,
will look several years ahead. Work
must be cut in such way that there will
be no wasted fragments of time. Even
the rainy days should have their special
work. The people must raise their own
supplies It is folly for man to attempt
to run a farm and buy his corn, hay,
-four, meat and molasses. No people in
the world can stand that long. Of course
this is an unusual season. 1t haslbeensa
remarkable year and the best laid plans
have gone astray. The September and
October sowing Of small grain has been,
in the main, prevented.by the drought:
But it must be borne in mind that good
wheat may be made, if sown in Decem.
Der. Then oats may be put in during
January and February, with reasonable
certainty of fair yield. He, who has
oats plenty for his stock until the first of
June and wheat for his home demands,
will not suffer. The odd days, and many
of the even ones too, after the crop is
gathered, should be spent in enlarging
the manure heap. If farmer is found,
the first of March, with only about
two horse load of manure saved, IL Is
sign he is in q bad way. He ought to
hire out to somebody, or have guardian
appointed. The farmers are not alone in
their depression. Every class of laborers
and professional men are about as bad on
az thew are. These hard times say plain:
" to all classes: ECONOMIC both time
and money. Work diligently and syste'
matically, Make all you can and save
everything you make. Be careful! as 10
small things. Make all the supplies pos
sible at MISUNDERSTANDING Spartan.