The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-06-06
BILL ARP.
The Lack OF Confidence in Mankind.
atlanta Constitution.

BILL ARP.
The Lack OF Confidence in Mankind.
atlanta Constitution.
Yesterday an old friend was discoursing
to us in lawyers Office. His presence
brought good cheer and loving kindness.
for every thought of his heart is a bene.
diction. When he left US there was 81.
lence-expressive, sympathetic silence,
until one of the party said: "He is q good
man. To say he is an eloquent and
learned man is not the highest compli-
ment. believe he is aboutthe best man
that I know" Another said with sad
earnestnesB IT wish that the world was
full of them." And another replied :
"Well, wouldn't it simplify matters 2"
That expression struck me as peculiar,
but the more 7 thought of itthe better I
liked it. Wouldn't it simplify matters ?
It would break up that lawyers Office
sure. No longer would they live off the
quarrels of mankind; but they would
live better off of their love, I reckon.
What would become of Judge Bleckley's
court and Judge Miners court and
Judge Neil's court, and all the other
courts. Our chief justice would be over
worked no more, and could spend all
summer on Screamer mountain. There
would have been no east Rome case, nor
Tumlin estate case, nor Voolfolk, nor
Hawes, nor Echols. The courthouses
would be turned into churches. No
sheriff to cry at the door, "Oh yes, Oh
yes, the honorable, the superior court has
met according 10 adjournment-God save
the State and the honorable court"
There would bs no constable, no Jurors
forced from their farms, no witnesses, no
defendants on the criminal docket, no
iails with locks and bars, no murders or
bloody fights or hip pockets with pistols
in them. Wouldn't it be splendidf Sup.
pose ne try TO get up such state of affairs
for week, OF even day just to see the
difference. Wouldn't our churches
brighten up and our choirs be happy
when all the little feuds and hearts burn.
ings we're banisbed Wouldn't the
newspapers all harmonic and spread
peace over the land? Wouldn't the con-
vict camps all be bursted in twenty.four
hours, for Governor Gordon would have
to pardon every mothers son because they
would all be reformed, you couldn't find
q lock in q hardware store. Nobody
would want a lock-not even a bank.
The cashiers and treasurers would all
come back from Canada reformed and
forgiven. These locks and bars are an
insult to our humanity. I never see one
but it seems to say 81 can't trust you"
Are we nation of thieves? The banks
all have an iron lattice with but one littte
hole where they shove the money through.
A man watches that hole all the time.
His motto is "trllst no man." Sometimes
I am invited inside and feel honored,
for it looks like they are not afraid of
| me. OF course they are not, with two or
three pairs of eyes on the watch and q
hand on the money drawer. I'll bet they
wouldn't give me- the combination Of the
lock on the big iron safe. Wouldn't it
be a novel sight to see all the stores un.
locked in the dead of night? Why
shouldn't they? The COWS are put up
and there are no hogs in the town, Why
| not leave the store doors open? I see o
doctors shop open some time but there is
skeleton hanging up in there. A live
man seems to be afraid of a dead mans
bones. notice that all the goods in the
stores have cost mark that nobody un.
derstands, but the selling mark is very
plain. The merchant would trust us,
sometimes he takes US aside and whispers
the cost and says he isn't making ten per
cent, but if he is making fifty he
don't say nary word. These hieroglyph-
| ic cost marks are another insult to our
humanity. saw countryman 60 into
a store and ask to zee some pocket
knives. The merchant was busy with a
customer, and 80 was his clerk, and be
said to the man in a confding way I:
"Just walk around there behind the
counter and pick out your knife and
bring it to me and will price it to you
just walk around, my friend, and wait
upon yourself" But be stepped over to
his clerk and whispered, watch him,
Tom" It does look like everybody is
watching everybody. Watch and pray
is the motto of many saint in business
matters. Suppose everybody was honest
and candid and truthful and industrious,
what need would there be of so many
clerks in the stores.
Travellers tell us that there is a township
in Switzerland where the stores have no
clerks. The owner works his garden OF
his little farm part Of the day and when
customer comes in and finds nobody to
wait upon him, he waits upon himself
and either puts the money in the drawer
or leaves a memorandum to have the
goods charged to him. Lets try that
awhile-my nabor Satterfeld's garden
needs work right now-why don't he and
his clerks come and hoe it out and
leave his store open. His customers can
wait upon themselves and they would
like to do it for it would look like
confidence between man and man
nobody likes this "watch him Tom" sort
of business.
But reckon that ne will have 10 keep
on watching and locking awhile longer
for the world is not yet full of people
like that good man We talked about. HI
hardly left the Office before I met poo,
broken hearted woman and I saw she