The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-02-20
TOO MANY OILERS.
SOMEPLAIN BUTTRUTHFULTALK.
What this Country Needs is More
Workers and Fewer Persons who
Sit on the Stool of Do-nOthing.
TTarboro SOutherner. |

ITarbOrO SOutherner.
The people of Edgecombe have had
the reputation of being hard workers
and this reputation is deserved. Some
of our people are most Jealous workers
and in times OF financial adversely dis
play a courage that commends admi-
rations.
While all this is true is not one cause
of our "hard times attributable to
too many idlers of both races and both
sexes 7
We think it is.
The .Southerner reporters have in
terviewed people from all parts of the
county about the probable scarcity of
labor. The opinion Of Col. Carr is
there there will be an insuficiency.
Col. Carr has gone below the sur.
face. He is aware that farmers now
have plenty of labor, but he is also
aware that many hundreds of loborers
have left this county and that their
places have SO far been supplied by
women and children who heretofore
have not worked. They are not work
ing now for any love of it, but because
the husbands and fathers by their labor
cannot make enough to keep the form
er in the house and send the latter to
school. AS the season advances labor
will become scarce, and when wages
arrive at that point that the husband
can maintain wife in idleness, save
ministering- to his wants, back to the
house she will 60 from the filed and
then there will be hue and a cry.
This should not be, but let US not
blame the darkies too much. He is
initiative, not original. He is only
doing as the whites do. They have and
still do set the example.
The white men who will not toll and
delve and struggle life time with pow
erty that their wives and daughters may
play what we call "the lady" are few
and far between.
We say it with fear and trembling
but say it we must, duty requires it,
the softer sex do not perform enough
work of the right kind.
We have too many servants,we want
too much waiting upon.
The experience OF family during
the strike last fall will explain oul
meaning better and "put it" mildel
than we, rough man that we are, could
The head of this family is man OF
means, intelligent and energy personi-
fed. Every servant on his place from
his cook down struck. That household
was "put out" Mrs. went to
the kitchen and prepared the meals.
She was not pleased with her occupa
tion, it was awkward to her. After a
day or two daughter who had been
to school and taken all the ornamental
branches and cooking besides came tc
her relief. She turned her mother
out and until the strike was over gave
her family the best cooked meals they
had ever had. There was no trouble
about it; no burnt hands and smutt)
arms,no confusion and dyspepsia ball:
in the shape of biscuits nor was she
all day about it.
She attended to other household
duties, and after supper sat and en-
tertained her gentlemen visitors will
the ease and graciousness of the dain
tiest of accomplished city bellies.
The father was perfectly carriec
away. His two weakest points hae
been touched, his stomach and his
pocket. To US he averred that he never
lived better and that he and his wife
kept an accurate account of the cost
and exclusive of wages his expense
were not half what they had been.
Is our meaning clear3
OF course if one can afford it, be
yond the example set, there is no OBJ
lection to how many servants he ma,
employ. This class is an exception
The great majority can not afford it
Their income whether it be from farm
ing, from salaries, or what, is too small
to indulge in it without ever presen
poverty and no opportunity to lay u
for the rainy day or old age.
There are not enough ladies presid
ing at the cook stove.
We would be doing the subject in
justice to dismiss it without paying GU
respects to the men.
This county is afflicted with to
many OF what we call gentlemen, VIII
toll not neither do they spin, ye
Solomon in all his glory never rod
about in such fine buggies and cam
to town so often. There are too man
wasting their time overseeing one, tw
and tree plows. They should be be
tween the plow handles themselves, AN
the increase from the small farm wi
not be eaten up by fine horse keI
sleek and fat to ride about in fine
buggy.
Much of the idleness or want {
thrift, or whatever you want to call il
is due to ante bellum civilization, tn
effects of which are too slowly passin
To hasten the departure of this mos
retarding Of all the well-to-do shoul'
set the example. This will be bette
than the slow but inexorable compul
sion Of poverty.
A monument Will be erected IN Al
lanta in memory OF Henry w. Grad
to cost between $4,000 and $50, o,ooe
A hospital to be known as the Henr
w. Grady Hospital will also be erecte
there at a cost Of SIS, 10000 {
which is appropriated by the city
$4,000 by the Benevolent Home, tn
remainder by the citizens