The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-08-16
SARGE PLUNKETT
GIVES A RETROSPECT OF THE YEARS
THAT HAVE GONE.
A Chapter for Working Girls-He Thinks
There is No Use Trying to Array CITY
Against Country and Vice Versa.

portion to the advancement of agricultural
interests around them, and collapse had
to come or will have to come where it has
not already taken place. A reaction is just
now the natural thing, and it will prove to
be the healthy thing-it is needed.
The flow of population from the country
to the towns was the outcome of despond-
ency Oh the part of the older generation.
Times were not what they ulster be- to the
old southerners, and everything seemed
mighty gloomy to them, but happier thoughts
have taken possession of the rural districts,
and a spirit of independence has crowded
out despair and gloom and old Georgia will
soon be herself again.
There is much disposition among some
few just at this time to array town against
country and vice versa. 1t won't be done;
it can't be done. The whole of Georgia is
mighty nigh countrymen, and there are
precious few people who are not attached
by kindred ties that bind stronger than iron
the hearts of country and town to one an
other. We guy each other as 'hayseedS
and town tacks," but it Is only talk; we DO
not mean it, and for all there Is love
natural and lasting.
The little town cousins like 70 visit the
country cousins, and they are welcomed WIN
warm hearts and natures true. The niue
cousins from the country like to be ON VISIT
l,
everything Is done that love can do to make
their visits pleasant The town boys so
into the country to court the girls, ana 1hey
marry them, and the country boys marry
the town girls, and SO we are all mixed up,
and around that there can never be IL clash
nor bitterness that is lasting.
True, that for u long time, ever since the
war, you may say, there has been too much
fleeing from the ills of country life. / say
ills" because we all know that the farmers
had Il hard struggle after the war. The
older set did not know how to nccOmmo-
date themselves to the changed conditions.
They were poor, very poor, but were too
proud to acknowledge it, and so kept i'll
strain themselves and deceived the young
around them into the belief that it was all
owing to the hardships OF agricultural pur-
suits. Hard times was the cry. Fathers
and mothers talked to their children OF the
hard life on II farm, and the children grew
up with this idea ever buzzing in their ears.
Ii was chronic-this grumbing-and it was
not strange for the young folks to flee from
the old homes to ills they knew not OF.
In proportion as the farms were deserted
the towns grew. But it was an unhealthy
growtll-neglected farms could not give The
towns support, and reaction must come.
1t came and it is upon us right now. A re-
turn to the country is the natural thing; 1t
is the only thing that can be done, and L
predict that the next year will see such
returning of the people to rural pursuits as
was never seen before.
The negro has already the key to the stu
alton that is bound to force the white me-
cry of hard tines hard times is
through all the streets of the towns, and
the whites are beginning to realize that they
must succumb to the inevitable and return
to the spreading shades and cooling streams
of a country life.
1t is ''lay-by' time with the farmers now,
and show me the thousands of your over
worked town men who know what lay
| DtT,t TO, hpr,
longing in their hearts for the peaceful rest
it brings Yes, the farmers are laying
by now, with an abundant spirit of thank
fulness, tempered with n tranquil peace only
found in rural life. The politicians may
foam at the mouth and rant through the
land-as they are doing the farmers
are reveng in peace and plenty, and don
care if these fellows rant themselyes 10
great ado when election day comes they
will walk proudly up to the polls as Geor-
gians and put in their ballots without fear
or favor. But there will be not q sentiment
falls, but as true Americans they Will as
scrt their strength as they have right to
do. and if at first they don't succeed, they II
try, try again, and at last and all the tune,
the hand Of friendship and brotherly love IS
held out to the town people with a welcome
to share and share alike And know that
the same kindly feelings exist in the hearts
of town folks toward these "hayseeds, so
let us all be cheerful and thankful as inc
clouds roll away and divide the bright rays
Of sunshine with all of mankind-even the
politicians. -,
While the farmers have been blessed with
good crops and have already schooled them
selves to practice OF economy that Is very yer,
essential to success, / am grieved to say that
the poor people of the towns are not pros,
perous in proportion. ! have been around
the city the past week, and Know that II
is mighty tight times WIN me poor; ana IN ha
true. that these same poor people have yet
to pass through the crucible as the farmers
have been doing.
hardest struggles, but these poor folks of
the towns are just now beginning. 1t VIII
be a hard row, but they have the example
of these country people before them, ana
NAV profit therefrom. Hard living and hard
work with Il firm resolve to i've within
your means, is the nearest way TO success.
What a comfort can the wives and daugh-
ters of these poor mechanics be to their
household in this struggle that IS sure to
come. Get in touch with each other-sym-
pathy goes a long ways in a matter IKE
this Throw aside all of your naughty spirit
and let false pride go to the dogs. Keep no
strain upon the family for appearance sake,
but chcerfuly shake hands and resolve to
strive to better your conditions. and it won't
be half so hard. Get the children enthused
Ipon this idea, and it will take away half
the ills of the rugged way.
Different people give as many u1Ierent
reasons for these hard times in the towns.
Some of them tickle me, for many of them
lay it all to progress. A few years ago when
/ talked about progress being n bust,
they hooted at me-called me an old foGy,
fool and crank, but you talk to these same
people now. -.
Some lay the hard times to the multi
tudcs of labor saving machines, some say
that it's the niger, and some lay it to the
Chinaman, and one fellow raised thunder
to me because of the fact that the good
Christian folks of Atlanta are receiving
these heathens into their Sunday schools.
He says that our young white women are
teaching them and that they set up among
white folks at Sabbath school as big as
life This fellow wants these Cinnamon
left alone-he wants them to go to Hades,
but l don't, for | know one young lady
who teaches q class of them and | would
like for them to be saved ON her account
but who would have thought it?
But I must not let this Chinese prob
LEM throw me off my subject. l was tell
ing of what these people out of work COM
plain of as the cause. Some think there are
getting to be too many folks for the amount
of work, but they can't give any practical
bic way to remedy this-at least they sug-
gest no "probable' way to stop the oyerplus
folks will be born, you know.
But now | come to fellow who LAYS
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