Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-20
THE RURAL SUNDAY.
How tho Small Farmers In the Country
Spend the sabbath.
HANOVER COUNTY. VA. August, 1898.

HANOVER COUNTY. VA. August. 1898.
To the Editor Of he Dasodtch:
Folks born and bred in cities have very
little idea of how small farmers spend
their Sundays. On casual visits to tho
country our city cousins. by an extra
effort, are provided conveyances and en-
abled to attend church sometimes six or
eight miles of. rhs rustic. If he has not
the means TO put up good. strong fences,
and happens to have breechy stock. must
STAY at home to feed and water his
horses and cattle and keep them out
of his crops. He is thereby de-
barred the privilege of public worship,
and must satisfy his soul with the Bible,
and the sermons of Spurgeon and such
Others az be may happen to have. He
cannot rise at 8 In the morning, shave
himself, don his Sunday habiliments, eat
a luxurious breakfast prepared by a first
class cook. and then. II so minded,
lesurely proceed to SUNDAY school, after
whioh.if not too much fatigued, go up
into the audience-room, sit upon soft and
lnyurious cushions. and languIshInely
listen to DR.. Hatcher. Or. Hawthorne, or
some other eloquent divine of one denomi-
nation or another.
DrFFrRESCB.
No. the rustic must rise at in the morn
ing, feed his stock. cut his wood for break
fast and dinner-stoves. eat his breakfast,
salt his sheep, and then. If his arrange
ments can be satisfactorily made. get
ready for church. some miles away. His
hired hands-if he is fortunate enough to
have one or more-leave either Saturday
night or after breakfast Sunday morning.
He must then harness his own horse, dress
for church, hitch up, travel over bad
road, get to church somewhere about III
IN ell har VT n
plain, frame house. and listen as best he
can TO a plain. earnest sermon from a
plain, country preacher. The country
church that can employ a good preacher
to preach two sermons month IL consld-
cred fortunate. Many country churches
have preaching only once "a month. and
some not az often as that. being dependent
upon missionary services.
SOCIAL PITY.
II is a social pity that town and country
have not more complete knowledge of
their respective social conditions. In town
there are thousands who arc suffering at
times for the means of q bare subsistence
aud are tex and burden TO society. Weak
IN morals, poor in purse, they are o prey
TO every vicious temptation that assallS
poor human nature, and easily become the
victims OF vice and crime, thereby entail
Ingupon society no inconsiderable expense.
In the country large portion OF our ne
gro population. formerly our laborlng GLASS,
has gone TO the cities or 10 other States.
Our lands are to a very great extent left
uncultivated and are suffered TO grow up
into wilderness. Our population in
parts of the country Is getting 50 sparce
that the people are unable to employ
preachers or even to avail themselves OF
the common schools which a pateTnal
government attempts TO supply. In some
such communities the people have retro
graded in morals to such an extent that 1t
shocks the sense OF common deceucy to
contemplate.
SUGGESTION.
Under such circumstances is il not pos
s1ble for cities to adopt some m cans either
persuasive or compulsory. by which that
class OF citizens which are not only bur-
den, but q curse TO them, can be sent 20
I'LL up these waste places in the country
Could no. the public and private charities
which now contribute TO the support OF
this more than worthless population be
used in colonlzing the waste places IN the
countryt The lands eau be bought for
very small consideration. Substantial
buildings suitable for small families can
BIZ built very cheaply. Good country AR,
plain food. and a sound Gospel would soon
convert these town paupers into good
country citizens. thereby making our
wilderness and solitary places to be- glad.
and our deserts to rejoice and to blossom
as the rose.
AN OBJECTION.
The objection to this. am afraid, is
founded on this fatal fact that the owners
of tenant houses in which these people
live are too well satisfied to have them
occupied as long rs they can get their
rents. whether paid by the wages Of wee
or the fruits Of public or private charity.
which the old man lived of whom the
Latin poet. Horace. speaks as advising his
son TO make mCney-to make IL honestly X
he could. but If he couldn't, to make
money. RUSTIC CB4SK.