The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-04-20
BE CAREFUL.

AT this season, when the warmth
caused by the lengthening days and
the facing of our portion of the globe
more squarly toward the sun is bring
the leaves and flowers from the buds
where they have been so snugly stored
and awakening all nature from her
Winter sleep, it is relief to turn from
the hurly- burly of the World outside
and cast our eyes around upon our
own fair county, and take note of our
own affairs, which, though unimport-
ant and pastoral they may be to me-
tropolitan folk. are of first conse-
quence to US. This is the beginning
of our working season, and, as the
agricultural interests are by far our
most important source of maintenance
and revenue, the years work will be
mainly done in the time intervening
between now and next November
This is the period during which we
must store up the honey, to live on
next winter. The outlook is not very
encouraging. Times are, undoubted-
ly very hard and business dull, and
no considerable relief can be looked
for before this years crops are harvest
ed. The trade of the country is I'M
settled and will remain SO until Con-
gress takes definite action on the tar
iff bill. Excepting fruits, which do
notlargely affect us, the crops promise,
as far as is possible to determine at
prices CORRESPONDENCE low. With
this outlook ahead it behooves our
farmers and Gamers and the rest of
our citizens who are all more or less
dependent ON them for work or trade,
to be extremely conservative in their
plans, both for money making and
money spending. 1t will be wisdom
to avoid running in debt or making
large OUTLAWS with the expectation of
future profits. The expectations may
fail but the debt will be ON hand just
the same. Expenses should be prun ed
down wherever possible, for the life of
any business is the keeping expenses
below the income. Our farmers deserve
the best there is going, but for time
at least, if they wish to prosper they
must resolutely turn their backs upon
all extravaganza, and eschew many
luxuries which they would like, or to
which they may have been accustom-
ed. The question to be self-asked and
self-answered by every man or woman
when tempted to purchase anything,
not strictly a necessity, should be
"Can I do without it?'' If we fol-
low these rules we will come out
all right, for if times improve we
will, by having husbanded our re-
sources, be in better position to take
advantage of them and if they either
do not change for the better, or be-
come worse, we will be happy that we
have no debts to pay and are still able
to live. We need not, however, feel
that we are condemned to hard labor
with no hope of respite. We can have
many good times without neglecting
our work or wasting money. The fact
of living safely within ones income is
in itself a pleasure and when we con-
slider the possibilities of social enjoy
ment among our hospitable popula-
ton, and the constant pleasure of an
intimate daily acquaintance with
Mother Nature in the smiling mood
she always shows in Hartford, we will
think with feeling of pity of the
countless thousands who are not bless
ed as we are. If not only our farmers,
but those of the whole United States,
were to follow these rules of action for
a year or two, and in their spare mo-
ments spend some time in intelligent
study of the political conditions which
have brought about their troubles,
and then make their convictions
known, not only when the general
elections come around but when party
candidates are to be chosen, hard
times will vanish like the frost before
the sun.