The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-05-03
A Lesson Of the Hard Times.

A practical observer has said that if
the American people would practice
for the next ten years fair portion
of the economies in personal expendi
ture to which they have been for the
last three years forced by the pressure
of hard times, at the end of that time
this would be the richest people in
the world, and wealth in this country
would be far more equally divided
than it is at present.
The higher wages paid American
labor and the relative cheapness of all
the necessaries of life here, as cOmpar-
ed with European countries, gives the
economical and industrious man in
this country larger margin for say
ing than is possible abroad, and the
opportunities for profitable investment
here are such that the earning capaci-
ty of his savings is also higher.
1t has been pointed out frequently
that the great wealth of France does
not arise from the superior natual adj
vantages of that country, but from
the all-pervading spirit of thrift and
economy, which influences every work
er to save a margin of his earnings,
and makes him in small way a capt.
talist from the time his earning capa-
city commences.
And yet, for some unexplained rea-
son, there is nothing which the Ame-
rican, especially in the West, more
bitterly resents than the proposition
that he should in good times, when
wages are high and work is plentiful,
reduce his standard of living, to the
end that he may accumulate some
money for the proverbial rainy day.
There seems to be an underlined, or at
least uneXpressed, idea that his wages
are based somewhat on his standard
of living, and that if he reduces his
expenditures his employers will take
advantage of the fact to reduce his
wages correspondingiy, and that ii he
approaches the European standard OF
Of expenditures his wages will prompt
ly adjust themselves to that tandard.
He is likewise prone in good times to
look upon even judicious economy as
sordid
There is no doubt that the depres-
sion which has so long existed has
done away with much of this feeling.
An economy which precept upon pre-
cept could not have prevailed upon us
to put IN practice, has been enforced
by the relentless pressure OF want.
Many have learned by an experience,
bitter at first. that many things which
they have always looked upon as
among the prime necessities of exis-
tence in truth belonged to the catego-
ry of luxuries. The relatively small
sum on which a family can be sun
ported, either for food, clothing or
shelter, has been demonstrated to
many who never dreamed that thew
would be forced by hard experience to
learn the lesson.
These experiences, while painful at
the time, have borne good fruit. Les
sons OF economy have been learned bv
all, and will be practiced more oener-
ally IN the future by the resolute and
and thoughtful, however quickly thew
may be brushed aside with the first
return of prosperity by the reckless
and unthlnking. 1t may be safely
predicted that for some years to come
there will be among all classes a gen
eral practice of living well within
their incomes and a general putting
by or small savings, which will have =
great influence on the future of every
community. Economy, for a time at
least. will be as fashionable as it has
always been wise.-P.-T.