The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-11-20
A PLEA FOR GOOD TIMES.
We all Sing 1t, We all Hope 1t, BUT
DO wo Know What Hard Times

DO wo Know What Hard Times
Are?
Barnhardt Bros. & Spindler, type founderss
OF Chicago, H., recently issued the follow
Ing, which is we'll worth universal publica-
1ion:
lizard Times! Hard Times Come again
mo morer
''We all sing It, we all hope it, but do wo
know what hard times are? We sing 1t while
we eat beef steak mt twenty cents pound,
'oysters at fifty cents n dozen, and three kinds
tot bread at the same meal; we shout it while
we smoke cigars, two for quarter; we think
AZ While We stretch our comfortable legs on
Brussels carpet, before n blazing CRATE. with
'well-groomed Boys and expensively clad girls
around us; we shout 1t to our neighbors
across our smooth lawns, or through our
our morning and evening papers, our plenti-
1ul magazines and our costly libraries; we
dream OF 1t In our soft and sprinyy beds
while our coal-fed furnace keeps the whole
hovse warm we maunder about it in our
well-equipped offices, shout it through our
telephones, ring the changes on It as we send
kilograms and take expensive summer out
1ngs. We meet in our political, social, lit
erary and business conventions, and ring the
changes on 1t while we are spending for
tunes with railroads, hotels, restaurants and
places of amusement.
And yet, in these days we do not know
what hard times are; we think we do, but We
donot.
"The writer knows OF n time within his re-
membrance-and he is no patriarch. when,
in one of the richest parts of one of the most
favored States in the Union, the whole town
OF some two thousand inhabitants possessed
altogether not over $500 in money, all ex-
chango was by barter; there was no cash pay
ment because there was nothing to pay with.
Among the best and richest families (nnd there
were many who thought themselves well-to-
dO) beef steak waSa oncp-l-week visitor;
round beef was a luxury; oysters were an un-
heard OF dainty; corn bread was the usual,
wheat the rare .ood; the cheapest pipe tobacco
was diSSipatlon; cold bedrooms, scanty
wo' fires, woolsey and calico were in the
house; 6NS window paneS were helped out by
mats, old papers and rags; u weekly paper was
nm extravaganza, and served several families.
Ten books made good, fair library; beds
were Slated or cordcd; rag carpets were oc-
ehSional. ingram scarce, and Brussels a tradi-
non; the sole vacation was ride to the an
nual riSnic in the one horse shay; nobody
had time. money or heart for conventions or
amusemcnts. Wen worked from 5 n m.
to p. M, (thc aristocrats shortened the time
Nv two hours) and the women worked ut all
hours
And yet it is doubtful If there was in those
cmes such n universal spirit Of unrest and
discomfort, such concert OF growing, as
Today.
SIS it fair? Are we just? Can we afford
W WhSto tiIuc Ill DeWtlllnp nHru times Wnen
times are easy on US and treat US far better
than we deserve.
"a manager once said with n chuckle:
The mails have been good to our house to-
day; the first one brought an order in every
letter. and the last one brought a remittance
in every letter. We all know (mayhap we
are) persons who would have said: .Alas,
we have fallen on evil times; tho first mail
brought no money and the last mail brought
no trade
Let us put aside these ugly tempers OF
ours; look toward the sun; smile Mt the shad-
ow; all sunshine makes the desert; it's a
pretty world, senor;' enjoy its beauties, let us
borrow no trouble, shed light on our neigh
bors; quit us like men, and times will seem
Gas they are) good,