Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-17
a PLEA FOR GOOD TIMES.

(Undcr the above heading the address given
below Il put out by Barnhar Bros. 4 spindier
CT Chicago. type founders. Notw,nstanaing
contain much meat, and Is well worth reading
for all
"Hard Times! Hard Times. Come
again no more!"
We all sing It, we all hope 1t, but do
we know what hard times arey We sing
It while we eat beef steak at twenty
cents a pound, oysters at fifty cents
dozen, and three kinds Of bread at the
same meal; we shout 1t while We smoke
cigars, two for quarter; we think 1t
while we stretch our comfortable legs on
Brussels carpet, before a blazing CRATE,
with well-groomed boys and extensively
clad girls around us; we shout IL TO our
neighbors across our smooth lawns, or
through our plate-glass windows; we
groan II as We read our morning and
evening papers, our plentiful magazines
and our costly libraries; we dream OF II
In our soft and springy beds, while our
coal-fed furnace keeps the whole house
warm; We maunder about it In our well
equipped offices, shout 1t through our
telephones, ring the changes on II as we
send kilograms and take expensive sum
mer outings. We meet In our political,
social, literary and business INVENTIONS,
aud ring the changes on IT while we are
spending fortunes with railroads, hotels,
restaurants and places OF amusement.
And vet, in these days we do not
know what hard times are; We think We
do. but We do not
The writer knows of time within his
remembrance--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 exchange was by
barter: there was no cash payment be-
cause there was nothing to pay with.
Among the best and richest families
(and there were many who thought
themselves well-to-do) beef steak was
once-a-week visitor; round beer was
luxury; oysters were an unheard oil
dainty: corn bread was the usual, wheat
the rare food; the cheapest pipe tobacco
was dissipation; cold bed rooms,
scanty wood fires, woolsey and calico
were In the house; 6xs window panes
helped out by hats, old papers ana rags;
weekly paper was an extravaganza,
and served several families. Ten books
made a good, fair library; beds were
Slated or corded; rag carpets were
occasional, ingram scarce, and Brussels
tradition: the sole vacation was ride
To the annual picnic In the one-horse
shay; nobody had time, money or heart
for conventions or amusements. We men
worked from \. VI. TO T.. VI. (the
aristocrats shortened the time by two
hours aud the women worked AL ali
hours.
Aud vet Il Il doubtful IL there was In
those times such universal spirit OF I'M
res, and discomfort, such concert OF
growing, as to-day.
Il IL fair? Are we just? Can we afford
to waste time in bewailing hard times,
when times are easy on Us; and treat US
far better than we deserve.
manager once said with chucklc:
"the mails have been good 10 our house
to-day: the first one brought an order
In every letter, and the last one brought
remittance In every letter. We all
know (mayhsp we are persons VINO
would have said: Alas, We have fallen
on evil times; the first mail brought no
money and the last mail brought no
trade"
Let us put aside these ugly tempers OF
our; look toward the sun; smile At the
shadow; all sunshine makes the desert;
''ii's pretty world, senor;' enjoy It's
beauties, let ia borrow no trouble, shed
light on our neighbors; quit Us like men,
and times will seem fas they are good.