The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-30
A Plea for Good Times.

again no more!
We all sing it, we all hope it., but
do we know what hard times are? We
sing it while we eat beefsteak at twen-
ty cents pound, oysters at fifty cents
a dozen and three kinds of bread at
the same meal; we shout it while we
smoke cigars, two for a quarter; we
think it wEilc we stretch our comforta-
Bile legs on Brussels carpet, before
blazing CRATE, with well-groomed boys
and expensiyely clad girls around us,
we shout it to our neighbors across
our smooth lawns, or through our
platc-glass windows; we groan it as
We read our morning and evening pa
pers, our plentiful magazines and
costly libraries; we dream Of it 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 it through
our telephones, ring the changes on it
as We send kilograms and take expen-
sive summer outings. We meet in our
political, social, literary and business
conventions, and ring the changes on
it while we are spending fortunes with
railroads, hotels, restaurants and pla-
ces of amusement.
And yet, 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--an he is no patri-
arch, 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 because there was moth
ing to pay with. Among the best and
richest families land there were many
who thought themselves well-to.do)
beefsteak was a once-a-week visitor,
round beef was luxury; oysters were
an unheard of dainty; corn bread was
the usual, wheat the rare food; the
cheapest pipe tobacco was dissipa-
tion; cold bedrooms, scanty wood
fires, woolsey and calico were in the
house; 6x8 window panes were helped
out by hats, old papers and rags;
weekly paper was an extravaganza, and
served several families. Ten books
made good, fair library; beds were
Slated or corded; rag carpets were oc-
casional, ingram scarce, and Brussels
a tradition; the sole vacation was
ride to the annual picnic in the one
horse shay; nobody had time, money
or heart for conventions or amuse-
ments. We men worked from 5 a. m.
to p. m. (the aristocrats shortened
the time by two hours) and the women
worked at all hours.
And yet it is doubtful if there was
in those times such universal spirit
Of unrest and discomfort, such con-
cert of growing, as to-day.
Is it fair? Are we just? Can we
afford to waste time in bewailing hard
times, when times are easy upon us;
and treat US far better than we de-
serve?
A manager once said with 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 remittance in every letter.
We all know (mayhap We are) persons
who 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 ours; look toward the sun; smile at
the shadow; all sunshine makes the
desert; cts pretty world, senor;'
enjoy it's beauties, let US borrow no
trouble, shed light on our neighbors;
quit us like men, and times will seem
(as they arel good. .-Enchanqe.