The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-10
A Half Loaf Better Than no Loaf.

The Practical Farmer says: 1t is a COM
mon saying that "half a loaf is better than
no bread" Like many other popular
phrases, this one contains a good deal of
truth without entirely covering the mat
ter which it is supposed to explain. AS
far as it goes the doctrine it sets forth is
sound. 1t teaches 1.-THE truth" and moth
ing but the TRUTH" but it fails to teach
''the whole truth"
The phrase is frequently quoted by the
optimists, possibly in order to keep their
own spirits up as well as to cheer people
who are less hopeful than themselves. At
first glance it seems to give a good deal
of encouragement to those who are in ad-
verse circumstances. But when we look
beneath the surface we find that the con-
ISOLATION which 1t offers is not in the line
of a positive good, but is to be found in
the fact that things might be worse than
they are. In the present era of low prices
and a general depression of business, the
farmers of this country need to take as
cheerful view of the situation as the ex-
listing circumstances viii permit them to
obtain. The great majority of these men
have for years been getting along with
the half loaf It has been a good deal bet
ter for them than it would have been to
have had no bread. but this does nothing
in the way Of relieving the troubles from
which they are suffering. They feel, and
they have a right to feel, that they have
received only meager pay for their time
and toll
A great deal can be justly said in favor
OF contentment. It is one of the virtues and
if 1t is allowed to have merely it's right
full degree of influence 1t proves a great
help in the work Of life. But il may be-
come too prominent, and instead of helping
prove a real hindrance in the strife for
success, The man who is fully contented
with half loaf is in danger of becoming
so lax that he will not make the effort ne
cessary to obtain a whole loaf when it is
within his reach. There may be circum-
stances in which a half loaf should be
gratefully accepted. When a man has done
his best to succeed and circumstances
which he could not control have been
against him to such an extent that the
returns for his work have been small, he
should try to be contented with his lot,
and should continue to do his best to mer-
it success. Such a man can and should take
comfort in the thought that il Is much
better TO have half a loaf than il is TO be
without bread. But the man who has small
crODs or who obtains but little income
from his live stock, simply because he does
not attend closely to his business, or does
not follow the best methods of doing his
work, or who fails in any way to do what
he can do to merit success, has no right
do better and he ought to do better. 1t
does not now become him to spend much
time talking about unjust discrimination
or oppressive laws. Neither should he
Matters are bad enough, it is true, but the
most efficient work that such a farmer
can do to set them right is to be done at
home This will not prevent his taking an
interest in pubic affairs. He should keep
an eye on the politicians. They all pose
as his friends, but some of them are not
working in the right way to promote his
interests. He needs to keep informed re-
garding the movements of these public
men and cast his vote against them If they
go wrong But his main work is at his own
farm If he ever secures a whole loaf in
stead of a half loaf, 1t will, as far as hui
man instrumentalities are concerned. be
mainly by means of his own faithful and
intelligent efforts.