The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-01

and Vel the Few 1--we IN @aN"'
manv suffer Because of False Con-
.ditions ard Waste
poston. Mass. May 27.-(Special Cor
respondence. Last evening an auuie'
was delivered by Herbert n. Cassoh pe-
fore the Altrurian Society III Aic"oe
Hall. on the subject, "Our waste u NA-e
and Labor" which, like some OF his au-
dresses during the recent campaign nus
oroo+ed ouite q stir in New England
If his remarks arouse the people Oh the
East. they are applicable to the entre
TTn;tad States. and as such, the News ana
Observer correspondent submits them.
lie said in part:
..,bare is no possible excuse for hard
times in America. If barren Iceland can
support its people and educate every child;
If snow-clad Greenland can provide food
for its inhabitants; if the lazy and money
loss South Sea Islanders live to enjoy
happy old age; what excuse for poverty
can America OueT W tAS "oii"'
"This is the richest country on earth.
II Uncle Sam were to die, he could be-
oueath 1874 acres of land and $4,000 to ev-
ery family. Our national income averages
$1,000 q family, or twice as much as in
1860.
prof. Hertzka has recently proven that
the Austrian nation could produce all its
necessities and luxures in 40 days, if la
Dor and wealth were fairly distributed.
SIT is well known that one farmer can
raise enough wheat to make bread for
thousand people, When, therefore, we
consider American energy and inventive
ness. and dash, and enterprise, how
strange a fact is poverty. 1t is unac-
countable until we remember the plan
lessness and competitive strife that exist.
1T is estimated that five billions of dol
lars are wasted annually by destructive
competition, enough to give two hlghr
grade BICYCLES and piano to every FAM
lily.
, s'Three- fourths Of the labor spent in
farms is wasted through planlessness,
small farms, lack of machinery and ag-
norance of chemistry.
private housekeeping is also great
source of waste. In every lOO famllles
there are 100 cook stoves, 100 pantrles,
200 wash tubs and wringers, 3Oo dish
washings. 100 jaded wives trying to re-
member 20 things at once; 300 neglected.
children growing up unframed and saw
age. and 100 ill-tempered husbands who
wonder what fool ut was that SAID:
aThere's no place like home.
aNuch productive labor is as good as
wasted. OF what real benefit to society is
the shoemaker who makes pasteboard
shoes. or the carpenter who builds cheap
unsafe tenements. or the clerk who sells
shoddv goods. or the painter who paints
rotten ship!
"War costs us S175 minute, and relig-
ion costs us $50 a minute: and so far as
results are concerned, the money might
no better expended in both cases.
nIf we would fix our thoughts upon
Garth instead of heaven, and man instead
OF the unknowable. TINS Wouid 'pe "lsel
and a happier world.
"Tb,pk of the time and ability wasted by
able Judges in pouring over hoary prece-
dents. by clever lawyers in defending I'M
scrupulous corporations. by shrewd bro
kers in stock gambling, by jealous clergy
in propping up ancient superstition, and
nv mastery monopolists in running their
competitors.
soTbere is very little real business be-
hind all our hustling. We are only max
inc the tread-wneel turn, as the captive
aouirrel does in his cage. People are not
burrvine on the streets because they are
making fortunes, but because their credi-
tors have them ON the run.
- ~ IL whom
a great thinker is born, endowed with a
Webster's brain and Shakespeare
fancy. and is set to work at some common
task. neglected and unknown. Denied the
boon of education, and imprisoned for life
in a factory or on farm, his undeveioped
mind slumbers and dies.
s'Many wandering outcast, hungry
and ragged and despised might have had
his name written in shining letters on the
book OF fame, if the door Of opportunity
had ever been ajar.
Human nature is raw material. 1t is
like pig-iron. which can be developed into
wagon-tires or knife-blades, or expensive
watch-springs Most of us remain all our
lives in the pig-iron state.
"Of every 100 American children, 80
die before they are 5 years Of age. Few
Of us know what perfect health is. Near
ly everyone whom you meet on the
streets is "only a faded flower" We are
a poor, damaged, shop-worn job-lot OF
goods.
.Out of our 100000 chunks of pig
iron. we make $4,000 paupers, $4,000
criminals. and only $500 authors and sci
entists We make 100000 tramps and
5000 professors; 100000 common la
borers, who have never learned any
trade, and only $500 designers and in
ventors.
"Thus we have learned how to maxi
money, but not how to make men; and
out present problem is to make money
and machinery and all the furniture OF
civilization subordinate to the develop
ment OF human thought and sympathy
COMPLEX1ONAL INDICATIONS.