Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-08-18

they mortgaged their farms. The
church and the neighborhood ruined
In that way. Now. between such fools
and pauperism there is only very
short step. In time OF peace prepare
for war; In time Of prosperity prepare
for adversely. Yet how many there
are who drive on the verge Of the
preclplce. and at the least touch Of ac-
cident or sickness over they go. All.
my friends, 1t is not right. it Is not
honest! He that proyideth not for his
own. and especially those of his own
household, Is worse than an infidel. a
man has no right to live In luxury and
have all comforts and all brightness
around him. taking his family with
him at that rate-eyerything bright
and beautiful and luxurious until he
stumbles against tombstone and falls
In, and they all go to the poorhouse.
That is not common honesty. | am no
advocate Of skinflnt saving. | abhor
it. But plead for Christian proyl-
dence.
Savings Banks.
Some of the older persons remem-
ber very well Abraham Van Nest of
New York. one of its Christian mer-
chants. He was often called mean
because he calculated so closely. Why
did he calculate closely? That he
might have the more to give. There
was not Bible society or tract so
ciety or a reformatory institution In
the city of New York but he had his
hand In supporting 1t. He denied
himself many luxuries that he might
give to others the necessities. He has
been many years reaping his reward In
heaven, but shall never forget the
day when |. a green country lad. came
to his house aud spent the evening,
and at the close of the evening as |
was departing. he accompanied me 20
the door, accompanied me to the steps.
came down off the steps and said:
Here. De Witt. is $40 for books. Don't
say anything about it." 1t is mean or
1t is magnificent to save. according as
you save for n good or bad object.
know there are many people who
have much to say against savings
banks and life assurances. have 10
tell you that the vast majority Of the
homesteads in this country have been
the result Of such institutions, and
have TO tell you also that the vast ma
0f Of lao
for the laboring classes will be the
result of such institutions. 1t will be-
a great day for the working classes OF
England and the United States when
the workingman can buy Il barrel Of
-four Instead Of -four by the small
sack; when he can buy a barrel OF
sugar instead Of sugar by the pound;
when he can pay cash for coats and
hats and shoes rather than pay an ad
dltional amount for the reason that he
has to get II all charged.
Again | remark: Great relief IS 10
come for the laboring classes OF this
country by appreciation on the part OF
employers. that they had better take
their employees into their confidence
can see very easily. looking from my
standpoint. what Is the matter. En-
ployees. seeing the employer in seem
ing prosperity, do not know all the
straits, all the hardships, all the loss
es, all the annoyances. They look al
him, and they think, "Why, he has 1t
easy. and we have 1t hard" They DO
not know that at that very moment
the employer is at the last point Of des
peratlon to meet his engagements.
| know a gentleman very well who
has over 1000 hands in his employ.
said to him some years ago when
there was great trouble in the labor
market How are you getting on with
| your men?" "Oh." he said, Il have no
troublew Why" | said, have not
you had any strlkesY "Oh. no.! he
said. IL never had any trouble.
what plan do you pursueT He said;
"I will tell you. All my men know ey-
cry year Just how matters stand. EY-
ery little while | call them together
and say: Now, boys, last year ! made
30 much. This year ! made less. 30
you see | cannot pay you as much as J
did last year. Now, want to know
what you think I ought to have as
percentage out Of this establishment
and what wages | ought to give you.
You know | put all my energy In this
business, put all my fortune in 1t and
risked everything. What do you real
ly think ought to have and you
ought to haveT BY the time we come
ont of that consultation we are unani-
nous. There has never been an exceP-
ton. When we prosper, we all pros
ner torether. When we suffer. we all
suffer together, and my men would
die for me-" Now. let all employers be
frank with their employees. Take
them into your confidence. Let them
know lust how matters stand. There
is an immense amount Of common
sense In the world. 1t is always safe
to appeal to 1t.
To the Capitalist.
remark again; Great RELIEF VIII
lcomc to the laborlng classes or this
country through the religious rectifca-
ton Of II. Labor is honored and re-
warded In proportion as a community
is Chrlstianlzed. Why is it that our
smallest coin In this country is pen
nv. while in China Il takes halt
dozen pieces of coin or dozen 10
make one Of our pennies in value, so
the Chinese carry the cash, as they
call 1t, like n string of beads around
the neck? We never want to pay less
than a penny for anything IN thiS
country. They must pay that which
is worth only the sixth part OF 'he
twelfth part Of n penny. Heathenism
and inlQuity and inhdelity depress e''
erything The gospel Of Jesus Christ
eleyates everything. How do l ac'
count for this? account for II with
the plaInest philosophy. The religion
OF Jesus Christ is a democratic re-
llgIou. II tells the employer ihat nc
"a N hrothsr TO ALL the operatives IN the