Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-08-19
ACCOMAC C. IT, VA SATURDAY, AUGUST L. 1899.

and pauperism there Is only a 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
preclp!ce, and at the least touch Of &C.
cident or sickness over they 80. Alb.
my friends, 1t ls not right. 1t is not
honest! He that proydesh act for Ills
own. and especially those Of his own
household Is worse than an infdel 4
man has no right to live In luxury and
have all comforts and oil brightness
around him, taking bis family with
him at that rats-everything bright
and beautiful and luxurious until he
stumbes against tombstone and falls
In, and they all go to the poorhouse.
That Is not common honesty. | am no
advocate Of sklnt1int saving. abhor
IL. But plead for Christian provi-
dence.
SavinRn Bnnlca.
Some Of the older persons remem-
Der very we'll Abraham Van Nest Of
! New York, one Of its Christian NOR
chants. He was often called mean
because he calculated 80 closely. Why
did no calculate closelyl That he
might have the more TO give. There
was not Bible society OF tract So
cIety or reformatory Institution In
the city Of New York but he had his
hand In supporting It, He denied
himself many Injuries that he might
give to others the necessities. He has
been many years reapIng his reward Ia
heaven, but shall never forget the
day when |. IL green country lad, came
to his house and spent the evening.
and at the close Of the evening. as l
was departing. he accompanied me to
the door, accompanied me 10 the steps,
came down of 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 gookor bad object
know there are many people who
have much to say against savings
banks and life assurances. have to
tell you that the vast majority Of the
homesteads in this country havo boen
the result of such institutions, and
have to tell you also that the vast ma
jorlty of the homesteads Of the future
| for the laborlng classes will be the
result of such institutions. II will be
great day for the working classes Of
England and the United States when
the worklngman can buy q barrel Of
-four instead of -four by the small
sack; when he can buy barrel Of
sugar instead Of sugar by the pound;
when he can pay cash for coats and
hats and shoes rather than pay an nd
dltional amount for the reason that he
has to get ii all charged.
Again remark: Great relief Is to
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.
Gun 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 unnoyanccs. They look at
him, and they think. why, he has 1t
easy. and we have 1t hard" They 30
not know that at that very moment
the employer Is ut the last point Of des-
peration 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 strikes?" "Oh. no" no
said 81 never had any trouble"
what plan do you pursue?" He said:
81 will tell you. All my men know ev-
cry yenr Just how matters stand. Ev-
cry little while l Gull them together
and say: Now, boys. last year | made
SO much. This year made less. so
you see cannot pay you AS much as l
did last year. Now. want to know
what you think ought to have as
percentage out Of this establishment
and what wages ought to give you.
You know l put all my energy In this
business, put all my fortune In 1t and
risked everything. What do you real
" think ought to have and you
ought to have? By the time We come
out of that consultation we are unani-
nous. There has never been an ezcep-
ton. When we prosper. we all pres
per together. 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 just how matters stand. There
Is nm immense amount Of common
! sense In the world. 1t Is always safe
10 appeal to 1t.
To the Capitalist.
remark again: Great relief will
come to the laboring classes Of this
country through the religious rectihca-
ton of it. Labor Is honored and re-
! ,,,, rd,s1 In prouOrtiou rs Il community