The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-05
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Sociological Facts, not Theories.
Thomas Keenc, IN the Intcrior.

Physical. moral and spiritual health
do not depend upon mapy-room hous-
es; in fact the fewer the rooms, within
reason, the sweeter and better the
family life.
A very rich man, aud also hard
worker was congratulated by friend,
.sYou ought to be very happy man.
"Would you do all that | do for your
board and clothes?'' was the reply.
"No; Of course, not. well, that is
all I GET And that is all any OF US
get. work and worry we never SO hard,
and the one blessed feature of it all is,
that cohins have 40 safety vaults. 1t
is full time that everybody realizes
these homely truths. The time is
past when ninety nine men out of one
hundred can have any reasonable hope
ever to "get rich.
The ideal condition for any man is
the ability to make a living, and at
the same time be independent; In
short, to be his own master. No en-
ployee is, or can be, that in the high
est and best sense. His time is not his
own; he has sold it for labor. His
service. in one sense, may be for the
sake Of the loved ones at home and
those otherwise dependent upon him.
In another sense, he works for
his employer, and as present condi-
tions Of the labor market grow harder,
he is more and more at his employer s
mercy.
Twenty-Five or thirty years ago it
was not so. A faithful man, with a
thorough knowledge Of the duties re-
quired of him, could easily get anoth-
er situation at the same wages. Fight
ing for jobs, except those exception
ally remunerative: was comparatively
unknown, Employees were as inde-
pendentas their employers. Are they
now? Is there any prospect of i'm
proyement? Trades unions and other
organizations may and do, to certain
extent, keep up the standard Of wages,
but trades union can not create work.
They cannot prevent the introduction
Of improved machinery. They can
not furnish labor and wages for theun-
employed.
twenty-five years ago, and later than
that time, in some localities, it was
regarded as step up in life for farm
er boy to obtain situation in city,
or town, store or factory. To-day It
is a very decided step down, and ev-
cry man Of sense knows it. Then, the
common type of novel and story de-
signed to inspire country boys to be
honest and manly, held out the hope
Of getting a situation in some city,
store or business, being promoted
until finally he reached a partnership
and married his employers daughter.
To-day he may wear decent clothes;
he has to do that tokeep his situation:
but when his board and clothing are
paid for, he has little or nothing left.
Marriage to these young men is be-
coming more and more dream. If
one dare to marry, he can possibly,
with close economy, take small fat.
a kind Of bird cage, OF the third or
fourth floor Of building occupied by
from dozen to fifty other families.
If children come, and what is home
without them?-as soon as they are
large enough to make any noise step
downward into cheaper and more dan
gerous surroundings for children must
be taken, as S'No children is the ordi-
nary rule for fat buildings in good
neighborhoods. No, my country boy,
and especially my farmer boy reader,
coming to the city now is stepping
down, and it will not be stepping up
in your lifetime.