The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-11-14
THE EDlT0RS'S LEISURE HOURS.
Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.

Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.
The cocaine habit has become very
prevalent in many pats OF the United
States, and is said to be very insidious
and very dangerous as we'll. Both races
In the State OF Georgia are becoming
so addicted to it the Legislature there
now in session is casting about to find
some means of controlling it. The
habit has not fastened itself upon the
people of North Carolina to any exten n,
yet, and it is to be hoped that it will
| not, for we haye habits enough
without it.
Perhaps farmers get tired sometimes
Of the great amount OF free ADVICE
which is given them by others; but
there is good reason why so many
people should feel like giyius
farmers free advice. The farmers OF
the country are the supporters OF all in
sense, and all should feel an interest
in them.
The following may be of interest
and suggestive to our farmer readers.
1t is from Raleigh letter to the Char
iotte Observer
"This is the hardest year the farmer
who buys 'on time has ever known.
There are thousands of these unfortu-
mates, veritable white slaves who
know no crop save cotton and no smoke
house or granary save that of the COM
mission merchant. The late lamented
DIR. George w. Blacknall used to say
he could tell by looking alta mans
house and premises in a minute
| whether his smoke house was there or
in Chicago. There are people who
say that commission merchants force
the farmers to raise cotton by refusing
to make advances on any ether crop.
If that is the case then pride, ambition
and self-help are cast to the winds aud
one would not know whether to
feel pity or contempt tor the farmer
who remained in suea voluntary servi-
tude. These time farmers live from
hand to mouth. and successful year
finds them blowing in their money
while bad one like the present finds
them in the 'low grounds of sorrow
The fakir is as nearly ubiquitous as
mortal man we'll can be. He turns up al
every point where he can get in his
work and misses no opportunity to
attend to his business as many hours
day as he can get customers. Sun
days Charlotte Observer said:
ATTACHED to the Southern's south
bound train No. 35 last night we're
two cars full of takirs who were en-
route from Buffalo to Charleston, S.
c., where they will prepare for the ex.
position which begins December 1st.
A railroad official said last night that
the fare of each fakir from Buffalo to
Charleston was, by special contract,
only 81. The Observer contained a
publication a few days ago stating
that 1,70O fakirs or midway people
would 20 from Buffalo to Charleston,
md had been given rate of 50 for the
trip with ST. extra for Pullman or sleep
ing car service. The lot that went
through last night evidently expect to
lose no time in beginning their work
at the exposition. Last night and Fri
day night number Of the fakirs who
had been at the Salisbury carnival
stopped over here. They too, were on
their way to Charleston. Sleepy, aris-
tocratic old Charleston and the noisy
iakir crew seem incoDgruous, some
how"
There is by far too mnch criticism
of men and their policies and actions
It is the easiest thing in the world to
criticise. Some one said, perhaps 1t
Was Sam Jones, that any fool can critl
else other people. It matters very lit
tie who said tit is a very strong
truth. So many people with little OF
no knowledge of the persons OF whom
they speak hurl scathing criticism az
mercilessly against good and worthy
teop!e asthey would against vile GRIM
ilna!. The habit of criticislng righ
and left any and everybody and every
thing not in accord with ones owl
NHr ~ 4