The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-10-02

The design of rural delivery is to
give the farmer corresponding bene-
fits and blessings from our great
governments postal system that
are enjoyed by the urban resi-
dent. No class more cheerfully or
generously contributes its quota to
sustaining government in all its
phases and necessities tha the man
with the hoe. Certainly, then. he
should share in its benefits and
blessings to the fullest degree prac-
ticable.,
Those who have watched the
crowds that for hours besiege country
town postoifice delivery windows on
Saturdays and some other days can
not but be struck with the idea OF
how much more orderly and satisfac-
tord this could be if all principal
roads were provided with rural mail
carriers. One very lamentable result
Of this crowding and jamming at the
postoifice is TO deter some people
from getting their mail at all. They
neglect and cut off their papers,
ignore their letters and cease to write
and keep in touch with kindred and
friends of lifetime.
1t need not be added that such n
condition fosters ignorance and dis
content. Where a man is denied Or
denies himself the commonest knowl-
edge of the affairs about him, one Of
his first inclinations is to fall out
with the old farm and rush to town
| to Join, in all likelihood, its brigade
cf box whittlers and curbstone politi-
clans. Where his mail is brought
every morning and where he can an
swer such as requires it the same
evening or night, the farmer must be
| impressed with the idea that he is
really a part OF the government in
which he lives; that its favors are not
all going in other directions and
leaving him with a stepchild's bur
dens or the orphans rations.
| He can take his county paper il he
wishes and read it fresh from the
press, keeping in touch with all the
ends of the earth with relatively as
much promptness and satisfaction as
his city neighbor. He will not have
to 90 to town to find out the news
and congest the street corners while
the village loafer recounts the lates
gossip. Uncle Sans faithful post
man has already brought everything
of account to his door. The time
wasted from crops or stock or takei
from sociability, reading or othc
lines of occupation through gettins
mail under the present system
amounts to a considerable item, ant
the farmer who denies himself thu
mail on account of this great in
convenience and loss OF time il
getting it well nigh lapses int
savagery.
There can be no question that tn
reading farmer is the thinking farme
and that no earthly vocation yield
larger returns upon the brain powe
expended upon it than agriculture il
it's true and broad sense. Immcdiat
contact with the worlds freshest an
best thought, whether in book, maya
: zine or newspaper, is provided 70
the farmer in rural delivery and tha
: such provision will repay the ou,
lay of the government many fold. tn
most superficial observer must a
once admit. A government who's
chief cornerstone is a well informed
prosperous and contented yeomanr
can surely have no more secure O
lasting foundation.
: We sincerely trust the day is nc
far distant when our farmer friend
r will see their interest in the estal
| lishment of these routes and will ne
: allow themselves to be ca joled G
Y wheedled out Of them because OF
q, little work it might involve the stal
: fed servants oi Uncle Sam.
a Some claim to believe that rur
t delivery will hurt the local merchant
:, trade. Our observation has been th'
n 50 much or only when he has bus
8 ness to justify it is the man who hi
:, the money to pay for what he buy
n or else if he does hypothecate h
10 u it will be promptly and ful
e redeemed when pay day rolls aroun
d Instead OF being in restraint OF tra'
$ the rural delivery would in SEN
IS tend to curtail the number OF i
n stances where the merchant is forc'
W to say mo" or contract doubtful a
'f counts. It expedites and simplifies Il
7. business transactions of the farm
oi and helps every man VINO wishes
d deal with him or trade for anythiI
IS which he may produce. Investig
tion fails to furnish a single instan
where rural delivery has hurt t