The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-29
WE WANT
MEN.

/ did not see the cotton picker at
work, during the recent State Fair,
therefore, / can not give the readers
an intelligent opinion as to its merits.
/ sincerely hope it will be a success,
Notwithstanding several gentlemen, In
my presence, have expressed them
selves rather doubtfully of it. They
say it requires too many men to work
it. in the first place; and, in the sec
ond place, they don't think the ma
chinery will last.
If the machine can pick two thou
sand pounds of cotton per day, with
five men to run ii, it's success; as
the ordinary hand don't pick more
than two hundred pounds day. IL Il
machine can enable five men to do the
work of ten, it's bound TO. be sue
cess. AS to the wear and tear OF the
machinery, that's another question.
hope, however, the picker, like other
successful inventions, which have been
perfected, and been made TO answer
the demands of this progressive age
has come to stay, and 10 take its place
among the machines which are reVo-
lutionizing labor, in the factories, the
shops, and on the farms, as well. re-
peat If the machine enables five men
10 do the work of ten. the next thing
TO do, Is to make such improvements
as will enable it to do the work of fif-
teen men, instead of ten. L hope III
may be done.
One gentleman who, / am sure, has
not much faith in the utility or the
machine, said it reminded him of a
story, in the almanac, about some
bed-bug powders. A fellow was try
ing TO sell them to an old farmer. The
agent holding in his hand a package
labelled, "a Specific for the EXtermi
nation of Bed Bugs and Other Para
Sites" had spent some time in prals-
ing his powders. when the old farmer
i'm an earnest way, asked him how the
powders were to be used.
90" said the agent. its the easiest
matter in the world to use them. The
first thing, however, TO do, is TO buy
the powders. Then turn up the bed,
and find the bugs. Catch one of them
with the thumb and forefinger OF the
left hand, and squeeze him till ne
opens his mouth. Then take a pinch
of my powders, between the thumb
and fore-finger of your right hand ana
sprinkle it into the open mouth OF the
bug; at the same time giving MN q
harder squeeze. 10 make him swallow
quickly. and the works done-the
bugs dead"
But" said the old farmer; IF I've
got to use my hands to eaten the pug
why not let me mash him. and be
done with it, when he's between my
thumb and fore finger?'
$50" said the gentleman. referring
tn the cotton picker if I've got 10
nse my hands TO direct the picker,
I'd Just a stweH do the picing with
my hands. :,
That sounded reasonable, and is all
right: provided the hand can pick as
fast as the machine. And. if the ma
chinery, as it is. can p ok rs much as
two or three men. ii is but Just 10
conclude, that. with some improve
ments it may be success. nope So
nj any rate.
Referring to the recent Fair. / must
say that the speech delivered on the
opening day by Governor Glenn, was,
To- me- the most enjoyable event OF
the week Ibid not get near enough
the President to hear word he said
I've read his speeches, however, from
Richmond to Atlanta, and they were
all good, treating of matters of gen
eral interest to the people. But GOV
ernor Glenn's speech was an inspira-
ton. 1t had to do with North Caro-
lima; contrasting the past and the
present, and showing, by the contrast,
the rapid strides which the good old
State is making along all lines. com
mercially, agricuturally, educationally
morally and religiousiy
What would our fathers say if they
were to wake up and see things as
they are in North aCrolina? They
never had an idea we'd ever be able
TO nav two or three millions of dol
lars annually to educate our children;
and, 1 doubt if they every thought
there would be half as many children
To educate, as there are in the old
State. Sxty-five years ago there were
only twenty thousand children al
school, nthe whole State. and the
average school period was about sixty
days: sometimes a school would last
three months. Churches were a LONG
way apart, and there were but few
Sunday schools; but a brandy still was
at or near almost everybody's spring.
Now there is a church and School
house within easy distance of almost
every home; preaching or Sunday
school every Sunday, and schools for
the education of the children, of all
classes. running eight months in the
year: but no brandy still, except now
and then.
Sixty-five years ago the side-board
with its decanters, was the most
prominent and, by far, the most popu-
lar piece of furniture in many homes;
but the boys of today wouldn't know
as,de-board, if they were to meet
one in the road, and were they to see
decanter. they'd think it was vine
gar cruet But with all of our i'm
provemeats and changes. we still have
Soma bad peorln who continue to dc
bad things. Some people who neither
are outlawing themselves by setting
fear God nor regard the laws of man
UP moon-shine distilleries and run