The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-10-04
The Chatham Rabbit.

irh. Raieiph IN. c. News and Observer
What do you think Of rabbit
beng pail as a marriage fee?
Well. thatis what was paid one
ofour popular Chatham preach
ers some time ago by a happy
groom as the fee for marrying
him. Chatham Record.
"Whqt do we think ofit?" We think
that this is the final proof that the
economy Of the world will never be
satisfied with a single standard OF cur
rencv. We think that what the battle
of 1896 was fought about has been
proven in history in spite Of the re-
suit. We think that it is a homely
and practical illustration Of the truth
that You shall not place upon the brow
of labor the Cross OF Gold or anything
else. so long as the woods and the field
and the great primal forces OF nature
produce for mans encouragement,
happiness and profit, the meats Of the
field AS well as the fruits thereof. We
think that the rabbit laid upon the al
tar Of Hymen is the recognition OF two
things that are the consolation Of him
who would view the world through
optimistic glasses: that man will
give up anything for the woman he
wants to wife, and that the Chatham
rabbit is now in theory, a. he has long
been I'm practice, a good and sufficient
legal tender.
II is surprising, also, that in the con
nict that was waged about the question
Of a monetary standard, the claims OF
the Chatham rabbit should have been
overlooked. He had everything to
commend him. He was uniform in
quantity and price. His unlimited
coinage never exceeded the demand
nor has it ever been Of sort TO disap-
point the supply. Tines may change,
pauics may come, good crop years
and bad crop years may embarrass
i'm hundred different ways, but
the Chatham rabbit Is inexhausti-
bile in quantity and invariable in
quality. No matter what the con-
dition of the market, the Chatham rab.
bit takes his place and holds it. Ac-
cordiug to the fixed ratio between the
modern devices for his capture and his
own ability for escape, the Chatham
rabbit constitutes source Of produc-
ton that is at once ample and certain.
The demand prevents depreciation; the
supply balances enhancement. In fact
/ the Chatham rabbit affords the COM
promise of legal tender between the
old tobacco currency of Virginia and
the modern fallacy Of a single standard
based on one rare metal. The rabbit
is rare and yet plentiful. lie is not
owned by trust. lie requires no ella
borate machinery to produce. He is
not subject to financial stringency, Ia
the iuroads of vegetarian societies, to
the Sherman act or the Elkins bill
lie is. on all the farms Of all the peo-
pie, for himself first and the people az
forwards. lie survives and continues
i'm a constant iteration of fairness and
sweetness and julciness standard OF
bargain and trade that has existed
from antiquity and will continue into
perpetuity.
The Chatham bridegroom was wise
man and the author Of his happiness a
contented parson. The bridegroom
gave for what he received not In value
but in the coin Of appreciation. The
minister received, not only the full
satisfaction that follows from being
the agent Of the highest bliss, but the
most savory remembrance Of service
well performed. Between the two-as
the token Of gratitude and the reward