The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-07-09
"THE AMERICAN sPENDERs,

Under the above head. there has
been running in the Saturday Eve
ming Post very interesting series OF
articles, going to explain the high
cost of living under the theory of the
cost of high living, showing that the
reason why we spend so much more is
because we live SO much better.
The articles prove that our food is
more dainty. that our clothes are more
stylish, and comfortable, and less sub
stantial, than those Of our ancestors;
that our homes have many more con-
veniences: that we ride to our work
instead of walk: that we use autos
and motorboats instead of buggies
and skiffs: also that we are more
happy and comfortable, and live longer
than did those who preceded US.
All this is true. But, considering the
great advances that have been made
in machinery, 1t Is not unreasonable
to think that all this Improvement
should also have brought relief to
the mental and physical strain, and
that the mad pace at which the major
ity of American city jewellers live
should have toned down to healthy
and comfortable gait.
The fact is that our civilization is
in a transition period. We are be-
ginning to understand and use our
vast resources, without realizing how
we can put them to the best use.
We are not very far from the day of
the cave jewellers. The doctrine Of
He shall take who has the power and
he shall keep who can," Is yet large
ly our rule of practice, tho it has been
many centuries since II has been our
professed rule of faith. The DISPOSE
ton to obtain as much for as little as
possible--in fact, to obtain something
for nothing-is very close to the fair
appearing surface. But, to thinking
men, this disposition is mainly owing
to their opinion that there is not near
enough to go around and that it be-
hooveth the wise man to grab off all
he can before others beat him to it.
And yet there would be plenty, and
to spare, If all did their duty. There
is no waste in Nature. All her re-
sources are here today as much as they
were a thousand years ago, tho some
are in different form, and we are in far
better condition to take advantage of
them.
The greatest burden that civiliza-
ton has to bear is useless and worse
than useless people, Not so much the
out and out drones, for they are COM
paratively few, as the millions who
live by preying on humanity's vices
or distracting it's virtues. They dc
not in the least help-they hinder
they clog the wheels of the great
machine, and they must be fed and
clothed-at least, chicken-h civ
ilization thinks they must be.
Savagery has this great advantage
the non producers are comparatively
few. The able-bodied man must make
his own support-if in no other way
he must knock some weaker man IL
the head~and take his food and cloth.
ing away from him-a rougher ant
more expeditions way than that of tn,
employer who pays starvation wages
but quite as moral and less painful.
Useful people are divided into fou
classes: those who produce, those who
manufacture, those who contribute tC
the convenience of all the others anC
those who instruct or amuse. If We al
did our duty in these callings, pain
wracked and overworked humanity
would be too well satisfied with eartl
to dream of Heaven.
But these four classes must feet
and clothe and wait upon millions or
millions of those whose employment
is not only useless but detrimental tC
the body polite.
They are ones who dull Humanity:
brain, strain it's muscles and rack its
nerves. They are the camp follow.
ers in the army, and civilization mus
learn to make them take their place!
in the ranks or stand them up agains
the wall and shoot them.