Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-03-10
SOUND ADVICE.
Prominent Citizen Dissertates
At Length and Along Lines
That Should Interest
Our People.

Dear Mr.. Editor: Having heard
,nnch about the great doings of the
peoples and nations I concluded to
leave my quiet retreat on Bog
swamp and go into civilization to
find out for myself. My first night
away spent with my old friend
and schoolmate Henry Buckh. ad.
Henry had moved from Bog swamp
several years previous, to town
mere he worked at his trade, be-
ing handy with tools as carpen.
ter. Il
Ny stay with my friend from
Friday night until Monday morning
was indeed pleasant excepting the
difference between the quiet coun-
try and noisy town. / found Henry
luadei with news, all based on hard
times caused by as he said, the war,
federal government of the United
States and money power. | was not
surprised at any wage Garner living
ia town and ont of paper bags COM
planning ahou: conditions. The high
cost Of living and the cost of high
living have caused many to set up
and take notice.
On Saturday l walked up town
with Henry. He introduced me to
several gentlemen one of whom was
named Smith, Washington Smith.
I did not ask him if he was related
to the original John but took for
granted he must he being named
after the father of his country who
figured little later IN the politics
of the United States than Mr..
Smiths great grand sire did. Mr..
Smith was a gentleman of leisure
as most town gentlemen are) offer.
ed to show me around while Henry
Buckhead, completed a job he has
underway. The first place of inter-
est was the post office where seemed
to me | never saw 40 many people
looking for mail especially newsss
papers. MIR. Smith asked me it |
read much about the leading topics.
| answered in the affirmative, where
upon he began to dilate upon all the
vital questions of the day, foreign,
national, staye, and domestic. /
found him up on all subjects relative
to veal or woe of our common
wealth.
His irst assault was upon the in
efficiency Of the farmer. He said if
farmers would exercise better judy
ment in farming and stay at home
and work, rations would not be so
high. Do You know said he, if every
farmer would farm right we would
not have to pay 5000 barrel for
flour, cents for sugar, l5 cents for
bacon, 22 cents for hams, 25 cents
for butter, 25 cents for a little bit
of chicken and Is cents for beef
steak. I couldn't refrain from get
ting a word in just there. Says |,
Mr.. Smith, if vou were farmer
would you object to high prices for
farm products? Oh, says he, that is
another view point. Exactly so, Mr..
Smith, says l, and that is my view
point. am farmer | will admit
that our system is lad and we are
trying to apply a remedy and if we
get our plans working properly we
hope to have plenty 1T home to live
on and plenty to sell to you p 'ople
that live in cities anc towns and We
hope to get our price for it and not
yours. | saw from MIR. Smiths eX.
preston and his change from one
foot tn the other and the manner he
rolled his cigar from one corner OF
his mouth to the other, that his
opinion Of me haC changed. He
took me for common ignorant
country man, which | am, for my
general appearance was very lndica-
tive.
How do you expect to bring about
these conditions y'u speak Of, asked
Mr.. Smith. You must understand
Mr.. Smith, thai all reforms move
slow. The impr0ed conditions will
come about by he aid of the ag
ricultural COLLEGES and federal de-
partment of agriculture. They are
tr, ing to teachthe people. But MIR.
Squash, will hrmers listen to one
who is trying o bring about these
reforms you spak Of: You know as
we'll as l do, tat of all people in
the world the 'armer is the hardest
TO make understand that there are
better days alead of him if he will
only try. Doe the government have