The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-10
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Velvet Beans and Happiness

To the Editor of The Age Herald: I am giving away, not selling, to all
 tenant farmers in radius of five miles of me q wish I were able to extend this gift all over the storm stricken south), who are unable either through themselves or their landlords to buy their velvet llbeans to be planted in their corn. Do you or your readers call this an act of al-
 truism? I do not. Mr. Herbert Spencer,
 in his Data of Ethics' defines altruism
 as being all action, which in the nor nal course of things benefits others in- stead of benefiting self, but says MT. Spencer from the dawn of life, altruism has been no less essential than egoism l think that in this conclusion, all pro- foundly thoughtful men agree with Mr. Spencer. I am giving away these beans to help that class of tenants in this com munity who, on account of the storms Of last year, made no crops, who when before the coming of the weevil grew cotton profitably, and had the cotton seed to live on while they were harvesting their crops and hence were not during this season charge to the landlord nor to the advancing merchant.
 The velvet bean is the best substitute
 can think of as money crop for cot ton seed. Those who get the beans of l buy all beans grown in this territory, the seller having the privilege of selling to the highest bidder I am doing this be- cause this was the home of my father: this land holds the ashes of my ancestors and is sacred to me. Here I've lived my life, blessed beyond my deserts. for here
 my children came, filling my days with pride and hope and joy. I would have them repeat here, in better higher and fho q
 and women from whom they are descend ants. believe that they will I believe It, not as one thinks thing a likelihood, but earnestly, confidently, devoutly with unouestioning faith. I define then. that l am trying to do not altruism, but en- 1 frightened selfishness
 How will the giving of velvet beans
 help me? think in many ways. First, | in purely aesthetic sense.
 It is unpleasant to zee people around 1 you unhappy to come in daily contact With hunger and want. with rags, ruin and wretchedness. Depressing almost be- yond bearing, to be in an atmosphere of pessimisism and hopelessness. When peo- 1 pie know that others are interested in them they see the future brighter and get renewed hope and courage. Tn a con crete and material way. I shall be ben cited
 The growing of velvet beans for the
 market will bring money into my com
 munity Money that all of us want so badly and are bound to have Money that buys everything on earth except happi- ness and ticket to anywhere except to hea ren. The growing of velvet beans means fat horses, fat cows and fat hogs, increased productiveness of lands, hence enhanced values of lands. I am doing then, what I am doing, to help my un- fortunate neighbors, because nor only my own experience of more than 50 years, Ibut the combined experience of all the ages proves that in the end and in the long run whatever hurts a mans neigh bors hurts him and whatever helps mans neighbor helps him. For the lack | of knowlegde of this plain truth or brutal disregard of It Europe's fields are now soaked with human blood
 I am writing this letter, not for self exploitation, though to some, perhaps. to many it may bear this earmark; I am telling you this in the hope that it will lead other men in other localities to do what I am trying to do in mine. If have made my aims as clear to others as they appear to me then those of means who are blessed with faith and vision will hope be inspired to lend helping hand to the worthy, and the needy around them. Sincerely JOHN A. ROGERS. Gainesville, February T. 1917.