Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-08
The PeriLS of IbrytLeSSneSS
And the Patriotism of Thrift

ana L2G IUtfIOLtSn OF IHTyG
The American peopl need of thrift is strik-
ingly evidenced by certain figures presented in the
current Leslie's showing that eightyItwo per cent
of the who die in this country leave no tangi-
BILE assets 1t appears further that at fifty-dve
years of age forty-six per cent of American men,
having saved little nothing, find it needful to
work as hard and steadily as ever, while thirty
per cent dependent others. At sixty-hve
years of age ifty-four per entirely de-
pendent.
The surprising thing about this record is that
it should occur in a land of unexampled oppor-
tunity. In the oyer-crowded, x-burdened coun-
tries Of the Old World, might expect to find the
majority of men taken unprepared by 1.-The infrm
and choleric years." and leaving behind them no
material legacy. AS fact, however, the average
of economic security result of savings was
comparatively much higher in those countries be-
fore the war, than in the United States. Here
where land is abundant and cheap, where taxes in
normal times inconsiderabIe compared
with those regularly paid in many parts or
Europe, here where freedom is universal birth
right and where the golden opportunities of the
explorer and pioneer still await those who eoura-
geously seek them, it seems well-nigh incredible
that eighty-two per cent of the should die
almost penniless and. that old age should find the
majority of them wholly dependent
part of this lamentable record-though a
very small parts attributable to personal mis-
fortunes and to certain inequties in our economic
and social order But by far the larger portion is
chargeabe to simple thriftlessness- character
istic American folly. 1t is not the money which
Americans SPEND that puts many millions of
them into less respectable poverty, it is the
money they WASTE. Not money only, burt goods
of all kinds and resources of every nature are
wasted in this country with prodigal unconcern;
at least it has been so up to our present war ex-
perience We have wasted daily in our kitchens
and at our tables enough food to many cor
ner of famished Europe from starvation. We have
wasted the fertility of the soil by short-sighted,
laggardly methods of farming. We have wasted
unreasonable quantities of coal and oil by careless
methods of extracting them, and invaluable treas
of forests through recklessness in cutting tim
Der. Waste has become an American habit, an
American trait reducing to a great extent the
blessings which naturally should prevail in so free
and bounteous land.
We have reached point in the nations affairs
and for the most part in the affairs of individuals
as well, where this perilous habit must be shaken
off and replaced by foresghted, forehanded thrift
or we shall fail as a nation in the herculean tasks
ahead and as individuals in the responsibilities
which press upon us. Especially is it important to
impress upon the rising generation the value and
virtue of thrift. Atlantas schools never rendered
a more substantial more truly educational serv-
ice than in organizing War-Savings societies among
the pupils Had SUCH movement Deen 1nauSu-
rated fifty or even twenty-five years ago and
pressed vigorously forward the distressing figures
of indulgence to which have directed attention
would never have arisen. By teaching the children
of today the wisdom and patriotism of thrift we
shall make happier 4en and women and more use
full citizens for the hation of tomorrow.
For the people as whole, there are more in
centives, as well a greater necessity, to save
now than ever before Loyalty and self-interest
alike demand of everyone faithful effort to turn
a portion of ones earnings into Thrift stamps or
Liberty bonds and to guard vigilanty against waste
in any form. Money spent for things of value is
not wasted, it is truly invested. But the COINS
little or large that slip away without yielding real
values in return-these the ones to be saved
and laid up against the uncertain future. No less
imperative Is the duty of conservation, which is
but another name for thrift, in every households
food supplies. This indeed is for the present the
most urgent duty resting upon the American peo-
pie for without great savings in food staples
vherewith to provision our Allies, we shall have
no prospect of shortening winning the war. In
all things and at every turn, let Americans re-
member how perilous a thing is thriftlesaness and
how truly patriotic is thrift.