Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-10-12
EOPLE of present day who fret
+ about the high cost of living

DEoPLE Of Of present 1:,l day who fret
l. can learn lesson in real hard
ships from the stories of another
day; stories Of high prices, of hard
ships, and sufferings which those of
the present day cannot entirely con-
ceive, and which they can only know
of thru the "reminiscences of those
who passed through the Civil War
period in this country, and the period
of reconstruction Immediately fol-
lowing.
A man today learns that winter
suit will cost him anywhere from
S35 to SIS, and Immediately upon
learning this, lets out roar not en-
tirely surpassed by that of the tooth
less old lions of the circus. He snorts
and paws the ground, and in loud
and no uncertain terms, demands
that poor old Uncle Sam come to the
aid of his many nephews by putting
the clothing merchants behind the
bars forever and a day.
The farmer coaxes dozen eggs
from his hen and brings them to
town. When they reach the CON.
sumer, they cost about 60 cents. An
other mighty roar from that motor
icusly d-and-bad, guillible and
wise silly-and- but withal all
powerful institution known as the
public. The grocer or the butcher as
the case might be, should be prose
cuted, and with the clothing mer-
chant, locked behind the bars forever
and day.
Thus is goes. And despite the
fact that prices are high, profiteers
rampant, and about two thirds of
the country in some sort of broil, the
great mass of humanity in this coun-
try managed to survive by eating,
and to be comfortable with a suffi-
Gent supply Of clothing.
In reality, those who are living in
the reconstruction days of the present
know not of hardships. Certainly, not
as in comparison to like days follow
in gthe Civil war. At least this is the
opinion Of those who, living in the
present reconstruction days, also
bore their share Of the brunt of the
reconstruction days so years ago.
$500 For Uniform.
A dispatch from Atlanta told of
the Confederate veterans marching
in the parade. Some of them, the
story said, wore their uniforms of
gray, while others were attired in
their civilian clothes. Not all of
those living today who marched with
the armies of the immortal Lee, were
able to be at the reunion, and a
number of gray uniforms, brushed
clean, and neatly pressed. remained
hanging In the closet, while their
owners, in spirit with the veterans of
the Confederacy, yet were forced to
remain at home.
One such uniform, which is to be
made point in the story, hung stiff
~ at attention in the closet while it's
owner, unable to be with his comrade
at Atlanta, yesterday turned back for
walk thru the dim. silent halls of
memory. That uniform of gray,
Which together with minnie bah
lodged in one of his shoulders con.
stltutes the last tangible connecting
INK between it's owner, Capt N. T.
Roberts, and the days of the Civil
war, when romance and chivalry
walked hand in hand. Having asserted
that the fretters of today can learn
lesson from the stories of Civil war
reconstruction days, that old gray
uniform of Captain Roberts will be
USED as case in point.
Near the end of the war;" he said,
bought me new uniform. 1t cost
me $780,"
The natural question was then ask
ca II all other prices at that time
We're IN proportion. The answer
IS convlncive Of the era of high prices
Which then prevailed.
Eggs were a dollar each," was the
answer, land chickens sold for what
inc owner could get, the price usually
ranging from SIS up" Other produce.
ana articles of clothing brought
prices in like proportion.
- Mounts Same Price.
lhere has always been spirit of
oash and adventure about the cavalry
service, which even in the great war
VI the past four years, in which
:nechanlcs, and formulas, supplanted
m, Importance, the individual, there
sun continued to cling to the cavalry
man tnat spirit of romance which
originated when the man on horse
was the fighting man supreme.
a, ana IN the days of the Civil war,
sne caValryman was looked upon as
man apart; to be cavalryman was
Oh honor among fighting men. But
nmhen each man furnished his own
nurse and equipment, the cavalry
n;iahch OF service was not without
us us drawbacks. A mount cost more
IMAM an automobile.
n paid $4,000 for my mount when
enhsted," Captain Roberts said
n ana ! had three killed in one cam.
r. captain Roberts enlisted in the
1oocn1ieoerate army at Little Rock ir
pT I,'. Joining company from Pine
n!un IN what was known as the