Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-04-24
HARD TIMES COMING

HARD Times COMING
THE whole world, certainly all the
: people Of this country, is plunging
headlong into the widest excuses Of
money spending. Wages of labor of
all kinds from mere hand workers up to
the most skilled artisans, up four, five,
in some cases even six hundred per
cent; money flowing in like water is
going out like flood.
A perfect saturnalia of reckless buy
ing of anything, everything regardless
of price demanded, and whether really
needed or not ! Saving little money,
putting aside something for possible
''rainy day." by the practice of q
wholesome self-denial-such thing is
to the greater part of the people, IN
known. It is, in fact. doubtful whether
out of these unheard of big wages. the
vast majority of the workers can save
as much now as when wages were much
lower and the cost of living also far
less.
Prices of goods, and wages too, have
reached giddy heights, and all past ex-
perience, as well as the reason Of the
thing, teaches that such an abnormal
condition of things cannot be perma-
nent. It is as unnatural, and as un-
stable as a pyramid set on its peak
consequently, this crazy champagne
drunk Of business and labor must some
day sober up, return to normal condi-
tons, and all things tell US that then
bad headaches will be plentiful.
Therefore, since this artificial furry
of wild imitation, cannot last, common
prudence would suggest that the wise
thing to do, surely for those of mod
crate means, is to set about saving
something, practicing q little self-de
NAL, doing without some of the costly
Injuries all hands from laborer to bank
er have been enjoying, and placing the
savings in the rainy day chest.
The real truth is that the whole Ma
ton is half mad in its reckless money
spending; e. G. in some states there is
an auto for every sixth man; husband
treats his wife to a jeweled necklace
costing $50, 10000; q poor stenographer,
buys herself a 100000 sealskin coat,
and 80 on through the whole gamut
male and female. You might think life
had become little else than a giddy
frolic with its hours of toll shortened to
one-half or less, and its hours of
pleasure heightened to double or more.
Sensible, grown men and women have
become much like thoughtless little
children who want everything they see
regardless of whether or not their par
ents can afford to buy it. The age is
hedonistic, pleasure loving and indul-
ging, hating Duty's useful regimen,
and too often. crying with the Epi-
curean. ''Let US eat and drink, for to-
morrow we die" We need good dose
of panic and religious revival. and his
tory shows US these crazy periods COM
monty end thus, the panic bringing on
the revival.
But though the times are seemingly
''out Of joint" as Hamlet cried; though
religion has for awhile lost some of its
grip upon men-and that it has, the
general slump in the years membership
gains in all the churches, together with
the decreased attendance upon their SER
vices shows-candor compels US to admit
that never before has the world wit
messed such magnificent philantrophies,
all classes from millionaires to the hum
blest poor vying in pouring out treasure
beyond ''the wealth of Ormus or of |
Ind for the succor Of suffering hu-
mainly in foreign lands; or more patri-
otto self-sacrificing devotion of purse,
toll and larder practiced by whole !
people to back up their brave sons, hus-
bands and brothers in their fight against
the ravening Hun; or such an unstinted
giving by all the churches, of many
millions for missionary purposes. So |
let Us be patient, and optimistic believ-
ing with the poet that
God within the shadow standing,
Still is keeping watch over his own"
A GOOD CONVENTION
THE Republican Party in this state |