The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-04-22

service. Friendly. loving disposition
and interest in the well-being Of others
is most convincingly exhibited by a
willingness 10 minister to the necessi-
ties. comforts, enjoyment and happi-
ness of comrades. Fervent protesta-
tons Of loving devotion without CORE
spending usefulness are but sounding
brass and a linking symbal, and hence
originated the expression, Talk is
cheapl" But, says some one. the
scripture says. by thy words thou art
justified, and by thy words thou ART
condemned. Quit true, indeed,
Words, however, are something more
than mere sound emitted from the lips,
or certain writings scrubbed on any
kind Of surface. Words, with refer
ence to human beings. include the
whole sum Of his expressions, actions
and conduct, and mere lip-service j;
not considered as amounting to much
and TO be entirely inadequate when il
comes to a show down.
''By their fruits Conduct you shall
know them,'' was pointer that the
great teacher of Nazareth gave to his
followers. By their conduct people are
either justified or condemned. 1t is
the only acid test that defies misrepre-
sentation.
Because Llano Colony has no resi-
dent minister and holds no church ser
vices Sunday morning, some people
surmise that we are an irreligious peo-
pie. But they never were more greatly
mistaken in all their lives than when
they jumped to such conclusion. We
lay claim to being the most religions
people in the whole country and are
engaged in our devotion every waken
hour Of the day the year around. Our
devotion takes the form of faithful,
useful service that is needed by all of
us and is correspondingly appreciated.
And the creative principle (be it what
it may), seems to be well-satisfied
with that expression of our worship,
for we are blessed with happiness and
plenty.
There is neither prince or pauper
here; we possess all things in common,
as is reported to have been the case
with the primitive Christians. We might
reflect upon some Of our critics to their
disadvantage, but prefer not to dc SO;
for it would serve no useful purpose.
For many years we have tried to bet
ter things in general by political action,
through labor organizations, ETC.. with
out accomplishing much Of anything;
50 at last we have taken the bit be-
tween our teeth and made a bolt to
help ourselves by direct constructive
action, encouraged in our endeayor by
the weIl-known teaching that God helps
tons as late as fifty and sixty years
ago.
And we are much encouraged in our
work by the example set us by the
workers in Europe. In England, Bel
GUM, France. Germany, Switzerland,
Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Czecho-Slo-
1akia, Poland, Russia, and elsewhere.
Workers by cooperating are building
homes for themselves, carrying on agri-
culture and all kinds of industries, and
are enjoying plenty, while those who
are dependent on so-called employers
or livelihood are without work and
IN the ragged edge Of despair.
Working people in America must be-
;ome self-reliant once more as they
we're in the early days Of the settle
nent of this country and in some sec
ions as late as fifty and sixty lears ago.
While attending an editorial conven-
ion at Columbia, Mo-, | met an old
ime miller, w. I. Anderson by name.
Who is now over eighty years old. He
ettIed in Columbia when it was an IN
and town without railroad, and when
FOODS had to be hauled in from Provi-
lence on the Missouri river. twelve
niles distant. shipped by steamboat
rom ST. Louis. And this is what he
aid of olden times:
My, it makes a man think he's
housand years old to recall all the
hanges that have taken PLACED The
armers in those days did not have to
o to the grocery store every day for
royisions. They killed their own hogs,
lade their own bacon and smoked
heir own hams. IF one hasn't tasted
hose things, he doesn't realize what
le has missed. Quail used to sell for
w cents dozen. eggs retailed at
or 4 cents dozen, and IS cents a
ushel was the price Of oats. Why,
'rown sugar retailed at five cents
ound. and one could buy maple SUI
ar at 4 cents. Tree syrup was only
0 to 60 cents a gallon.
Il used to buy goose feathers for
aafbay baJs The favp0are around have