Milford chronicle., 1932-04-29

paOb bWO anu q udAl yCdAD ndfO DCCh
anything but pleasant for at least
ninety-eight per cent of the Ameri-
can people when we examine this
thirty month period from the finan'
cial standpoint. Practically everyone
has taken loss of some sort or an.
other. AS one man put it to the
writer the other day: "If you had
anything in 1929, and still have it
then you have lost money" This is
broad statement but one which is
pretty generally true. Real estate
securities, commodities, all have
shrunk in value during the past
three years.
And so, if we fail to give the mat
ter sufficient amount of philosOphi-
cal thought; we are apt to come to
the conclusion that our lot, in these
trying days of 1882, is about the
hardest of any in the history of the
country. OF course this is pessimis-
tic exaggeratiOn. The United States
had ridden safely through a number
of depressions, some of them as bad
as the one we are now going
through. Moreover our method of
living, and our standards of living
are so high today, that the comforts
and cOnveniences of the average
man, on a small salary, would have
appealed to the rich as luxuries a
few generations ago, even if they
had been obtainable at any price.
The lighting and heating of our
homes, our fine highways and hospi-
tails, are few examples.
Those of us who. cannot be con-
vinced that times have ever been
harder in the United States than at
present should study the life and
writings of George Washington,
whose bicentennial birth year is
now being observed. The terrible
handicaps he had to overcome make
our present day difficulties seem
trifling. Some time ago Alexander
Brin, chairman ofthe Program Com
mittee of the Massachusetts George
Bicentennial Commits
sion, in an address summed up some
of the hardships which the founder
of the nation had to undergo. Some
of the things worth repeating, in Mr..
Brin's address, follow. Read them
and then thank fortune that your lot
is not as hard as was that of
George Washington himself.
"a knowledge of the trials and
of Washington will
make Americans realize the folly of
our own country, of
growing impatient with American
progress and of losing confidence in
destiny. Washington's
courageous and steadfast devotion
against unexampled odds, his belief
in the possibilities of the American
is challenge to us today
From Washington's own dairy
and letters we learn that in the |
years when he led his country in the
battle for independence, that even
he troops under his command were
and dissatisfied and in
some cases were in mutiny; that the |
currency issued by the. Congress had |
ost all Its value; that there were !
10 funds with which to pay the SOL
liers; that the army was lacking in |
ood supplies, ammunition and !
facilities. In the early |
ipring of 1881 the Continental cur
ency was worth only fraction of |
Is face value. For example, $500 /
ill was worth but one cent. One had [
o pay $75 for a simple breakfaet. In
lay of the same year this currency |
ceased to have any value. No one
would accept as payment any note i
+ bond issued by authority of Con-
,ress. Even the troops would ac-
ept nothing except gold or silver,
nd that could be had only on the
fedit of individuals. The govern
lent could get nothing on its cred
/. Within less than one month be-
ore the surrender at Yorktown,
congress was advised that if pro-
isions were not Immediately forth
Oming it would be necessary to dis
and the whole army. 1t is in times
Ike these that Washington's great
ess was tested to the limit
"Only a passionate rekindling of
ne spirit of America as Washing
IN understood it can give power to
le western republic as the cham
ion of that which is worthy in hu-
an life. AS the guide and precep-
IF of a 1eundering world, we are
lie only abiding hope of the modern
orld, the bulwark of human pro-
'ess, the most perfect embodiment
political idealism that this earth
rs known" t. ~4 r,.:-
tat,ea all tbe n1eas-