University of South Carolina Libraries
Negro Farmer Becomes Capitalist An interesting editorial headed "The capitalistic class" in the Columbia State a few days ago reads: In this year of grace, 1919, a negro tenant of J. N. Kirven, president of the state fair association, beginning the year with nothing supported by advances from his landlord, has purchased a wagon and team of mules, paid all his debts, has corn and provender for the coining year and will have, when his cotton shall.be sold, 53,000 in cash. This man and his family, with the assistance of a pair of mules provided by Mr.Kirven. pro duced, in Darlington county, 40 bales of cotton, ten of them being long staple, and so much cotton with the seed at current prices is worth about $10,000. So this pvopertyless tenant of last March is, at the end of the year, a capitalist?and would no more relish the notion of being robbed of his gains by communists or I. W. \V. or Bolsheviki than would Mr. Rockefeller. The misfortune of the "Reds" is that some people will work and will save, thus recruiting every year the ranks of the capitalists. It is practically impossible to convince a man, black or white, if he has a pair of $400 mules, a brand new wagon and $3,000, that communism is lovely and that all capatilists should be hanged. The sole hope of the communists to convert this fellow is based on the chance of his becoming lazy and spending his savings of the year 1919, or of showing bad judgment in the investment of them, in either of which events he would cease to be a capitalist, becoming again a "prole tarian." This negro tenant of Mr Kirven should not. however, be praised indiscrimately?it may be that he lias not been guiltless of offense. One strongly suspects that throughout this year he has done nothing to raise the "American standard of living". Likely enough he and his family have consumed fatbacks and com bread, have seldom if ever had grapefruit for breakfast, have worn no silk shirts, have been without the keen enjoyment of a Ford machine and have not spared the time, though they may have had the money, to see the cheapest kind of motion picture. Nor do we imagine that they observed the eight hour day; doubtless many a day they toiled twelve or fourteen hours? though it is quite possible that they had many more holidays than other working peopk. The working hours in a day are long on a farm, but the working hours :n a year are possibly not so nany as they are in a bank or a mill. Anyway, we suppose that most workingmen or business men whose wages or salaries are $2,500 a year and who have no property would almost as lief spend a year in jail as to woik and live as this colored tenant on Mr. Kin-en's plantation in Darlington did?this man who has, after paying his living expenses, $3,000 in cash and mules and wagons worth $1,000 besides. Nevertheless, the unhappy truth remains that most, men who have gotten. ahead of the world, who have become capitalists, have at one time or other toiled as steadily and painfully and lived as humbly as the Darlington negro in this year of 36 cents cotton. In the United States, where land is abundant, whorg population is not crowded (except in districts where it need not be), where opportunities are countless in number and variety, being a capitalist or a proletarian is for the most part a matter of choice. The American who chooses to work diligently, whose mind is not so much on the "American standard of Iking" and getting "a living wage" as upon getting and stajing "ahead of the game" cannot be stoped?unless he suffers some calamity or other. The rules of the game are very simple? Carnegie played by them when he was a telegraph messenger, Rocke4 feller when he was a clerk in a store, Jim Hill when he was a railroad bi-akeman and the negro tenant on Mr Kirven's place in Darlington. To be sure, a number of men are exempt from them for a time?the men who inherit propeity?but most of the families of this class in the course of a generation or two lose or spend their property an 1 have to face the world as the poorest faces it. Whether a man shall be a capitalist or a proletarian is mostly a matter of choice. Of course, the decision must be made in nearly cases early in life. It will seem a bitter saying to nianj| people and yet it is true?there are but two excuses for poverty in the United States. They are physical or mental infimity and ignorance. Ignorance is of the two the commoner explanation of misfortune and failure. Tens of thousands of men in South Carolina have in the last three years earned enough to establish themselves and their families in homes of their own, to get a start as small capitalists. but they have not known what to do with their money, and so they have i 1 bought silk shirts and twelve dollar I shoes and found High Cost of Living a faithful friend when in need of de-! fence. Where is the able-bodied man who couldn't cio what Mr. Kirven's tenant has done if he would but go and do it? Had this negro any distinguished talents that made hint superior?that lifted him in a single year into the capitalistic class? o \i.?m hi?r ??f (irntdv Ex tied it ion Dies Charlottesville, Va., Nov. 2.?William Dixon Weaver, electrical engineer, and memebr of the Greeley relief expedition, died suddenly today at his home here. He was born at Greensburg, Pa., in 1857, was a graduate of the Naval Academy and served a number of years as editor of Electrical World. o j 666 has proven it will cure \ Malaria, Chills and Fever, Bilious Fever, Colds and Lagrippe. j It kills the parasite that cause j the fever. It is a splendid laxa- j tive and general Tonic.?adv. * o A Heart-To-Heart Talk Olanta, S. C. Mr. Editor: By your generous courtesy I wish to have a heart-to-heart; talk with my Methodist brethren and sisters of the laity among your readers. The education of my children ap, peals strongly to me. I fully share the worthy sentiment of the Rev. James T. Kilgo, of blessed memory, who proclaimed the fact that he could not willingly throw his children upon ; society uneducated, and sooner would eat com bread and wear patched clothing the rest of his life. As a superannuate member of the South Carolina Conference, with eight children ranging from four to twenty years of age, the three eldest of whom are daughters, I much desire a residence in some locality where there is a college for women. If only some large-hearted man or woman, or a group of such, might donate the use of a house for several years (or lease it at low rental), we would be grateful indeed for such considerate kindness. To make sure of securing one, however, I hereby request that friends reading this, who can do so without diminishing their offerings elsewhere, shall write me quite soon a letter or postal card, saying: "Brother Betts. you may each year call on me for ,$ toward paying the rent of a home in any college town, till I give you notice to the contrary." Any sum from a dollar up promised this way to assist us will be much appreciated. The discipline allows us to reside anywhere. , Respectfully, W. A. Betts. ' o Phone 167 and have the latest Model Singer sent to your house at once. KINGSTREE FURNITURE COMPANY. o I Rub-My-Tism is a great pain 1 killer. It relieves pain and soreness caused by Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Sprains, etc.?Adv. ? I I " ' ltttt /a flf you have farms or city property subdivide and sell your property , profitably for you. , Farm Lands Our Specialty Ninety-Seven Thousand Six Hundred - T>iirry MA H Land amounting: to over nrc. ivi 3 _l 1918. Write for book mation about our auc l/j|MATLANTIC COA = SlSk 5( THE NAME THA Offices: PETERSB Reference: Any bank In I COFFINS AN A large and varied asst Automobile Hearse Horse-Drav I Experienced Sei Day or Kingstree H? Phones 35, 4 We Lead; Ot > 1r : . 'ISU For a longpgf lasting, good- I looking, economical roof, choose material that can't (rust, that needs no painting, that is not affected by heat or cold?choose I Electile Slate-Surfaced 8hingles and j Roll Roofing Made of the finest weather-proof materials, in beautiful natural colors. Outlasts by 1 years, other roofing? $ fire-resisting?easy to I apply ? moderate i n price. Shingles come four to a strip?roof ing in rolls. ? U'rife for illustrated circular | and mortey-sarmj} prxcet. Carolina Portland Cement Company I Charleston, S. C. jj Atlanta JaekAoarUle | I* Birmmetum KewOrleAB* | DBALKkS Write tot tpocud * ^? We are proud of the confidence J A J f-A_ ? A? ? uoctors, arutfgisis ana tne puDlic have in 666 Chill and Fever Tonic.?adv. r for sale, write us. We will AT AUCTION quickly and [?Territory Unlimited I and Eightj-Eight acres of Farm H ILLION DOLLARS sold in let of endorsements and in for- B tion methods. B ST REALTY COMPANY I T JUSTIFIES YOUR CONFIDENCE" ? B URG. VA. and GREENVILLE, N. C. B i Petersburg, Va. or GreenviHe, N.cB ?* D CASKETS >rtment to select from and Rubber-Tired ra Hearse. MAX D AMrl/MfiA/i VItC& 1VC11UUCU Night ardware Co. 8. 59 or 122 hers Follow. i Ii?? ? ; : i What Music Have I If None, Then Con Thomas | ! Wonderful I I m?mwmmmmmmi I I Hear the Diamond Amberola, j ment that so thoroughly re-crea the voice of the world's be& sin tests "one could not tell just whe t z and when the recorded voice was * The Steele Fu j KINGSTRE] j 0 . , JOHM . WHEN //V TH/S lA/OKt-V A*e YOU js$N\ . .Got# 6 -no E/x THIS XOOF ? HAV6 / GOT TO GO THKOOGH W5 ?V?#Y I L 7W*f& <T W/YS P ILwiii? ' -* . HOW ABOIJ I FROM THE DAYS OF THE CAVE I TEK FROM THE RAIN, THE WIND AND T FIRST INSTINCTS THAT PROVED THEM OF ALL THE ANNOYING THINGS LEAKY ROOF IS I^ROBABLY THE WORSr ING, BUT IT IS TOO BIG A SUBJECT TO THAT IF YOUR ROOF LEAKS. SEE US; ARE ROOFLESS, SEE US?WE KNOW TF THIS CLIMATE AND VICINITY. WE HAVE AN EXPERT ROOF NESS AND WILL BE GLAD TO MAKE YC KINGSTREE Hampton Avenue, p> . ' . You In Your Home? / I to Our Store and See A. Edison's I Instruments * ] ?,? . . | the musical instrutes and reproduces ] gers, that in actual ^ in the singer left off MBmBBB j3 singing alone." ?? ? M i * r _ At II leeoies: i>o i^nanges:: % rhen you own an Edison you bother with needles. The d bother of changing is gone , for you have a genuine * nd stylus that never wears out. and see these Wonderful Machines! irniture Company E, SO. CAROLINA. r 0 v v ?? 1 Will. *MT. * f fT^ % /^ "** r*1Ert /tb AAtHMf' I . '/CAAf> MX 'T; ' |l ! ' /\ /*VZ? htMOM'T A*/r 'rHl l ' W"*\ 7*er a*Hr * n& I *? "*eo 70 *** 'T T YOUR ROOF? WAV HITMAV RFIXTi'S HA VP F.YF\* SnFCHT SHEL HE WEATHER. THIS PROBABLY IS ONE OF THE DIFFERENT TO OTHER ANIMALS. THAT EVER BESET THE HOME OF TODAY. A r. SO THIS BRINGS I S TO THE SUBJECT OF ROOFTRY AND TELL HERE. ALL WE WANT TO SAY IS IF YOU NEED A NEW ROOF, *>EE US; OR IF YOU IE ROOF BUSINESS AND THE ROOF PROBLEMS OF p/ lN AT YOUR SERVICE HE KNOWS THE ROOF BUSI>U AN ESTIMATE ON YOUR JOB. HARDWARE CO., KINGSTREE, SO. CAROLINA