Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-06-18
AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC
LOOKING FOR BETTER COUNTRY.

In our early school day "reminiscences, we
recollect an energetic, sterling little fellow,
who was always conspicuous IN the Satur-
day fishing frolics, ever on the ground in
GOOD time and ready to start with the grst.
But his patience and anxiety did not allow
him to try long, before he was off in search
of better place; soon ne was out Of sight,
toihng and hoping on all the time expect
ing to get to the best place, where he would
outstrip his companions, and realize his lar
cest hopes. The days operation closed,
our little restless fellow would come up,
wearied and muddied, and well scratched,
and with less success than his associates,
who had stayed behind. This was the man
in embryo; the boy was true type Of the
man in after years. The first thing ne dld
when ready to enter upon the business OF
life, was to show himself a man OF too much
shrewdnesS and energy, to settle down IN
the old country. Accordingly he moved to
a new one. and conceived he had been so
remarkably fortunate. as to have found the
very thing for which he was looking, all just
RIGHT. His friends behind were sorely ridi-
culed for their want Of enterprise, to be
throwing away their time in that old coun-
try, "the best plantation in which, he would
not have, if he was 10 be compelled to live
on it." A few years after this, however, he
learns that the perfections have not all oeen
concentrated yet, but that they are to be
found, a lille further on, and thus he has
been running after phantoms, until he is
now getting to be old, soured and poor; liv-
ing on perhaps the worst piece Of land which
he has ever owned; but thinks yet, if his
wife had been right willing to have second
ed all his notions, he should have found that
best place, some where in the West, or a lit
tie the other side. He has never built him.
self good house, planted orchards, impro-
we'd his land or anything else, Just because
he was not settled. This is hasty sketch
from real life, but does not describe an iso-
lated case you all probably know some men
that il will s,it. In its general outlines, it
exhibits the true Southern character. We
have been very much of go-ahead people,
but our energies have been more taxed in
searching for imaginary good than in con-
vertins the means already in hand, into
blessings. 1t is truth hardly conceded,
that there is not much difference naturally
between countries, all having their advanta-
ges and disadvantages. Many men spend
their days, in restless anxiety, searching for
complete combination of all, good never
to be realized, and do not learn till too late,
that they have been running after mere
chimera of their own brain, all their life
long.
We complain not of the energy or enter
prise prompting TO such efforts, for there has
been much in our country 10 induce them,
and thousands we know have bettered their
fortunes by going to new country. But
we would rebuke that spirit which is ever
working in us dissatisfaction with means al
ready in hand, binding our eyes to the good
at command, and deluding our hopes, in the
anticipation of a perfection, no where on
earth to be found. Countries differ, we will
admit, but much less than we usually mag
inc. And then the chief good, which we
seek in new country, is pecuniary, one
purely Of dollars and cents, which is often a
poor exchange, for the moral and social priv
ileges sacrificed Is il small thing to sew
er old friendships and associates-to cast
your lot among strangers, who sympathize
not with nor care for you-to leave your
churches and your schools, and old home
comforts all behind And even with the
best success, there is often more put down
for the benefits Of move, than is properly
due. The most energetic men have gener-
ally been those who have emigrated, aud
though they may have succeeded, is ii not
quite probable that the same men would
have been successful if they had kept the
old homestead? Compare notes with some
of the best of those left behind we say the
best, because that is the only fair COMPARE
son. How stands the difference? Very
often in favor of the old country. But it is
said, that after few years of rough and
perplexing inconvenience, the new coun-
try has the advantage of the old, in mora
and social privileges. This may be, and
often is true, but nothing is easier of expla-
nation. We have remarked before, that it
has generally been the men Of energy and
enterprise who have rushed to the occupan-
cy Of the new lands that energy cannot be
restrained; it will not only subdue the for
est, but it will soon also build churches
school-houses, and all those nurseries and
appendices to good society; but this only
proves how much might have been accom-
plished, if all those good men had remained
andexerted thissam effort in the old coun-
try, where society has grown poor, and its
institutions have gone down, Just because
their pillars had been removed and so much
of its saving leaven had been extracted
These reflections come too late to cure the
past, but they may serve to reconcile us to
our present lot, and make us feel that we
are not ruined, because we have no more
new country upon our borders.-"Sou Of
the South"
How CATTLE KILL TREEs.-It is a no.
ticeable fact that a tree ever so thrifty and
of whatever kind, to which cattle gain &C
cnrr and nnder which thew hncnlna hahiti1