The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-11-15
AaRIcuLruRALLIFE.

In the recent very able and instructive ad-
dress of the Hon. w. e. Rives before tho
State Agricultural Society Of New York, tho
distinguished Speaker drow parallel between
the profits of comercial and agricultural per-
suits; highly favorable to tho latter. Ilo went
| into an argument to show that the average prof.
to by agriculturalists in their investments even
| in England is fnll twelve per cent, and cons-
derably higher in the United States. But the
North .4nlerican questions the accuracy of this
opinion and We think very properly, express
sing the belief that tho average profits OF the
American farmer do not exceed five or six per
cent, ON the capital invested. Tho Amercai,
says, what every intelligent man will admit, that
it is with agriculturalists as all other employ
ments--the amount of profit depend upon vari-
Gus crcumsta tances, but, in most cases. it de-
pends more upon the man than tho business
| Nothing is more illustory than tho prevailing
! fancy about some trades being good ones, and
some bad ones. There is, and can be, no such
distinction in any occupation per se-or, as
| surodly, there can be mono in this country,
where tho laws Of ma ture are but little inerfered
with by the laws of man, and all occupations
are open to those who find their interest to en-
ter thom. There are vicsstudes of commerce.
as well as of seasons; and a certain degree of
precariousness. therefore, as to results, must
accompany oil undertakings. But notwith
general rule, that the man who is not we'll
fitted will not succeed no matter what the oc-
curaton may be- Industry, perseverance, and
economy are no, the solo essentials 10 success
in trado. There is something else, deserving
the name of talent--a fact or aptitude both for
business in general and for the paticular bus
iness followed--which is still more Important
qualification. Most men-even industrious,
and persevering, and frugal men--barely "get
along at their trades. because the business
talent is wanting; while tho few. who have it
are almost always sure, sooner or latter, TO
make their fortunes. For the same reason. tho
great majority of agricul:uralists make little
more than a living, and esteem it very bad
one; while instances arc continually presented
of particular farmers raising themselves from
poverty to wealth, who do not differ from their
neghbors in any other particular than in pos
sessing business turn, in which the latter are,
without knowing it, deficient. Tho few mako
their ten their fifteen, or their twenty or thirty
per cent. while the many jog along with their
five or six, or something still lower. Tho dif-
ference will always exist until all men aro born
with equal gifts of mind and instinct!
But with all this. it does not follow that the
ordinary profits the agriculturalsts are small
Ter than those derived from other employ
ments"-by which we arc to understand, Of
Souise. tio tihuo oCCuPutioho puieuou h to"usS
and cities If this were SO, there would be u
perpetual interchange of population between
city and country. Men would como to town to
make their fortunes, and retire 10 the country
TO enjoy them. "God made the country, and
man made the town'-and man, who wearies
of his own handwork, has an inborn yearning
to return, or to retire, to the rustic shades whero
the evenings of his days may be passed in peace
and the works of Nature:
The citizens "babbleso' green fields; but how
few are ever enabled by the superior profits Of
city labor to crafty their wishes-to shut I'D
tho shop, or turn it over to successor and ex-
change the careworn life of trade for the in
dependant life of the husbandman. Ifncomes
are larger in towns, so are exposed tn great
risks. Frosts blighis, storms and floods may
sweep away the tolls of the year, but they never
carry off farmers acres, whereas single gallo
in the money msrket-the event of day or
hour-may rob trader of capital and allhopes
and chances Of a life. The real happiness Of
lfe in a business view, is that while
il offers quite as many prizes of fortunes to
those who know how to draw them as city life
does, it presents also degree Of security un-
known to tho latter state of existence, and il
we add to this that its occupants are congenial
to mans nature, friendly 10 health. anil con-,
ductive TO peace Of mind, we have said enough.
to satisfy our agricultural friends that whether
they make two per cont, they are at least as
we'll, if not great deal better off than their
city neighbors.