American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-17

philosopher. taught that Hhe who sows the
ground with care and diligence, acquires
a greater stock Of religious merit than be
could gain by the.repetition of ten thousand
prayers" and the maxim might at this
time be jndiciously impressed upon the
American people, enforced as it would be
by the very high prices which every spe-
cies of agricultural produce now commands
in every section of the United States.-
This state Of things, considering the abuu-
dance, cheapness, and productiveness Of
land in this country, is an anomaly Reas-
oning a priori, one would naturally come
to the conclusion that this should be one
ofthe cheapest countries to live in; but the
fact is quite the reverse. And why? One
reason may be that labor has higher val
ue here than most other countries; and as
labor is the prominent.ingredient Of all
productions, whether agricultural, me-
chanical or scientific, it becomes, in great
degree, the standard of value, as it is the
measure of cost, of every article. Anoth-
er reason is the tendency of labor in the
United States to seek employment in other
branches of business, such as the profes-
sions, trade, commerce, manufactures,
banking, brokering and specializing. The
American people generally have an over
weening desire to become rich-suddenly.
rich-and have not the patience to wait
for the natural growth of the tree to OBJ
tain its fruit, but must have the fruit now,
Immediately Agriculture is therefore too
slow in its process to suit them. An idea
prevails among them too, that farming is
less genteel employment than those we
have named, or even than living by their
wits, or upon their relatives. Prompted
by this false notion, the sons Of farmers,
even instead of following in the footsteps of
their fathers, and becoming respectable
farmers, generally leave their rural homes,
study professions, become clerks in stores,
engage in trade, commence manufacturing
or speculating, or something else; some
taking to gold digging or gambling, being
ready for any thing that promises rich re-
wards for little or no labor, and really fit
for nothing. Those born and reared in
towns or cities, become accustomed TO and
fond of excitement, company, theatres,
parties, billiard rooms, nine pin alleys, ,oys-
ter houses and hotels, and are thereby un-
fitted for rural life; of course they couldn't
think Of burying themselves upon farm,
in tile country. Hence we rarely, very
rarelysee cit turn farmer. We are sorry,
but are constrained to say that the same
distaste of a country life pervades the fair
sex; those especially who have been bro't
up amidst the turmoil and excitement of
town life, and accustomed to all the idle
dissipation of which it is SO largely consti-
tuted "a
From these various causes, and Others,
there is at the present time disproportion
between the producing class and the con-
suming. Owing to the same causes agri-
culture is less esteemed as an employment
than it should be. In England it ranks
above all others. 1t is there the peculiar
employment of the nobility and gentry,
who take as much pride in their crops and
cattle asthey do in being the possessors of
landed estates. 1t is there carried on in a
scientific manner and upon an extensive
scale. II employs an immense amount of
capital, and the reputation of being sue
cessful farmer is not beneath the ambition
of Duke or Prince is upon their ''es-
tates' in the country that the higher and
middle classes of England feel most at
home, and enjoy life with the highest zest.
1t is there that they receive and return vis-
its and entertain their friends. 1t is there
that family reunions take place, that the
Christmas holidays are spent, that chill
dren are taught to love their homes; that
they acquire memories of them which are
the sweetest recollections oftheir after life.
In this country farming is becoming
more of science than it formerly was, and
requires more intelligence to carry it on
successfully; the best educated men are
now found to make the best farmers. AS
such men devote themselves more and
more to this branch of business, it will
gradually rise as an employment in the es-
timation of the community, until, as in
England, it shall come to be considered the
most honorable, as it is the most impor-.
tantof all. 70 S.
n n