The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-24
Culture Of the SOll more Healthy than other
Pursuits.

Farmers are by no means exempt from the thousand
ills of life. They sicken and die, as we'll as other peo-
pie. Husbandry, as a calling, is a healthy one yet
there are exceptions to the general rule. Farmers may
overwcrk themselves, may wear unsuitable and insult
icient clothing, may be uncleanly in their persons and
habits, may indulge undue anxieties about their affairs,
and may give themselves up to the control of passions
which are fatal to the health Of every man. And if
they transgresS any Of these laws of health, the fact
til It they are tillers of the soil will not save then from
the penalty due to their misdeeds.
We maintain, however, that this pursuit is eminsntly
favorable to health and longevity. 1t furnishes exer-
else in the open air, which is one Of the chief promoters
of good health. All professional authorities aud the
experience OF mankind at large, agree as to the value Of
this medicine. Abundance of the choicest food, the
finest clothing, superb dwellings, education, polished
society, and all other good things of life combined, are
no substitute for this. With them all, and yet without
this, the poor body would wither away, and fall into a
premature grave.
The business Of the farmer calls him into the open air
at all hours Of the day. II there is any virtue in early
rising and the morning air, he gets it. If there is any
evil in the damp Of the night air, he generally escapes
it, fer his labors commonly close with the setting day.
1t is a rue of health to expose oneself to the open air
every day in the year, regardless of clouds aud storms.
A faithful farmer can hardly shut himself within doors
an entire day, unless confined there by sickness. Even
in the most leisure seasons Of the year, and with album
dance OF hired workmen, be wishes to be abroad, look
ing after the welfare Of his stock, his buildings and
crops.
The labors Of the farm furnish exercise Of the best
kind. 1t is not labor in a confined shop, nor the use of
one set of muscles exclusively. The arms, chest, feet,
legs, all come into requisition. And the labor is so
varied from day to-day, as to afford a pleasing alterna-
tion Of exercise and rest to the several members of the
body AS a general rule, too, this labor is not exceed
ingly wcarisome. Farmers, like other men, may lose
their balance and toll imprudeptly, at times, as in hay
ing and harvest; but they need not overwork them.
selves. The general fact still remains, that the labors
of the farm are pleasant, not burdensomea and injurious,
and arc we'll adapted to %invigorate the whole frame.
Temperance in living has much to do with the pres
ervation Of health. And by this we mean, not only
temperance in drinking, but also in eating abstinence
from unwholcsomc food, as we'll SO from alcoholic
liquors. It cannot be denied that the use of intoxi.
eating drink is much less common among farmers than
among other classes. Tie circumstances of their life
seem to forbid such indulgence. They are away from
scenes of temptation their passions are little excited
their work cannot proceed if body and mind are not IN
der control they must either give up their calling, OF
renounce the cup. The diet Of the husbandman is gen.
orally simple and wholesome. The rich and highly
concentrated dishes of fashionable and epicurean tables
the mysteries of French cookery, seldom find theiy way
to his board. In their place, he has The fruits Of th1
earth in their natural state, and in abundance. He is
not without Injuries and delicacies, but they are, 70,
the most part, those which his own industry and skill
have produced from his farm and garden He has then
10 great variety, and in their highest state of perfection
and freshness. His food is eaten, too, at suitable and
tite, not one created by artificial stim4lalts.
Mental excitement Is q prolific source Of i'll health
It is a common saying that a fit Of anger is about az
bad in its influence On d mans longevity, as an attack
of fever. Excited expectations or great d~isappoint
ments are well known to wear upon the nervous system
and to derange the health. The constant anxieties anc
cares Of trade, w~aaifestly operate IN the same way