The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-10-24

love of country life seems to be fading out
with us. This is attended with great evils.
When man who has gained competency
BY his skill and industry gives up bis farm
and moves into town he not only goes
where bis social position 10 lowered, his
knowledge and experience made useless, but
be throws gloom over the neighborhood be
leaves, and by bis example unsettes the pur,
poses and modes Of life Of those around him.
Their influences are burtu in many ways.
They have deprived US Of n due proportion
o. agricultural labor. They have lssseued
the productions Of the soil and have cut of
our export. They have tended to the de.
moraIization of young men, and have led
them to look to speculating adventures and
gambling enterprises, and not to steady 10
dustry and prudent saving for the means OF
support. What causes this perverted taste
aud the hurtful praticel Do they spring
from the monotony Of country life, or from
our own want OF the right kind Of educatopi
OUR GREAT MEN IN FORMER DAYS MADE THEIR
HOMES IN THE COUNTRY.
1t is certain that in the earlier periods Of
our history, those who bad gained fortune or
fame were in the habit of making their
homes 10 the country. This was true Of all
the great men Of the Revolutionary period
and Of all the Presidents. Ia the letters Of
John Adams to his wife, written while he
was Secretary of State, and after be became
President, you will find these passages:
IL begin now to think all time lost that is
not employed in farming. Enchanting en-
poyment how ray Imagination roves over
my rocky mountains, and through my busby
meadows.
"A journal Of diurnal register Of farming
would be very refreshing and entertaining.
O the tedious solitude that awaits me for
wealth, luxury, eloquence, learning, wit, and
wisdom Of this proud city and venerable
Congress To me; one week Of domestic
and rural amusemnt would be worth it all"
Speaking of the fears that were entertained
that Washington would lose his health when
he left office, he says:
Il should be afraid, too, if had no con,
6dence n bis farm and horse. He must be
fool, thipk, who dies Of chagriu, when
be has fine farm and Narrsnsett mare
that PAGES. But don't know but all men
are such FOOLS"
The author Of the passages bad been our
splendor and Injuries Of its loyal courts
Those expressions of his love Of farming snd
countrg lie were uttered while he was ia
the enjoym mt of the highest honors bis coun
try could give.
WASuISGTON, JEFFERSON AND MADISON
THEIR LOVE OF RURAL PURSUITS
LetteIs and biographies of Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, and of most of our great
men show the same love of rural pursuits
They sought TO close their lives in those
scenes and in those pursuits from which
most men Of this time try to escape. They
reversed the action of our day and left cites
for the most complete retirement. The ques
ton comes up what did these men find in
the country that VIZ do not fndg If there
are enjoyments on our farms greater than
those which town can give, it is worth our
while to trace them out II the country
will not only give healthful and profitable
employment in the vigor Of life, but will also
afford pleasures which are lasting through
age with all its infrmilies, we ought 10 know
what they are. For they add to the value
Of our real estate. They will save us from
the cost and necessity of changing our homes,
and sinking our usefulness in new scenes,
where The custom and skill we have gained
are of no value. As these lose their value
We lose our social positions. Is there not q
want of some tastes, or some intelligence on
our part which we ought to have and can
easily gain return to the question which
| propose to discuss. What did George
Washington, John Adams, and Thomas JEFF
fer son find in country and farm life tha.
made them long for it while in office, and
led them 10 seek it when they were free to
follow their own inclinatonsl The great
truth is that all men do not live in the same
world; outwa.dly they do, but when we look
into their tastes, their intelligence and thoir
modes Of thought, we find that the world
around bears 10 each different aspect. We
see lhyl men live in different kinds Of houses.
Some are novels, some are comfortable homes,
Others are magnificent buildings, filed with
paintings and with statuary, and With all
things that are calculated to please the taste
Yet these houses do not differ as much 10
their aspect as does the material world around
US to the eyes Of the educated or the igpor'
ant. To those who have been trained to
see its beauties, to examine its wonders, to
trace out its laws of animal and vegetable
life, it gives enjoyments unknown 10 those
whose minds are closed and whose eyes
are sealed to all its varied and wondrous cre'
atoms. 1t is deemed wise thing for men
to toll for wealth that they may gain the
means to build houses and 10 surround them
selves with all that art can give to add 10 The
comforts and pleasures Of life. Is il not
then, au unwiss thing to neglect the cultiva'
joyments than wealth can bestow2 The man
who allows himself to live 10 ignorance look'
up into the heavens and sees waste stud
dsd indeed with g'ittsring stars at night, Of
lighted up by the midday sun. He notes thu
changes Of the weather and see with but littl'
concern the objects that have lost their nov
o1tv