Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-12-09

cities. the great object of thought and toll
is to acquire enough to retire upon in the
country: to get rid of the turmoil and
pressure, the care and perplexity, OF city
life, of the tyranny of fashion, the empty
heartless routine of society, the oppressive
exactons of luxury, and to enjoy the dig-
nifty, the independence, the repose, OF life
in the country. The judgment OF men
who have tried the city, who have out
lived its fascinations, have grown weary
-of its pleasures, have suffered its changes
and disappointments, should weigh with
those who are ready to attempt the same
vortex with the inexperience OF youth.
The question between city and country
life cannot be determined by any uniform
law, nor even by general principles which
can be applied with certainty to every IN
dividual case What one shall do with
himself, what he shall make of himself
how he shall make the most of life. are
questions which, if not already settled for
him bv force of circumstances, every man
must decide upon his own responsibility
Even where one has the best possible start
in life, with the best counsel and helps, his
success will depend upon himself, and not
upon the accidents of his position. But
we are supposing a case where 1t Is within
the power of a young man to choose be-
tween two widely opposite spheres OF lie
city and country,-and the question is
up in the family, whether James or John
shall stick by the farm, or 60 to try his
luck in trade. A, the Almanac is ad-
mitted to a seat at the home circle, and is
a sort of domestic counsellor, we propose
to take part in this family chat, by offering
some hints and observations drawn from a
pretty wide knowledge of life under all Its
phases.
The first point that comes up Is the
criterion of success. What constitutes a
successful life ? or better. What makes
up an arerage of success in life, such as
any one may fairly hope to attain to
Health, prosperity, culture, enjoyment,
family, society, position, influence, charac-
ter, are the principal factors that enter in
to successful, honorable, and happy life,
and proper combination of these would
leave almost nothing to be desired. Now,
by looking at these items in the comparl-
son of city and country, the farmers boy
may find that the average of advantages Is
on his side that there is nothing certain
to be gained, but there is risk of losing
everything, in leaving the farm for the
city.
The country youth who thinks of trying
his fortune in the city, would do well to
study the vital statistics of boards OF health
and life-insurance companies. tie would
there learn that rural occupations stand
highest in the list of longevity; that the
probabilities of a vigorous health, long
life, and cheerful age are decidedly III
favor of the farmer. Now, tho@gh the
success of a life is not always in the ratio
of its duration. but he lives longest who
lives to the best purpose, yet no man Is
warranted in throwing away his chances
of long life upon visionary attempts to
make up for brevity by a more brilliant
career. Nor does any such motive COM
monty inspire the youthful emigrant from
country to city; be is more likely to be
quite Needless of the question OF health,
under the alurements OF pleasure or gain.
But one should consider whether gain
which is acquired by an expenditure OF
vital force that greatly reduces the time
or the ability for enjoying It is really
worth what II costs whether fortune
won by the sacrifice of health Is so good q
thing as modest competence with health
wherewith to enjoy it whether, seeing
that one can 60 over the course OF lite but
once, it may not be better to ambie along
pleasantly, taking the comfort OF the way
than to rush for the goal, there to pant ano
die.
City life is life at high-pleasure. Th'
young clerk, manufacturer, merchant
lawyer, editor, in the arduous struggle Il
establish himself, or, if established, Il
keep down competition, works as hard
the farmer. and taking the year through
works more hours upon an average for tn
day. And while the farmers work is il
its nature and surroundings healthtul ant
invigorating, that of the citizen is toilsom
and enervating, often performed IN
vitiated atmosphere, and with little relaxa
ton. The pressure of necessity or Of com
petition makes a constant draft upon tn
vital forces of the system, which show
itself in the alarming frequency of brai
diseases among business men.
In cultiyating the soil, one may coun
upon the steady cooperation of Nature
whose laws work for him even while h
sleeps he has only to observe those law
and the harvest comes, and an average {
FIVE years shows that Nature is true to he
promise But in mercantile business, on
is subjected to competitions, chance
fashions, financial fluctuations, which otte
battle calculation, and call for constan Wig
lance Though trade has its laws, whic
political economists have sought to defr
and classify, yet these are so broad upo
the one hand, and on the other SO recol
dite, that the average trader must be col
tinually upon the watch against miscalcul;
tions or surprises Instead of the uniform
!. ity of Nature he encounters the fcklene
OF fortune, and this introduces into busine
: an element of uncertainty, which produce
r a constant strain upon the attention, tn;
t tells at last in the exhaustion of nervo1
e vitality, in softening of the brain, in pa
alysis, or in premature death.
7 But do not many who go to the Gil
2 succeed in establishing safe and lucrati'
, business, which enables them to take Ii
leisurely,-to enjoy the comforts of a goc
: income, and at last to retire upon an IL
r dependent fortune? ?" No man can tai
3. life leiSurely SO long as he is in active me
: camille business. The larger his bushes
; the more he has at stake; the greater b
apparent prosperity, the less can he affol
e to leave matters to their own course,
!, trust them to the care and competence
others. Few men in New York have lie
, leisure and repose than the head of IL
t largest dry-goods house in that city. II
e or Chicago is always Woodworking ma
: We have stndied the HABITS of this cla