The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-09-03

y Donald q. Mitchell, in & Hints abou,
Warming" suggests that tho orators
q agricultural fairs are disposed "
give too much OF rose color to then
statements, and to elevate farming
into the position of one OF the exact
sciences. The speakers only view
the poetic side OF farm life-they pu,
stramonium in barren fields Shere 1T
never grew, and make tie female
birds chant a gay carol, which they
never do. Mr.. Michel, popularity
known as ak Marvel" thus COM
me nts on amsteur farmers.
"Tbe misfortune about this farm
rhetoric is the notable fact that it i
most presistently and persuasively
indulg id in by those who know very
little about tie practical DRIFT and in
tent Of faru life. They do not have
the kicking cows to milk, or the corn
TO replapt after the crows, or the bar
posts tcreser after an Irish teamster.
They sever reach TO the core of the
matt'r.
sst is extraordinary, indeed, how a
MN Of fine Imagination can make a
Sazzling and fascinating thing out OF
only earthly materials. Goldsmith,
stewing In London chambers, stroll
ling outofthe dirty Strand fora steak,
greasy and savory with onions at his
chop house, can yet spin for u, as
pretty and deftrhymes about the 'lov-
liest village Of the plain, and honest
rustics, as one could wish for. And
yet if Goldsmith had lived among
them they would have feeced him
just as surely as the landlady in the
Strand. Not because they were
worse people, but because they were
people, and not shepherds and shep-
herdesses with pretty crooks and
rosettes in their Shines; not because
they wero rogues, but because strug
Cling for such livelihood rs their wits
and work would earn them; and be-
cause country pursuits are, after all
3 No eufficient panoply against the dc
vices of the devil.
..Oaks are fine things; and river,
are fine things; and 80 are sunsets
and morning-glories. and new-mowI
hay, and fresh curds, and spotte,
calves; but, after all the romance o
life, are all its statliest heroics. Their,
is width, and beauty, and independ
ence indeed; but there Is also sweat
and anxiety, and horny hands, and .
: great deal of hay dust in the hair
'sFor man who is thoroughly il
earnest, farming offers q grand feel,
) for effort; but the man who ia onl,
hslfin earnest, who ihinxs that cost
" barns, imported stock, and nice
" rolled lawn are the great objec,
Of attainment, may accomplish pref
ty results, but they will be smal
ones. So the dilettanti farmer, wh,
has smattering Of science, who's
head is filed with nostrnms, VIII
things his salts will do it all, VIII
doses his crops now to feebleness an,
now to an unnatural exuberancc ~ h
dawdle over his fermentaiious Will
the neighbors' oxen are breaking i,
to- bis rye field, who ha
no managing capacity n
breadth Of vision-who sends tw
men to accomplish the worK of one
let such q man give up all hopc {
making farming lucrative pursui
But if . man, as we said, be tho
orughly in earnest, if he have the $,
gacity to see oil over his FARM
systematize his labor, to carry OF
his plans panctually and thorough.
if he is not above economies, nc
needless of the teachings of scienc
nor unobservant of progress othe
where's, nor neglectfal Of such oppo
tunitiss as were the Yale Agricultur
Lectures let him work; for he wi
have his reward. But even such
one will nevor come to his four-i
nd,' except they be colts of h
raising; or to private concerts
-yn grounds, except what Il
ke."