Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-08-13
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Farmers, Honor Your Profession


ON the part of many, farming is re-
garded as rather an ignoble employment
one that is to be followed only by those
who are not smart enough to OBTAIN Nv
ing in some other way Even farmers 1la.
themselves. a large portion Of them, it is
to be feared share in this feeling, or at
least have an ill-defned idea that their
position in society is an inferior one. They
have a secret thought that it is less noble
to till the soil, calling into being those
products, which are In themselves the
elements of life, and the basis OF all wealth
and prosperity. than it is to speculate or
traffic in them after they are produced.
They seem to think that it is less honor
able to live by ministering to the real
wants and necessities of mankind, than
to the fanciful and oft times fictitious ones.
1t is not necessary to pile up proofs that
the farmers profession IS honorable, Tor
any one who will give it a serious thought
must admit that there is not, ON GODS
green earth, a" more noble, or morehonor-
able mission The farmers hands maybe
rough and stained by toll; his manners
NAV be awkward and uncouth; he may,
as it is sneeringly said by the moths and
butterflies that are dependent on him tor
the necessaries of their life, " smell OF the
soil !" but he is none the. less noble and
manly for all that; his care has been not
to adorn his own person, not to acquire the
polish and gentility OF fashionable life, but
| to minister to the real necessities OF MS
| fellow men; he has made himself the in
strument to work uttheir happiness and
prosperity. He does not seek to- acquire
wealth by the tricks and sharp practice OF
| the tradesman: he does not resort to, the
corners, or short cuts of the Spectator
nor does he live on the follies, evils and
crimes of mankind. What he earns is the
| product of honest toll; and what he
receives is but the value OF the
energy of mind and body which he has ex-
pended for the public good. Men may
have acquired tastes and habits, which
render labor in this calling lirksomea and
unpleasant; but it is not to the discredit
of the profession; if there is any, it is
their own. Education, SO called, may lead
some to think all manual labor is mental
and degrading; but, they see things in 9
perverted light; they measure honor and
| dignity by their own false notions.
The farming community are in a great
measure responsible for this estimate o.
their profession, and it should be their en-
deavor to remove this prejudice from the
public mind To do this effectually they
must first assure themselves of the true
nobility of their calling; then they will
have courage to affirm it, and make it felt
They must make their business progress
i've one, and then it will command the re
| spect of ALL They must add, to manua
labor brain work and skill, and it will b.
esteemed most. honorable. They mus
make it prosperous and remunerative ant
then it will be worshipped Farmer
must, by union of action, cut off thes'
vampires, middlemen, boards oftrade, anC
monopolies, who, too honorable to worl
themselves, think it respectable to live by
cheating and fraud. They must educate
themselves in all that pertains to thei
profession, from the first principles o
natural law, to the influence of social ant
political economy, upon the productiv'
energies of the country; then their pro
fession will be prosperous and influential
their position in society, not more honora
BILE, but more respected. Western Farmer