The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-30

The entire costume Is wrought over with
jet sprays, and Watteau spiral of white
lace, with black velvet bows, extends
from the neck to the end Of the train.
Farmers Festivals.
(From tho N. Y. Post.)
Notwithstanding the lie of independ.
ence and Of plenty that Is led by Aneri.
can farmers as q class, there are some not
inconsderable drawbacks to the pleasure
Of that lie. One thing Is the solitariness
OF their labor. Farmers work great
deal alone, or in company with q hired
man or two, who arc frequently foreign.
ers or unintelligent boys, whose society
In general is not very stimulating. The
results OF this want OF companionshiD In
their work are visible in the Characters.
tics Of the farmers Of this country, They
have, one may almost say, the sturdier
qualities of manhood TO perfection; but
they are lacking in sociabillty; they have
neither the enjoyment that comes from
constant intercourse with their EQUALS,
nor the very considerable stimulus and
discipline that comes from that source: so
that as compared with men Of the same
general grade who work together in the
shop or factory, the farmers have lcss ease
in conversation, less intelligence apparent
to q stranger, and usually less flow Of
spirits. Gray's fine and far Resembling
line,
"lIow jocund did they drive their team ale ID =
does not seem to us to describe with pre.
cision the current lie OF farmers nova.
days. Perhaps they are as happy as most
men, but their happiness, at any rate, is
not OF the demonstrative kind. Their
scattered position, their solitary work,
their consciousness, amid the more mark.
cd prosperity oil merchants and manu!ac.
turers, Of some loss Of the ancient pres.
tige oil their class, and the unavoidable
vexations and disappointment of their
calling, may foster kind of secret brood.
ing, and account for those evidences of i'll
nature that have convinced some unbias.
sed observers that farmers are not an es.
pecially happy class oil men.
AS to the point of their exceptional
good health, no one can have had fair CD.
portunities Of observation among them
without finding occasion to question it.
Their sanitary habits are careless; they
almost always eat IN haste, much of their
food is Of an indigestible kind, and thew
often presume upon the Outwardly health.
iul conditions Of their life to violate some
of the essential laws of health. Accord.
ingly, 1t is said by some physicians that
larger percentage of farmers have the dys.
pepsia and kindred diseases than even of
sedcntary men. Our own observation
among them confirms that assertion; and
whenever such disease Is fairly fastened
upon farmer, his circumstances are not
favorable for throwing it of. His cares
are continuous, bis cattle arc exacting,
and his vacations never come.
Under all these conditions the HOLIDAYS
OF the'farmers are none too numerous,
their opportunities Of social intercourse
with each other and with other people
are all too limited at best, and in this
point Of view the fall festivals and cattle
shows have significance aud value be.
yond their obvious purpose OF promoting
better breeds OF cattle and horses, and
exhibiting the largest turnips and the fat
est hogs. The farmers need to exhibit
themselves, to come in contact with one
another, to compare notes, 10 see ma.
chimes and talk with the inventors, to see
and talk with all classes OF men, to get
out Of themselves, to find out what is 20.
ing on, to talk snatch Of politics while
looking at the poultry, to sec TO it, in
short, that while the breeds of horses are
improving the breed OF men who drive
them shall not degenerate. Good breed.
ing is precisely what our, farmers want,
and they are apt 10 get touch or two al
the county fair. E...-
The truth is that the world Is moving
little faster than the secluded cultivatOrs
OF the soil are well aware OF, and they
need nudge at the elbow now and then
to jog them along. They get 1t at the
cattle show. When we say that the
speeches there do not amount 10 much,
we mean no disrespect to Mr.. Greeley or
to DR.. Loring, both OF whom have done
their best on such occasions. The true
and lasting instruction at such times
comes in at another point; 1t comes by
impact; it breathes through the crowds;
it speaks in the machinery; the rough
joke voices it and the sharp rcpartee;
old ideas get jostled; prejudices loosen up
little; new methods are suggested; old
experience Is talked over, and the farmers
are lifted out OF the rut in which they
otherwise arc sure to run. They wake
up and drive back to their endless work
wiser than they went.
These festivals have q fascination for
farmers, and for others which show how
really useful they are They never seem
to die out; their return is greeted with
fresh interest; the crowd is as great as
eyer; and the institution seems rooted in
human nature and in the wants OF
vastly important class oil men. Such fes.
rivals are now in full career Of celebration
all over the country. We wish TO say
good word for them, and to advise the
people to frequent them, both for the sake
Of what they can give and for what they
can get there; and we hope and believe
that, among other good things, these au.
tumnal fairs will be instrumental in in.
Producing everywhere into the country,
in place Of our native horses with their
weakened constitutions and hereditary
tendencies 10 disease, the strong consti.
tuition, sinewy frame and fleet feet OF the
thoroughbred horse.
Uov nTest Tho AuVnSt RIoo,Ion