The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-07-16
ine Earmer, Past. Present, and
Hltnf-nN Future.

0fan the occupations in life reoui
ring manual labor, there was in wears
pastsinothing considered of as little
Importance as farming. 1t was not
deemed necessary that the farmer knew
much, or that he have means TO com
menrg business with. If unfit for any,
thing, else, he could be a tiller of the
soil. He could go into the forest with
his AK, cut down timber, roll up a log
hut and live in obscurity; looked upon
by the rest Of the world as mere clod.
hopper subject to the bidding of all otll-
er classes. And the farmers family, as
they went to town, to church, or any
other public gathering, dressed in plain
homespun, were looked upon as also
something below mediocrity. Within
the past few years all this has changed,
thanks to the agricultural press, and the
world has learned a lesson that it should
have known long ago; that within those
homespun garments are constitutions
unimpaired by following the fashions
and s6llies of artificial life, and better
stia, was found that the state of their
finances was as sound as their constitu-
tons. The soil was their foundation,
and when a crash shook the financial
work to its center, the farmer stood
unmoved, and still continued to SOW, to
reaN and1to furnish the fruits of the
earth as before.
Same, perhaps, will point to A., B.,
nd H. .fo g.. loI
but how did they fail9 A. thought far
ming a slow way to get rich, and lum-
bering looked moro promising; he tried
it, and is now working by the day for
living Y B. thought mercantile life
would suit his taste better-would give
him royal road to riches-tried it, and
is now working a farm on shares, not
so good as the one he sold for dry
goods G. thought there was money
in pAteht rights. that he could live a
more genteel. life therefrom, but when
the first excitement was over, found
that he was sold, and is now obtaining
mere pittance by doing any odd job
that he can find to do. Thus we could
GO through the alphabet, naming those
who were once well-to do farmers, but
who were lured from their legitimate
business by the mistaken idea that there
was better and easier way to get rich.
sRtvis true some have left their farms,
andahave done well at other business,
but, such men would do well on farm,
and ! can say that in all my ohserva-
tions, ] never knew a farmer to fail who
attended strictly to his farm; but have
known many a rough handed, plain
dressed farmer, to help some of his
mercantile friends out of trouble, in
times when they would have failed had
it not been for the timely aid Of the old
farmer. The time will soon come when
the farmer will be looked upon as he
trulris, the one ,who feeds the world
ands3urnishes the raw material to clothe
the nations.
Let every one owning land hold to it,
although it is small. 1t IS an insurance
olsother property and better to, the
family than a life insurance policy. And
nov. that the means, are being provided,
slowly it may he, but nevertheless, sure
1ysssp that the farmer and the farmers
SONS and daughters may receive culture
in their specially, as do those of other
professions in life. The time is not far
distant when they may become what is
naturally their due, the Ipeer not only in
technical knowledge in their profession,
but also in that thought, and culture,
whioh expands the brain and enables
hinitolgrasp subjects, as though by in
tuition. L. SUTToN.
Hartford, Mich. 8a