Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-09-01
2fsric,tlfltral Department
ADVANTAGES OF FARM LIFE.

Just at this time when s.hard times"
is the universal complaint of farmers,
and one half of all the farms in Vermont
are .sfor sale" it may seem strange
that any farmer should bring forward
this subject. When we are selling our
butter for twenty-five cents and our
wool for forty, and all other farm pro-
ducts proportionally low, while we pay
'war prices" for all we buy-I do not
wonder, fellow farmers, that you look
surprised that one of your number should
attempt to turn any rays of sunlight
upon the dark picture.
Although | do not expect you will
coincide with all my views or approve
Of the thoughts may offer, still, it may
do us no harm to turn our minds for
short time from the discouragements, to
some of the advantages of our occupation.
If we look at this subject from the
money side, I am free to acknowledge
that there is little cause for our encour-
agement There are many other occu-
pations in which one has the advantage
of the farmer every time in the matter
of dollars and cents. If money getting
is the grand object Of life. and if one IS
bound to be rich any way, why. he may
do it in almost any occupation.-it is
only question of time. By denying
all aid to institutions of society, all COM
forts and luxuries to himself and family
and bending the whole power of his be-
ing to the acquisition of wealth, he may
become rich. But the man who does
this belittles his mind and dwarfs his
manhood. The possessors of fortunes
are often found to have views and feel
| ing far below those of smaller means.
There is a contingency about wealth
which has nothing to do with manhood
or its development. 1t furnishes no
criterion with which to measure the hui
man soul and judge Of the proportions
of the man himself. But there are 9TH
er stand points in a farmers life from
which we may take an outlook. There
are but few persons who do not feel
more or less enjoyment in being useful.
We feel degree of satisfaction in know
ing that we are producers of the neces-
saries of life, that all other classes are
looking to us for their support, and that
their success and our prosperity are to
be mutually desired.
| And if we make usefulness one of the
prominent objects of life-if We value
good health and vigorous constitutions
If we have boys and girls to train up
for men and women that are to be wor.
thy Of the name, if we desire to be free
from the uncertainties and temptations
of business life, then claim that life
on the farm offers inducements and ad.
vantages second to no other occupation
and far in advance of many. believe
that as a class we possess facilities fol-
cultivating our minds and developing
ti1c powers OF the intellect that ouruparv
favorably with those of any other man
ual employment, and if we are to avail
ourselves of these opportunities we must
not confne our labors and thought:
wholly within the boundaries of oul
farms. We must profit from the exper
fences and labors of other men, not onl,
of our own but of other countries. w
must draw largely from the vast resource
of the press, and accustom ourselves t
be thinkers as we'll as readers. Tn
'sworld is the field" Our thoughts an,
! efforts should reach out through spac
+ as the worldwide as the habitation Q
; man. Farm labor tends directly to thi
: expansion of intellect.
Does farming pay? In what? L
cash profits answer, no. In useful
!. ness? In removing US from great temp
tations? In opportunities for developin
the best elements of our nature? | an
e swer, yes, pays.-Justus Dart IN Rex
g ord and Farmer,