The Russellville Democrat., 1875-05-13
Does Farming Pay?


 would stare us squarely in the face. Of course it pays the follow CTS of every other calling, profes- sion or occupation, unless, indeed, it is better to starye than to live. But does it pay the monied man to invest his funds in lands, stock, and farming implements and go to raising grain, cotton, or any other production of the soil? For one I will answer with an emphatic no.
 If speculation, making money, or getting rich is the object, let farming alone. Ifyou are an able bodied man, with little means and willing to labor with your own hands, avoid saloons and card d-ta- bles, and other places of idle re- sort; it will pay you better than to keep a grog shop ora clerkship in a little store "around the cor ncrn with q nominal salary. For one I own that I am very sick of the twaddle of the kid glove gent ry who prate about the mobility of labor and independent life of the farmer" It is mostly the stalest kind of flattery, thrown away at that, for nearly every farmer as soon as he falls heir to enough means goes to selling goods, or puts up a mill, and edu- cates his sons for some of the professions or sets them up in trade. And his daughters to thump on the piano and live with out work, where they soon will learn to view with contempt their less wealthy neighbor in her sun bonnet, picking cotton or milking the cows.
 So you see if wealth and sham responsibility IS what is craved farming does not pay.
 It is folly to undertake to con vince the young man or young lady, (for I believe there are no boys nor girls now, that working in the field or the kitchen or at the loom is easier or pleasanter than to wear nice clean clothes and live in town. I have never heard this subject discussed in a rational manner. If you tell a boy (young man) that it is more independent, more noble, more re- spectable, to handle the hoe and the blow, than the pen, that it is better to work all day in the hot sun or wintry blast than to stand behind q counter or desk, nine times out of ten he would say to himself Eff had q good education and fine clothes I'd show you what l think of your logic"
 Why not say to your son, "I am not able to send you to college nor even to a commercial school, only a few men can be rich, only few are or can be great, and many of those who start on the road to wealth and greatness fall by the way, being beset with q multitude of temptations, it is therefore, better for you to labor with your hands honestly and faithfully. Avoid all dissipation and extravaganza, and never envy the boy who struts in finer raj ment than you are able to buy and pay for
 The most discouraging obsta cle with the farmer is in the propeI education of his children. Those who live in towns have superior advantages in this way. But aftel all these are perhaps more thai counterbalanced by the allure ments to dissipation always in thO way of the youth of the town Idle time is q curse, for "the devi always finds some work for idlt hands to do." The want of socia enjoyment has always been driv ing the young folks to town, bu now the grange has come in t meet that demand, and fthis flea ture of the grange IS encourages and the grange made an educa tional institution the farmer cal solve the question, twill farming pay" himself.
 Knowledge is power and nobod needs the weapon more than tn farmer, as Brick Pomcroy says Ii must use his think shop"
 Discomfort and growing xvii not help the matter bit-worll- economisc-save-lay up vou