The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-07
AGalne OF Chance. r.

fact, ones whole life is game of
chance" Such is the style in which a
man Of fifty summers and winters writes
US from St. Clair County. 1t is capital
text for every farmer, and every me-
chanic and every business man to preach
himself a sermon from. The sentiment
it contains is rude and untrue; the utter
ance stamps the author, whoever he may
be, with a lack of courage, and
a lack +. of faith in human en-
deavor. All around him are the ma
terials and forces which courageous
man will seize and employ to win success;
the prizes which patient industry and
steadiness of purpose may reach are with
in plain view from every standpoint
in life.
Is farming game of chance? Does
prosperous business in farming depend on
chance or luck? We often hear farmers
express themselves in this wise: II had
bad luck with my wheat this year," al
had miserable luck with my lambs this
spring. lost about half the number
dropped.n This expression is thus APP
piled by different persons to the several
departments of farm business; and it is
maize as sort of excuse for the poor re-
turns or results of the years operations.
These losses by bad luck, or when the
game goes wrong, more than balance
the profits, frequently; and there IS no
hope for those farmers who give up that
the chances are against them, and who
have not the acumen to discover where the
fault lies-how the ill luck arises. If it is
carelessness and a want Of a systematic
course Of business they do not seem to
know it. If it is caused by inefficiency,
lack of thoroughness, order and watchful-
mes, they do not appear to perceive it.
In these busy years of production what
a thought is this that " farming is game
of chance" to be found floating on the
heaving ocean of agricultural ife The
rich experience of thousands of farmers
everywhere relieves US of the duty of
making very labored argument to dis
prove the idea. If we go to the store
houses. of agricultural literature we find
numberless cases on record where careful
farmers have made money at farming, and
made it steadily and surely, by adopting
certain rules of farm business and follow
ing them out strictly. If farming is
game of chance with any farmer, it is
because he follows maxims Of thriftless-
ness instead of the maxims of thrift.
There is no business in which men are
engaged which is 50 stable and certain as
the business of farming when pursued on
business principles. There is no "chance"
about it.
Why, the men who think it is all
chance and good fortune if they get good
crops, or chance and i'll fortune if they do
not, scarcely understand the rudiments of
the business in which they have enlisted.
And these men are not very scarce-they
are, ID truth, plenty.
The business of the physician, or of the
lawyer, is more truly business of chance.
If people do not get sick the doctors in
come may be easily counted; if they do
his returns are quite ample. If people
live moral and peaceable lives, the lawyer
starves; if they are vicious and quarrel
some, his chances are rich and splendid.
The best of talents may, and often do, lie
idle for want of chance to use them.
Not so the farmer; his business chances
are constant; he never lacks an opportu-
nifty to employ his gifts and his knowledge
of business rules. Whether the seasons
be wet or dry, hot or cool; whether FAM
inc prevails in some portions of the
world, or plenty blesses labor everywhere;
whether intestine war RACES, or peace and
industry reign-his business goes right
along through all. 80
The nature and wants of the soil re
quire continual and hard study His an
lmals need daily attention and care. His
improvements in building, fencing, drain
ing, retaining waste lands, and remov-
ing Instructions to good culture, are
never ended. IN addition 70 these labors
he must be always providing fertilizing
materials TO SdpPiy the waste that is ever
going on The rich elements of his sol,
which he carries off in grain and meat and
hay, he must replace, or his farm will
run down and his business will become
what our friend whom we quote at the be-
this article terms is4sa" game
of chance.''s9F INST zHiarue.i sf4i5 a b.
No, Heaven has not left Che primitive
occupation Of man out in the chaotic cold
Of chance."s Laws more certain in their,
operation, more beautiful In their adapta-
ton to the wants and happiness of man,
than those sdeyelaped I'd the business Of
farming, sre found nowhere on the earth.
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