Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-18
Farm anD housebolO.
Eoh Insersc.. CT Farming.

At the recent agricultural fair at Pc
ria, H., Col Bob Ingersoll addressed
the following sensible words TO the farm
ers gathered there. They are equally
applicable to farmers in this section OF
the country.
The farmer has the advantage OF the
mechanic in many ways. In our time
we have plenty of mechanics but no
tradesmen. In the subdivision of labor.
we have five hundred or thousand
men working upon different parts of the
same thing, each schooled in his par,icu-
Jar branch, but IN no other. We have,
say, IN shoe factory a thousand men
nut not one shoemaker. Each does some
particular part and not one knows the
entire trade, the result is, the moment
the factory shuts down these men are
out Of employment. Out of employment
means ont of work: out OF work means
ont of bread; and that means famine and
horror. II is thousand times better to
be a good farmer than q part of 4 me-
chanic. 1t is better 10 work the soil
and be independent, than TO work for
any man or corporation at salary.
Every man should endeavor TO belong
TO himself. | swear 10 you that will
be my own man. Do not mortgage the
possibilities of your future; have the
courage to take life as il comes--feast or
&, g
at dollar a day, and think of finding i,
how wolld YOU feel thcn2 We are lack
ing in independence, we are lacking in
true courage when for fear OF the future
we take the niggardly salary OF the
present. would rather have q farm
and be independent, than to be presi-
dent of the United States without indie
pendence, or than TO be a member Of
Congress tiled with doubt and trem
bling, feeling OF the popular pulse, re-
sorting TO art and srtifice to keep my
place.
We need more manliness, more real
Independence, We must take care OF our
selves. we must take care Of our chill
dren. This we can do by labor; this
we can do sud preserve our independ-
ence. We should endeavor to choose
lhat business or profession, the pursuit
of which will give US the most happi
ness. We can be happy without being
-ich without being famous. l am no
sure that we can be happy if we are rici
and famous. There is q serenity abou
the life of q farmer and hope OF Sc
rene old age, that no other business o
profession can promise. professions
an is doomed, at least to feel that a
his powers are waning, he is doomed
see Younger and stronger men pass hi
in the race of life; and he is doomed
lass an old age of intellectual mediocr
". But on farm he goes as it were
partnership with nature; he lives wit
flowers aud trees; there is no frightf
strain upon the mind; the nights a
filed with sleep aud rest; he wateh'
his flock and herds on the green slope
he hears the pleasant rain falling upo
his corn, and the trees he planted in b
youth rustic above, while he plants OF
ers FOR the children yet TO be.
Our country is filed with unemploy'
men and the great question to-day as
ing for a solution is. what shall be do
with these men, OF rather, what sh
these men do? The only answer, in 1
Judgment is, they must cultivate I
soil. Farming must be more desirab
II must be elevated in its character,
that those who work the land will ha
an honest pride in their business. TIL
must educate their children how to c
,iyats the soil. They must not be O.
Gated simply to be ministers, or lawye
or doctors, but they must be educa
10 be farmers II must be understC
that education is as necessary to till
soil as to follow any other business
nrofessiou in the world. We must
rid of the idea that little education
fits one for labor. There are to-
hundreds of graduates of Harvard
Yale and other colleges whe are age
of sewing machine companies, solicit
for insurance, clerks, copyists, In 81
performing mental service. They 81
to be willing to do anything that cal
done in the house, or in town,
avoid farming as they would lepr'
Every Young man educated in this
is simply ruined. What little good 81
he has is educated out of him. 1t
thousand times better TO have
sense without education, than educa
without good sense.
Give your sons an education that
enable them to help themselves, ed
ton that will be of real use. Let
be taught to help themselves; that
dispraceful 20 be idle; that only the
full are honorable.
Ifyou want more men and wome'
the farm you must do something TO u
farming more interesting than Il
One difficulty with life upon the FAR
that il is lonely. In these days v
the country is covered With tra'
when man leaves his wife and da
tiers, and goes off to some distant
to work, a shadow of fear is npoi
heart all day, and the same sha low