The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-20


little diversion while waiting for train
time. .-..-.-
WHAT INGEKSOLL KNOWS
ABOUT FAR MING IN THE
OLDEN TIME.
When l was farmer, in the Olden
time, in Illinois, they used to fence
l6O acres of land with Two dogs. When
1 was a farmer they used to haul wheat
POS miles in wagon and sell it for 35
cents a bushel and bring back about
800 feet of lumber, two punches Of
shingles, barrel of salt and a cook
stove that never would draw. When
1 was q farmer they toasted GU corn
and bacon, and didn't know very well
how to cook even that. We had poor
houses and no barns. The horses
were put in straw sheds, and long be-
fore spring most of the straw would
be eaten away and it took all the oats
and all the corn we could stuff into
those horses to keep them from actual
starvation. In those days most farm
ers thought the best place for pigpen
was Immediately in front of the house,
and the woodpile, as general thing,
consisted of log upon which an ak
or two had been worn out in the fruit
less effort to make kindling.
No farmer can afford to sell his
wheat and corn and oats He should
sell horses, not oats sheep, cattle and
pork, not corn. He should make
every profit possible out of what he
produces. So long as you ship your
corn aud oats and wheat, so long will
you be poor; just so long your farms
will be mortgaged to the insurance
companies aud capitalists of the East;
just 80 long all the profit of the indus
trious in this glorious state will be
given to pay the capitalists of other
states. When our farmers ship their
products in the shape of stock, then q
wave of prosperity will sweep over
our state, and Illinois will become the
most populous country in the world.
In the old times, when was farm
er, not tree was set out once in ten
years; not q grapevine was planted;
and about the house not . flower could
be seen, When you went to their
houses you were not met by flowers
and trees loaded with fruit, but by
yellow dogs that came bounding over
the worm fence like wild beasts.
There is no sense and no profit in such
life. 1t is not living it is hardly ex-
isting. ask the farmers of Illinois to
beantify their homes, surround their
houses with flowers, to make every
thing beautiful and attractive. You
don't live up to your privileges. In
every farmers house there should be
bathroom. You have no idea of the
civilizing influences of the bath.
When you come from the field, tired,
covered with dust, nothing can be so
refreshing As bath. Keep clean. l
am not one of those who think that in
order to raise hogs you must be one.
Put on clean clothes, take a scat in the
yard under the trees and amidst the
perfume of flowers, surrounded by
your family, and you will know what
it is to feel like gentleman.
1t is not necessary in this age Of the
world for the farmer to rise in the
middle of the night and begin his
work. This getting up SO carly in the
morning is u relic of barbarism. 1t
has made hundreds Of young men
curse the business. There Is no need
of getting up at three or four o'clock
in the winter morning. The farmer
who persists in doing it and persists
in dragging his wife and children
from their beds ought to be visited by
missionary. 1t is time enough to
rise after the sun has set the example.
For what purpose do you get up? To
feed tho cattle? Why not feed them
the more the night before? 1t is q
vast of life. In the old times they
used to get up about three O'Clock in
the morning and go to work long be.
fore the sun had risen with healing
upon his wings and as just punish
ment they all had the ague, and they
ought to have it now. The man who
cannot get a living upon Illinois soil
without rising before daylight ought
to starve. Eight honrs day is enough
Tor any farmer to work, except in har'
vest time.
Il A TEACHER, after reading to hel
scholars a story of q generous child
asked them what generosity was. On
little boy raised his hand an said. s.
know it's giving to others what yo'
, don't want YOurself.'