The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-10-19
MULE BLANCA.

The mule stood on the steamboat deck,
The land he would not tread;
They pulled the halter round his neck
And cracked him DER the head:
But obstinate and braced he stood,
As born the scene to rule,
A creature of the hold-back brood,
stubborn, steadfast mule
They cursed and swore-he would not go
Until he felt inclined;
And though they Numbered blow on blow
He altered not his mind
The deck.hand TO the shore complained,
"The varminps bound to stay!"
And still upon the critters hide
The sounding lash made play.
His master from the shore replied,
"The boats about to sail;
As other means in vain you've tried,
Suppose you twist his tail
It's likely that will make him land"
The deck-hand, brave, though pale,
The nearer drew, with outstretched hand,
To make the twist avail.
There came kick of thunder sound!
The observation-disclosures was he?
Ask Of the waves that far around
Beheld him in the sea
A moment not voice was heard
But winked the mule his eye,
AS though to ask to him occurred
Now how was that for high?n
"Just cut his throat" the captain roared,
'And end the cussed brutc!
But the noblest soul that persisted there
Was he who tried to dot!
call your attention to its contemplated in.
PRODUCTION into your county in mode
which must greatly advance all your ma
terial interests. / allude to the proposed
continuation of the narrow gauge road,
which must, when completed, greatly adj
vance all your material interests by giving
you direct railroad connection with Bal
timore. And feel satisfied that great as
have been the advances of your county in
material prosperity, the completion of this
road will enable you to accomplish far
more in the future than you have been able
to do in the past, owing to your compar-
atively isolated position. And you may
rest assured that the citizens of Baltimore
will hail with pleasure the completion OF
a road which will enable them to have
closer business and social relations with
your rich and delightful county. And l
am sure that you all will derive reciprocal
advantages from speedier and cheaper ac-
cess to our good city. trust therefore
therewill be no unnecessary delay in the be.
ginning and speedy completion of this
much-needed work. But great as are the
advantages of direct railroad intercourse,
like all other benefits have attendant draw
backs. Among them may be mentioned
the fact, that the products of distant States
are brought into competition with those of
our own in our markets. ] feel satisfied
however, the citizens of Maryland will show
"there is life in the old land yet" and they
have enterprise and foresight enough to
take advantage of their greater proximity
to market, 80 as to enable them to compete
successfully with their more distant rivals.
But to do so it is necessary for them to ex-
anime the situation with care and skill; so
as to ascertain what are the particular pro-
ducts to which they should devote their
attention, with the best hope of success
full result. Believing as do that "compe-
ton is the life of trade" think the maxim
is as applicable to farming as to any other
calling of life. / have no patience with
or faith in the man who is so fearful of
competition as to be continually on the
lookout for some place where he can pursue
his vocation free from the struggles OF earn
est rivalry.
Such man is unfit for the active con-
tests of life, and, my word for it, if he
finds the place he is in search OF, he will
ascertain that it is but Sleepy Hollow, fit
only for those who wish to enjoy Rip
Van Wrinkle sleep. But while am sure
you are willing and able to play your parts
in the more active life that is opening be-
fore you, let me say the contest will be no
child's play. Eight years of my life were
spent in the West and Northwest, and
found there an active, earnest people, well
worthy of the glorious country they in
habit. Nothing surprised me more than
the immense extent and great fertility of
arabic land, and the rapidity with which
it was being brought under cultivation.
was shown corn field in Indiana which
was said to contain four thousand acres.
The prairies have been so often described
that shall not attempt to do so now.
Suffice it to say that while the immense
extent of fertile land would delight the eye
of farmer, soon grew fired of their
sameness, and longed for the forest clad
hills and mountains of Maryland. In
Iowa, where l made my home, the prairies
are rolling and far more beautiful than the
fiat ones of Illinois, and the system of
small farms prevails, as a rule, A descrip-
ton of the mode of farming may not prove
uninteresting. Those Western farmers are
not troubled with telling trees and pulling
stumps, as we are when we want to bring
wild land under cultivation. Their first