San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-12-22

OF the classes of the unemployed, IL
consequence of age, present and former
habits of life, lack the elements neces
sary to success in farming. Others lacl
only the necessary means to enable
them to make start. No plans have
yet been devised, nor I fear are likely II
be, for aiding those without means, bu
otherwise qualified for success in max
ing start. But there are those who hav,
accumulated some means, who possess
the requisite elements of character to in
sure success, who are working on salar
les, and have nothing better to lock for
ward to than a salary, who now have il
in their power to break away; if so dis
posed, and take a new departure. Many
of these are young men for whom the
city has already lost its enchantment
and who have youth, health, and energy
as a capital to stand upon.
THE CITY HAS LITTLE BETTER
to offer them than salaried position.
Every year the business Of the country,
both commercial and manufacturing, is
becoming more and more concentrated
in great firms or corporations, which,
whether intentionally or otherwise,
freeze out and dry up the smaller con-
Germs. The young mechanic or clerk,
instead of in few years growing into
a business, of his own, remains jour-
neyman or clerk. As middle age and
gray hairs approach, the tenure to his
position becomes more and more uncer-
tain. If he retains it, it is only by suf-
ferance, and he all the time has the en-
barrassing consciousness that his employ
er would rather have younger man in
his place. At last the time comes when
he must give way to younger man,
and goes out from the house or corpora
ton to which he has given the best
years of his manhood with no adequate
accommodations (if any at ally for sup
port in old age. Thenceforth if any
employment is attainable it is at boys
pay. There is no more pitiable specta-
Gle to be seen in Chicago than that of
elderly men who have filled responsible
positions seeking work or following
some make-shift employment as means
of maintaining precarious existence.
Such an experience as I have sketched
will be that of ninety out of every hun.
dred young men who enter upon sala-
ried positions and remain in our cities.
They will be hirelings all their lives.
AS a farmer, man is his own master.
1 have never encouraged extravagant
in regard to the profits of
farming. But any man settling on lands
wisely selected, and with means enough
to make fair start, may reasonably ex-
pect to find himself at the end of ten
years the owner of good farm, well
improved and stocked with comfortable
buildings, and in receipt of an income
sufficient to meet all reasonable wants,
leaving no room for fear and anxiety in
regard to future support. The opening
of a new farm is no holiday business,bu
with people of small means involves
plain living and hard work for few
years. Farming, however, is not the
drudgery it was even a few years ago.
The labor-saving implements of the
present day, the riding-plows and cult
vators, the mowing-machine and horse
rake, the self-binding reaper, and other
equally important improvements in i'm
elements of husbandry have taken the
place of simple masculine force, and
made it possible for every one to be the
gentleman farmer"
One of the healthiest and most hope
ful indications of the times is the fact
hat the influx from the country to the
city is largely stopped, and the tide
.urned the other way. The hard times
nave corrected many false notions
among others that farming is not re-
'pectable and desirable employment
md farmers sons, instead of now as
pressing to the city for en-
,loyment, are sticking by the old farm,
n making farms for themselves on new
apds, while some of the best elements
n our city our moving in the same di-
ection.
Dying Beside His Sweetheart.