Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-09-13

| aud quiet, it is true, with the aspect o
the country. they possess capacity fol
| beauty rarely scen,-a beauty so grea,
that the church. the village green. the
modest public building. the dwellings o
the villagers, the shaded highways, all
recall TO those who have ever been famil-
lar with them a scene Of rural loveliness
rarely surpassed. Aud they stand 10 as
| great contrast with the villages Of con.
tinental Europe as the parks of London do
to the dingy and gloomy puriieus Of the
Strand. And yet OF the temptations and
tendencies of these attractions and beauti.
ful spots | do not care to speak. The list
less side OF a country village is often as
hard TO resist as the glittering and dan
gerous side Of great city. And an not
sure that II would be well TO subject the
young men of your farms to the constant
influence of those who gather In the re-
sorts Of village idleness. Nor zm | sure
that the lyceum, and the library, and the
church and the schoolhouse, are powerful
enough TO counteract these nhu ences,
more especially If they are in the hands OF
those who have exhausted themselves by
long days Of toll on their outlying farms,
and have returned TO their village homes
for nights rest.
On the inconvenience of this mode OF
life which makes the villages place OF
rest. aud the far of farm the scene OF toll
and business Il Is unnecessary TO enlarge
The wise and judicious farmer knows that
his most profitable husbandry is carried on
upon the lands which lie directly around
his farm buildings. The transportation Of
the articles OF a farm Is expensive enough
at any rate, aud should be reduced to the
lowest possible point. .he time and lab
or spent Ia transporting manure long
distance may destroy its value entirely.
ana every experiencep man knows that a
held adj accent 10 the farmyard Is much
more valuable for all farming purposes
than one which lies mile away. It Is
difficult for me to conceive how the busir-
ess or a farm can be probably conducted,
with the building In one locality. and the
cultivated felds in another far removed
The buildings on farm should be the
heart Of that farm. as near the ceuter as
possible and giving and receiving. all the
sliAl force which IS to make Il desirable as
home aud 4 place OF business. There
can be no economy IN this country in a
system OF agriculture which separates the
iafiArr from his acres. Nor can there be
any social aud civil advantage IN calling
on the !andholder- OF America to abandon
their scattered hOmestcade and take ref
use 10 populOus street, OF rural villages
THE example ID this direction by the small
landholder, OF Continental Europe /. not
worthy Of imitation acre. But warned BY
a system which has reduced agriculture TO
the point OF the severest drudgery for both
men women aud has cooled the individual
energy and brought tie necessities and
wants OF the people down 10 the lowest
point OF mere aaim.l existence let The.
American siili hold on to his farm and he
litSp -till in hf. r.
be Improved perhaps. but Il cannot b.
proiitaGIy or beneically DESTROYED or
chhngcd- II the charges made against In.
farmers homes are true. let the reform be.
gin - the homes themselves indeed, IN
the improvement already begun be contIu.
ucd, Tor you who are familiar ~uh these
homes know that long ago the tasteful
duties Of lie began 10 ENTER Ia aud dyru
there, and that flowers and buoa, AM
music every ~hcre aJoru the prusuerDu,
Sud Industrious farmers household
h,,s, u an aaSctIve and Intelligent people de,
.ir- n .hould be aud render t al ONE
gratifying to the tastes and responsive %
the thrift OF a busy and r1llivaicl ycOm
anrv | would sl.i! adhere |" 'he - %,
- lnt,,.d farms the aoodes oi weli-or2an-
i,.I families the nurseries ot thc oest SOY
IL ,ud civil virtues. That the Tural VIZ
laye la. It's part to perform ~ a > rteni
IKE this every American KNOWS i"at
Iif, l.. bcre the more artificial service oI
business OF the mdEhere oi necessity vi
the municipal work Is to be cariS.ooe- t
the guides OF education ana religion cntt.eIf
especially on their labors, Will always
form a most important part OF the civil
organization OF our land, and vii furnish
all the opportunity Tor Improvement and
/. ft- D "a
can desire Il is the mixed lifc OF the
town and the country which most thor
oughly BELTS the soil Of America. and j.
found to-day In great perfection through
out New England, New York aud the
best agricultural regions of the middle aud
western states. Adorn. then. and beautlfv
the villages but cherish the farms and
poiut the way to their further advance
ment III the best modes OF agriculture, and
the organization OF the best torn OF rural
life.
congratulate you, gentlemen, on the
continued prosperity OF your society. IL,
influence has long been favOrably ielt
throughout New England. IT. history ex-
tends over period Ot varied fortune IN all
the Industries of thi, land. but its expert
euce tells story Of agricultural growth
and prosperity which no disturbance has
paralSZed OF even Chtcheu Inc ltI nrE
OF New Engla has now. 4, he ha- had
tor wears, "A satisfactory share OF good
fortune The local markets furnish him a
fair reward for the staple products OF hi.
labor--those products which lie beyond
the reach OF speculative fluctuations.
! Farm labor is stili the best paid labor In
| the lsnd, aud We may assure ourselves
| that among the chances and changes o.
| other advocation>. We have done gooC
work in supportiu: and improving the
| fundamental industry OF mankind.
| MORAL CHARACTER There is nothing
| which adds so mach To the beauty aud pow