The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-12-12
The Farmers Calling.

That farming is as sure, stable, hon.
orable and remunerative business as
one can enter upon, has been asserted
and proved over and over again. Ii
is true that other kinds of business
trade, commerce, and some kinds OF
manufacturing-that speculations OF
various kinds-banking and joint
stock comprehensive, especially 0!
late years, attracted much attention,
and have been popular with dashing
and ambitious young men. Still, in
the experience of few past years, the
statistics Of business disasters and
failures, the moral wreck of character
and the crash and ruin OF men who
were reputed rich, have proven that
farming is an industry less nuctuating
less depressed by hard times, less SUBJ
ject to failrres-a pursuit in which
men have pursued the even tenor OF
their way with less anxiety and with
less exposure to financial ruin ana
wreck of moral character-than any
other business. That colossal fortunes
have been, here and there, now and
then, built up by speculation, sharp
practices, gambling in stocks, spolia-
ton of labor and by indirect and di-
rect robbery, we cannot deny; but
those fortunes, however large and
glittering, do not stand up to the pub
lie gaze as monumens of honor, of pa
tient industry, Of pains-taking, honest
labor, but they tower rather as bea-
cons, warning men TO beware Of the
hidden rocks and treacherous quick
sands on which SO many of life's voy-
ayers have been wrecked. These for
tunes have no solid foundation to rest
upon, and when the floods come and
tie winds blow, they fall like the house
built upon the sam. Farming is
business that rests on q sure founda-
ton. IL demands honest work. 1t il
not built up by the spoliation of 9TH
ers. Its gains, though they may be
small, are legitimate and honorably
earned. There is more capital invest
ed to-day in agricultural pursuits than
in all other industries combined. Ii
pays morn for the support of govern
ment and receives less protection and
consideration from government than
any other interest.
In looking at farming in the broad,
full light OF utility, of safe investments,
Of sure dividends, ard of the best pub
lie service, We cannot help commend
ing it and urging it upon the young as
a pursuit upon the whole more salts
flying, less hazardous, more useful,
honorable and remuneratire than auy
other business, 1t gives scope to the
intellect, play to the imagination, a
range TO the affections, a field TO the |
inventive powers, a work for hand
and heart, which no other industry
supplies.
But for any adequate realization OF
the advantages, the remuneration and
the satisfaction of farming, there must |
be among our Patrons and farmers q |
high education, better culture and a
larger appreciation Of and devotion TO |
their own peculiar calling. They must
see and feel its importance iii its liuan-
cial. social, moral and industrial bear |
ings, and prepare themselves With as
much zeal and earnesiness by careful |
experiments, close observation and |
study, as those who pro-
pose to enter the learned professions,
or the paths of science, or the study |
and the practice of the arts.--KdaSas
SPIRIT.