The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-04
Essay Read before the Union Bridge Agri-
cultural Club by 8. Shepherd.

month has elapsed since we met in the
capacity Of a club, and according TO the laws
OF our organization II becomes my duty to read
something before you for the ediiication ofour
members. will endeavor TO present some
views in regard to the habits and customs of
farmers as compared with their fellow-eitizens
OF other business and professions, aud give
some reasons why farmers and their families
should belong to the Grange and Farmers
Clubs. Man is prominently social being,
and endowed with greater mental and intel
lectual powers than any other animal.
We are governed very much by circum-
stances and habits, so much so that it has
become proyerb that habit is second nature.
The farmer business and location naturally
lead to his isolation, he lives remote from his
neighbors as compared with his fellow. citizens
OF the cities and towns-much of his time is
occupied in physical labor, his family forms
little community of its own, where they
enjoy most Of the comforts and many of the
Injuries Of life, aud like "old Friar Philip"
by reading. Thought and reflection acquire
much learning, sagacity and wisdom, but UNI
fortunately like the hermit's does neither
themselves or the community much good.
Now it is different with persons of other call
lngs, who mostly live in cities, towns and vii
lagos, and by constant association and inter
couse become more social and intelligent, are
sharper and more wide awake and generally
ready 10 step in just in front Of the farmer in
business transactions and political or social
preierment. Every other class of citizens
unites together in organizations of different
kinds for their mutual advancement financial
ly, socially and intellectually. Not so with
the farmer, $50 set in his Robinson CrusQe
ways, that you cannot get him out of his hole
even with long pole. There is not one far
mer in thousand that will join a farmers
club, and there is the Grange, an organiza.
ton that one might suppose was gotten up
through the inspiration Of the great Father of
the universe for the elevation Of the men who
earn their bread by the sweat Of their brow,
and that they would with one accord join the
Grange nd secure the benefits that they would
surely reCa,e, financially, socially aud men.
tally; but no They cannot break the chains
in which the habit Of centuries has bound
them. If any other class of our people had
any thing by which they could be as much
benefited as the farmer could be by the Grange
they would at once take advantage Of il and
reap the golden harvest waving so beautifully
and temptingly before them / incidentally
met with one Of my neighbors in the public
road few days since, and while we were
talking second neighbor came up who lives
very near to neighbor No. /. They said they
had not spoken to each other for a long time
before that day, although they were good
friends and had often seen one another. Now
how much betteris their situation than Robin
son Crusoe's, at least after he had Friday?
do not suppose either of these men could be
| induced to join afarmers' club or the Grange,
and yet they are good citizens, and above the
average in honesty and intelligence, and have
excellent wives and interesting children
There are several Oranges in this county, but
they are not doing the amount Of good they
should and would do for the farmer if he
could be induced to get up out Of his den, and
shake off the dust and cobwebs that have been
accumulating for centuries in and around his
brain and take the place among men that he
is entitled to, and his brothers Of other classes
would be willing to open the ranks aud have
him step in, but oh thou stiff.necked farmer
thou wilt not