The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-03-06
For the Eagle.
Headers VS.. Reapers.
MOUNT OLIvET, March 3, ]

Ed. EAGLE:-In the last issue OF the
EAGLE notice that my old friend IN
z. d." is again on the war path in de
Tense of the wire binder. NO'y, | had
'eally supposed that this header, OF
hcadless, warfare inaugura ted by NJ. r.
D., was SO cficctually sgLelched, by ar
yumcnts and convincing figures, per-
tanning to the laT.c subject, that the
gentleman would hardly attempt to col
lcct his scattered and demoralizetl forces
together in sufficient strength to renew
the fight. But it seems In this was
mistaken, as his last attack on my works
was by far more desperate and fierce,
and, if possible, mole inconsistent an0
brainless than the first.
In the same issue of the EAGLE | re-
ceivcd an unexpected, but fortunately
harmless, rear attack, from skirmisheT
who answers to the name of Cowhidt
Farmer, from which l take him to be !;
rather tough and unpliable sort of a
farmer. But the most that can in jus
tice be said of his article is, that it sa-
vofs so much Of barefaced and unwar-
rnted assertions and SO little of an,
thing that approximates to sound argu-
ment or reasoning, tlrlt at the presen
| shall be compelled to treat it, for tho
most part at lest, with silent contempt.
If, however, in the future emergencies
should arise requiring il, may ask thu
privilege, through the columns of th
EAGLE, to dress this green and Unframed
cowhidc and present il in its new anG
improved form and proper shape. A
the present | will simply say of him thai
it will always remain query to m,
mind how he made the important dis
covery that | procure my bread by the
sale of headers. But since he has been
SO strangely and fortunately let into
this secret, il would, | suppose, be folly
for me to here state for his information
that now am. always have bceD, and
always expect to be, a farmer. And
will further say that what little bread
have had, or in other words, the little
which feeble appetite has demanded
was procured by the sweat of my brow
in obedience TO the high 'pehcst of the
Great Master Fa.rmer O! the Universe
Jehovah hims elf. But as to the future
L cannot speak with certainty. The
Lord on' y knows how or from whence
my bread il TO come, but one thing IL
certain. shall endeavor in the future
as in the past. to have my bread made
out Of -four from headed wheat, from
the fact that for the past six months
some Of my neighbors have been com.
PEELED 10 use IA very inferior quality oi
flour from sproutcd wheat harvested b.
Cowhide's favoritc, the wire binder.
But to return to friend NJ. II. ID. Tho
first. and perhaps most serious, charge
which he preferred against me in hi
farewell address. was that cvidentl.
regarded him as an implement vender
instead of viewing him in his proper
sphere and standing, namely: that Of 8
prominent industrious farmer, pioneer
settler of Kansas, and a man who fol
10! these many years, has by the mid
night oil devoted his entire abilities Il
the study of Agronomy, in its various
branches. until his locks are whitcncc
with age and fast ripening for the grave.
Now can positively assure him that
never for moment entertained the
thought of him being an implement
vendcr, rs his conflicting statements are
wholly sufficient to satisfy any manu-
facturer that he would soon ruin the
sale and reputation Of every machine
which he might be engaged in selling.
He next says. in referring to a part OF
my former article. that the majority OF
farmers, after having resided in Kansas
a considerable length of time, are en-
dowed with certain amount of mother
wit, etc. infer from this that farmers
who have resided, here but short time
have not received this happy cndow
ment. But he does not state the length
of residence required. nor the condition
and obligation, if any. connected with
il. All Of which would be interesting
and important to those of us who have
but recently located in the State. NJ.
r. ID. saws that he has already been here
thirteen wears. but if were to judge l
would say that he would be required TO
remain at least thirteen years longer
with the chances greatly against him !;
that his term of residence would have
to be continued TO the remotest ages
before he would be properly entitled to
the peaceable possession and full enjoy
ment of this great blessing which he
calls ..mo,her wit" But the fact is, Mr..
Editor. that in INV sinlesss innocence
and bl;ssful ignorance, had always sup
posed that this smother wit was a sta
pie commodity which mankind received
at their birth and creation.
In reply to my former statement to
the effect that bound grain is often nee
essarily allowed TO remain in the field
for weeks after it is harvested, etc. lie
saws that il is inexeusable. il being the
result of sloyenly farming. la regard
to that will say we have here in Grant
township, As a class. as neat. practical
and industrious farmers as can be found
in any other portion of our State, NJ.
X. u. being excepted, of course,
and owing to the continuance of wet
weather Of the past harvest our farm
ers were compelled to lei their grain re-
main in shock until wet weather ceased
before il was sufficiently dry for stack
ing. and further than this do not think
that was single acre harvested previ-
Gus to the wet weather that was not
more or less injured by sprouting. Tie
next says did not produce any figures
10 reiuie his former statements and fig
ures. Considering, as | did then and as
do yet, that the major portion of our
farmers had studied agronomy in its |,
vsF;oVs bTsYcaes and were endowed