Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22
Why Don't They Like Farmers

Under the above head the New York
sun has an editorial article, which
reads: An Iowa correspondent, who il
farmer, finds that simply because he
works in the soil he does not have the
success with some of the young women
in town to which he thinks he il en-
titled. He thus puts his case and asks
us now he can overcome their prejudice
against his occupation:
"SR-I am young man twenty-one
years old, and am enjoying fair business
prospects. am of respectable family,
am OF strictly temperate and industrious
habits, lay claim to n good moral char
acter, and possess fair education, hay-
ing employed my winter months for
some years in teaching in the country
schools. My chosen occupation is that
oil farmer. Have always moved in the
society OF the town near which / live.
NOW, in that society are some young
ladies' whom / highly respect for their
intelligence, social qualities, and many
other womanly virtues, and to whom /
would acknowledge my inferiority. And
there are others whose equals feel that
/ am, but who on many occasions have
indicated that they wish to have moth
ing to do with me because of nv occu-
patton. Now is there any way by which
they may be taught to overcome the pre-
Judice existing toward farmers; or are
such ladies worthy the respect and es-
TEEN of one in my circumstancesp
FARMER"
1t is undoubtedly true that many
young ladies in the towns and villages
look with aversion on the idea of marry
ing farmers. They will prefer the So
ciety OF sleek young fellows who stand
behind the counters of country stores, of
doctors and lawyers who are Just begin
ming in their professions, of young
preachers, TO that of farmers who are
better settled in the world and who can
offer them n good home. Perhaps the
work of the farmers gives them a
rougher exterior than the others have.
and yet they may be their superiors in
those qualities which should most com
mand the respect of women.
Why do these young women, then,
look with less favor on men who till
the soil than on those who work in other
waysP Why do they prefer TO marry
somebody else than farmer? Some Of
them may have vain and silly reasons
may like to see their lovers in good
clothes every day and TO feel that their
hands are soft; but they generally are
better pleased with the idea of living in
a town than on detached farm.
In times past the wives of our farmers
have had very hard life of il almost
universally. Many of them have been
about the worst drudges in the country,
up and busy before daylight, and with
no time the day through and no strength
at night for amusement or refining and
diverting occupations. Their existence
has been one OF monotonous work. and
they have grown old early under the
weight of it. Moreover, their diet has
been wretched- salted meat and hot
bread chiehy-and their health and
spirits have suffered so that they have
looked like jaded and miserable women.
TO whom life presented few pleasures
The farmers are living beti er nos than
formerly, and there have always been n
minority OF them whose wives were not
such monotonous workers but many of
the women on farms are still far away
from the pleasures of life. while of its
hardships they have daily experience.
Perhaps it is their observation of
these unhappy cases which makes the
town and village girls OF whom our cor
respondent speaks less friendly to him
than he would wish; but no girl OF
sense can entertain low opinion of the
occupation of farmer, for IL is one of
the most honorable in which men en-
gage. A thoroughly well titled and ap.
pointed farm is something OF which any
body may be proud; and the girl who
marries the possessor of such farm has
reason TO share his pride.