Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-28
The CITY Farmer.

When formerly q city man, who had made
his "pile," and. as he drove through the coun.
try became fascinated with the beauty OF the
growing crops and things In general would
make up his mind to try his hand at 80
pleas ant a bus1ness-his actions were carefully
watched by the old farmers and his many blum
deTs heartily laughed at. He was not satisfied
TO nave things after the fashion Of the general
better and then he couldn't help but succeed.
He bought imported cattle, sheep, swine
chickens and what-not, the finest and most
some of which had scarcely been read OF by
agriculturists generally. He hauled his ma
hure from the city by scores OF loads; guano
scale that threw all his neighbors entirely In
the shade. When they protested against q
great deal OF this useless expenditure and
waste of labor, he would reply that he had bis
own ideas about matters ard things, and as he
thought they were an Improvement ON the old
fogy1sms OF the day, he would try what he
could c DO, having no doubt OF his entire sue
But no success followed; at least not In the
shape or to the extent expected. The next
year was still less satisfactory. as several OF
following year the fly got into his wheat so as
to leave scarcely more than one stalk standing
where there ought to be twenty The worms
ms ms oT
twenty OF his SOuthdown sheep in single
night. The lightning burnt down his barn.
Hence, at the end OF five years, he found that
there was neither pleasure nor profit In farm
ing-in fact he was quite sure of it. His
family complained, too, of being away from the
city, from their friends, from parties, operas
OF the country. Papa, therefore. backed by his
family, who had come out with such eagerness
into the pure atmosphere OF the Mills and val
leys, sold out everything at half its value
houses, lands, stock, crops, household goods
ana everything else, root and branch. losing
from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars and
went back whence he came, a wiser, If not
But he was followed by Others who did not
entertain his extravagant ideas aud hopes; and
If most Of them got tired and retired In few
perience was probably worth all it cost them.
1t taught them at least that man cannot In
MIDDLE lie. or In the decline OF life, take upon
himself the unleaTned duties of new Dusi-
ness, which, however eager he may rush upon
them, are like all other duties to which every
ore, before he can understand them thoroughly
ana satisfactorily, must serve an apprentice
Nevertheless, as population. business and the
number OF wealthy people multiplied, the In
hux into the country grew more numerous and
some OF those who entered upon extensive
farming operations did SO with a perfect
knowledge that 1t would cost them Something
clever to enjoy the pleasures OF the field and
forest to degree which their tastes and per
haps lack OF health stimulated them to persist
In. Stili there are some who, In spite Of some.
what extrayagant expenditures TO have every
actually made money by their farms. We
Know OF several who have not only supported
Their 1amilles-which required no small SUN
but laid by from one to CWo thousand dollars
regularly year.
But In another sense these so-called fancy
farmers" however dear the school of expert
eLce may have been, are valuable to a com.
muhity. They are almost always kind, gener.
Gus ne1gnbors. In many, many instances That
We could name, they have done much solid
good In introducing fine stock into their dis.
trict and never dream Of charging anything TO
tnose around them. They Can afford and are
WllIlng TO make expensive experiments which
without Their running any risk or loss. Alto
getner. therefore. these moneyed gentlemen
VINO mo charm in the cultivation OF tina soil
valuable In any neig hborho ID, ana wnen or q
liberal, friendly disposition, as they mostly are
are always respected and appreclaIed-Ge1..
mantOtCn Telegraph.