Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-03-04
farir aud Anilsehula.
Agricultural Life.

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of the most scientific pursuits, it has to
go begging for mon Of brains, while the
othcr professions and callings, most of
them much less worthy of attention, are
crowded to overlooking. The spectacle
Of q stalwsrt farmer blowing, and dele
cation Of men calling him to abandon his
work and rule the people. is beautiful
picture Of the past. Cicero mentions
several such instances, not then uncom-
mon our own historians tells us Of
others. Is it because our farmers of to-
day are not in sympathy with their work ?
Or is it because, amid the excitement Of
cities, the wonderful inventions. people
travelling by quick transit from city to
city, with but little opportunity to see
what sort of being farmer isis it
because amid all these, we lose sight Of
agriculture, that it does not occupy its
true position?
1t is "a well-known fact that if farm
er's son manifests talents little above
the ordinary run Of farmers; il be has
longings for intellectual culture, be is
regarded as too good for the farm the
town and profession must possess him,
while his brother, an unambitious, lazy
country lout would rather pursue the
dull routine that he has gone through
than take the trouble to try something
new. Horace Greedy said on this sub
ject: lis agriculture repulsive pur-
suitT What has been called farming has
repealed many Of the youth of our day, l
perceive. and | glory in the fact. An
American boy who has received fair
common school education, and has an ac-
tive, inquiriug mind, does not willingly
consent merely to drive oxen and hold
pillow forever. He will not sit down de-
void Of books aud periodicals, and intel
ligent, inspiring, refining conversation,
and there plcd through life Of drudgery
as hopeless and cherries ss any mules.
This might have served his progcnitor
in the ninth century; but this is the
nineteenth, and the Young American
knows it, And hence it is, that, while
the best minds Of the country 90 to the
city. they leave the farms to the manage
ment of men who see nothing Of the sa-
credness Of their work, whose chief idea
of a farm is so much food and drink.
The tendency Of the times is to reject
manual labor, and those business men
who live nearest the ears are regarded
as the most fortunate.
Speed, at present, is everything Now
If men could. by turning little wheel,
pillow acres in day; if crops grew and
matured 10 week II one could watch
the growth Of vegetation in day; if all
work could be done by steam, there is
no doubt that thousands would flock to
the side Of agriculture. We might see
horse:jockies standing, stop watch in
hand, and betting on the growth Of a
cabbage. But alas these things are
not 30.
oae Of the most powerful objections TO
agriculture is urged in the fact that il
does not pay; that ideal farming and air
castles ere ono thing. the reality another.
Greeley again says: "Most men are
born poor, but no man who has average
capacities and tolerable luck need remain
90. Aud the farmers life, though prof.
fering no sudden leaps. no ready short
cuts to opuleHce. is the surest of all ways
from poverty aud want to comfort and in
dependence. Other men must climb
the temperate, frugal. diligent, provi.
dent farmer may grow into competence
and every external accessory to bappi.
ness" Many men look with less disgust
on q man stained with political treachery
or corrupt morals than they do on a man
stained with the pure soil or honest ele-
ments. liza young man has been highly
educated and proposes to be farmer,
the relations and friends Immediately
ereiailn. What: throw away all that ed .
acatioa. and he eosr.e rude farmer 2
Destrsctioa hsih oSanaken us e.
They. Of course. differ with Cicero
when he says: II am excessively de-
lighted with the pleasures Of husband.
mes. which are 90. checked by an old
age. ssd appear in my mind to take the
nearest spproaei to the HE Of . wise
man" Ia !, not necessary, then, that .
ssn should be rude, uncaltissted, and Of
no iatelIsct. When be has chances for
stuJy asd Improvement which fsw pep