The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-05-11
Too Many Hours.

There is one painful aspect of farm life
that calls for q change. No reform in
politics Is needed more. It Is that far.
mers work too many hours. They know
tais as we'll as we do; bat it is one OF
those latent scraps Of knowledge thet ia
never permitted to assert itself, and the
farmer plods on as If in deep rut that
1t is impossible for him to get out or az
am working for all day" said hired
hand TO us you work only as the fancy
seizee you" There is lesson in this.
Suppose the slow, weary walk of the
working farmer were quickened ; suppose
he rushed all of his work the same as
mechanics rush theirs; suppose, In q
word, he accomplished In ten hours the
work that now employs him from sun. up
till sun down, and then passed a pleasant
evening with his family, would not he in
the end accomplish more work and more
effective work? Would not his life be
happier and more worth the living?
The halfstarved, dog lrot OF many of
the farmers about us the lstless, lifeless
manner in which they perform their
drawn out labors are the necessary out.
come OF labor too long continued with
out change. II Is as if the farmer had a
journey OF twenty miles TO walk every
day OF his life over the same dreary road,
with precisely the same object In view.
at its completion he is tired, and has no
spirit either to enjoy social intercourse
or to improve his mind BY reading. He
has no energy left for thought. He falls
asleep at once, If he attempts to read.
And so it is; the long hours of work de.
pTiTo faTnier5 Of their best aid in passing
not only happy lives, but successful ones
Ihere is no occupation on earth that il
better suited 10 render men happy and
Intelligent than life on the farm, II right.
~ pursued, aud there is no other pursuit
that is more abused to destroy mans am.
6itlon, energy and happiness. We want
farmers to be the rulers of the nation,
anu that is what they are entitled TO be.
we want them TO be the happiest, most
vigorous and intellectual of men. They
enjoy, more than others, the free air Of
Heaven; agriculture Is the most health.
fnl, most useful and most noble employ.
ment Of man. Then Why, instead of
availing himself Of the opportunities
tnat are ever present, does the farmer
choose dull, mechanical routine of work
that, while it yields support, takes
away from life its sparkle and useful
ness?
The writer of this caunot be accused
OF knowing little of farm life. A part of
every pleasant day is spent in some kind
OF outdoor labor in the field or garden.
His experience has taught him that con.
stant work from sunrise till dark inca
pacitates him for effectual work, and that
what is gained in actual labor is more
than lost in an incapacitv to direct others
and TO work with the best results him !.
self
AS soon as We make farm work simply
iaborioue we lower agriculture to the
Ie-el OF any ditch digging, stone. piling,
hod.carrying business that needs but q
thimblefull Of brains to guide the Drawn
and sinew that do the work. We love
and respect intelligent farmers above
any other class Of men. But we despise
those !groveling caricatures that make
agriculture the means of scanty living.
at the cost of degrading themselves, their
wives and children.-Rurai Nc,r Yorker.