Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-18
Business Method ON the Farm.

Business Method on the Farm.
v. ]. Chamberlain, in Eufl Asa Yotke
It is not right OF best that all the
BOYS should stay on the farm. IL is
not true that farmers are the only
Droducers, or that they are more es-
sential in the makeup of civilized So
cicty than men in other callings.
Demagogues sometimes try topreach
that doctrine, in empty tiattery, 10
capture rural votes. Intelligent
farmers at once see its hollowness and
falsity. An old emblematic painting
in London crystsllizes this notion.
1t represent, first, king with throne
and scepter, and over his head -
written, II reign for all" Next,
bishop with cross and miter, with the
legend, IL pray for ALL Then, a war
rior with the words, III fight for ALL
And, last, farmer with rake and
hoe and plow. and over his head is
written, 81 pay for ALL"
Now this is not true and Is simply
empty humbug when the politicians
tell us so. and harmful egotism when
we think so. We are not the only
producers. The man who grows and
shears and sells the wool is not more
surely producer than he that weaves
the cloth or cuts or makes the coat,
or even. he that tCe1rs the coat, pro-
yided be earned the money with
which he bought it. The farmer is a
manufacturer, and the manufacturer
is producer. The man who creates
glass that did not exist before from
the sand Of the bank by heat and the
chemistry Of art, is just as truly
producer as he who creates grain
from earth and air and storm and
sunshine, by the organic chemistry of
Nature.
Strictly speaking, man cannot be
producer. The eternity and the
indcstructibility Of matter are well
established philosophically. He may
trgnsiorm or fashion this matter, as
when he makes shoes from leather, or
pins from brass, or knives from the
steel and ivory. Or he may trdHsmtte
il or change its nature more or less,
as when he turns hides TO leather or
sand 70 glass by tue agents Of inor-
ganic chemistry; or as when, by the
aid Of organic chemistry Of growth,
be turns or transmutes the chemical
elements Of earth. air, sunshine and
storm, into grass and grain, or the
grass or grain again into beef and
hides.
Thousands OF callings besides farm
ing are changing the form or nature
Of matter and adding something TO IL
paiuc in the world. And 50 all these
useful callings are needed in this
world, and the greater the skill and
intelligent use, the greater the rewards
Of labor. The census shows that
skilled labor in our country receives
double the wages paid 10 unskilled
labor. The only question between
farming and other honorable employ
ment is as 10 the division of profits.
How shall we see TO il that the men
who trHHjOrm matter in our factories
or transport it on our railways shall
not take any of the profits that be-
long TO the farmer who trdnsmutes the
inert elements of earth and air into
living crops and herds The only
way is for farmers 10 possess as high
grade of knowledge, and practice
as caTiUl a system of economy. and
pay as close attention to business
methods, as the men who run our
mills and shops and railways. The
truth about it is, there is just as fine
chance TO "get a living by ones
Wits" honestly, on the farm as any,
where in the world. The rewards of
superior intelligence and sagacity are
just as great on the average, and
more sure. The life of the educated
and sagacious farmer is quite as
"gonteel' as, and far more independ-
ent and healthful and inspiring than,
many callings in the city that our
boys think would be so "genteel."
The bright, active country boy should
think twice before he abandons the
farm and homestead of his fathers
for city life.
Wait a Little.
Frum the Agricultural Epltafn8si