The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-28
From the London, England, Ne'es.
American and German Farmers and
Peasants.

A German author, Heinrich Senior,
who has specially studied American agri-
culture, draws, in work on the significance
of North American competition in agrlcul-
tural productions, an interesting COMPARE
son between the German and American
farmers and peasants, a comparison which,
in many cases, might be applied to the
same classes in England The German,
says Herr Senior, is never so practical as
the American The former works hard,
but the latter accomplishes more, because
he is constantly considering how to save
time and strength. He is not attached to
the agricultural implements to which he
has been accustomed from his youth, but
constantly thinks how they can be brought
to the highest state of perfection. Every
Improvement is at once adopted, not only
by the intelligent and well-to-do farmers,
but by every one who has more or less to
do with agriculture There are no such
wide distinctions in America as exist be
tween the educated German farmer and
the German peasant. The educated Ger
man farmer is superior to his American
colleague in scientific knowledge; he is his
equal when the conquests of machinery In
the region of agriculture are in question !;
but he is his inferior as a business man, as
saver of time; he is not so practical in
small things and not so fond of exper-
imenting.
In drawing a parallel between the Ger
man peasants and the American farmers
who are their equals as to property, it will
always result unfavorably to the Germans
The Americans are both more prudent and
more active If the small farmer cannot
afford to have thrashing and moving ma
chimes and haypressers Of his own, he hires
them. All his tools, even to the smallest
are of the best material and models of ex-
cellence. In small household detail, that
Of coffee mills, Herr Senior notices the
fact that in Germany the coffee-mill is still
held between the knees, while in America
il Is screwed to the wall, thus saving half
the labor. In Germany it generally takes
three men to shoe 4 horse, while in Amer
iea one is sufficient The apron used by
German workmen impedes them in climb
ing aud even walking; the American apron
is slit up the middle to the height of the
legs, and the two halves are bound round
the ankle, which is both more comfortable
and better protects the clothes. In some
parts of Germany the laborers eats FIVE
times day, during harvest time takes even
six meals. and this habit alone win enable
the American, who eats only three times
daily, but better, to compete successfully
with the German. The American drinks
no brandy while at work he is not lazy as
soon as his masters back Is turned, and,
being more respected, respects himself
more than does the German workman.
The best workman in America has often
formerly been very Indifferent one in Ger
many, which is owing to the improved
social position in which he finds himself
Social circles can, Of course, only consist of
persons enjoying an equal amount Of edu-
cation but there is no necessity that the
educated classes should be cold and unap-
proaehsble to the working classes. The
rivalry Of nations, which becomes more in
tease every year and challenges their whole
intellectual power, can no longer be led ex-
clnsively By the educated classes; the
masses must bear their share in il, and that
nation will win whose masses take the
largest share The class pride of the Ger.
mans Is a national fault and misfortune, for
il sA great hindrance to the intellectual
and material development Of the people.
Not existing in America, the unedueated
classes, who have equal rights with the ed
ucated, easily fill many gap in the practi-
cal knowledge Of the latter, are constantly
enlarging their own horizon, and imkibing
more refined manners Ii i not the more
favorable material position of the American
Eps klaa that prevents social democracy
from gaining ground in America, but his
more favorable social position. If class
feeling in Germany were les strong, II
GeFHlan woFkmen, by intercourse with the
better educated classes, had become more
enlightened and intelligent, the Socialistic
movement that is now a peril 10 the country
would never have attained It's present i'm
poFtaace aud bitterness. II il a mistake to
think that the American workman is under
hansher discipline than the German the
contrary Is the case. The German master
scolds and storms pretty frequently, and
yet he has generally less command over his
woFk-people than the American master,
who briefly and decidedly gives his orders,
allow no smoking, and ut once dismisses a
lazy or dlsobedient servant Noh-indul-
sgence Is the common and unexceptional
custom, and has contributed much TO rem,
dering the working-elasses of America so
capable as they are. No impossible de,
mands are made, however, aud at seven
o'clock In the evening even agricultural la
Dor ceases.
In activity and excellence the American
farmers wife is much better than her fame
in many travelling authors mouth. She
does not work so hard as her German sister
IN the same rank Of life; she does not
trouble herself about the cattle, neither does
she herself fetch the wood, coal, and water
But nevertheless she isl pattern Of house
keeper The good arrangements of kitchen
and stove, and al sorts Of time and labor
saving household machines afford an ease
and facility Of work unknown in German
households The American is not only
clever in his housekeeping, in the treat
ment of his workpeople, aud in his business,
but also in the choice of the products which
he eultivates. The same kind of moors
that ON the North Sea coasts of Germany
are considered yalueless aRd unredeemable
are planted. on the coasts of Massachusetts,
and New Jersey, with cranberries, which
yield ten times as much proftas corn grown
on the richest soil. There are limestone
mountains in Germany that miserably sup
port a poyerty-stricken population. The
same species of country in Vermont and
Maine grows forests of the sugar-bearing
maple, which yearly yield % million pounds
Of sugar aud million gallons of treaele,
both Of excellent quality,
The cooperation of American farmers
aud merchants has been of brilliant result
two classes which in Germany are utterly
careless of each others advantage. The
American merchants inform the farmers
what agricultural products are most in de-
mand in the markets of the world, and
how they must be cultivated and packed in
order to be rendered capable of expectation.
The merchants know that they can import
only when successful export puts their fell
low-citizeRs into a position to buy. At