Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-11-28

We have from time to time endeav-
ored to impress upon all, but more es.
pecial y farmers and thei- sons, some
of the advantages of Their high calling
or avocaton, knowing full well that
there are not a few who are engaged
in agriculture who do not feel much
pride IN the bus ness. but ra;hec ieel
that they have been forced from cir
cumstances into business from which
they would gladly be restored. In this
connection. without being considered
tedious, let US say that "a I'M life is not
monotonous, is not humdrum, is not
de- old OF entertainment and is not
wanting in the elements which contrib
ute to culture. The reason why farm
ers-many of them-t;re of their occu-
patton Is be -ause they don't raise it
above the level of drndgcry The me-
cha ical part, dependent entirely upon
muscle, is in tie foreground. at the
foundation, and I'll the hours, days.
weeks and months. with too little of
MISUNDERSTANDING which engenders
observation aud Investigation. VIII Oh
gives life to any occupation and thus
renders it entertaining and sstistac-
tory. There is no department o. labo
so full of opportunities foc en.arging
and rounding ont the mind and heart
of man as farming well pursued, and
there is no vocation in which oppor-
tunitieS are so abused. The fa. mer has
before him an endless amount of ma
terial open t. original observations, and
although this sort of exploration may
not make him rich in pocket, still it
NAV not in the least iniure his business
wh le it adds greatly to his measure of
happiness. The size of mans farm. the
amount of wheat, barley, corn or oats he
may grow, or the number of head of
stock he may turn of, although it may
contribute iowa d making him a men,
Der of tho legislature. doos not deter
mine his whole worth to the public.
But the man who puts thought into ev-
erything he does, who is constantly
striving 10 evolve some better plan OF
procedure that sha be of benefit to all
his fellow-farmers; who considers his
farm a work of art, to which he is
constantly endeavoring to give an
added beauty; who teaches by ample
and precept that within his domain
there is an endless amount OF opportu-
nifty for scientific study: and, above all,
who strives to bring those with whom
he associates to appreciate. a as he does,
the possibilities of farm life in tho for
nation of ideal manhood. is bene-
factor. There is once in a while farm
er who seems to aim at position like
this, but often those who attempt 10
make the most of farm life in adding
culture to mind while making living
are sneered at, and while their mistakes
are eXagg rated, their success is looked
upon cOldly. The truth is, wo owe
more to these men than we know. The
men who know how and take time "a
collect data, make comparisons and
draw correct conclusions are too rare.
We need more thinking men educated
among our farmers not necessarily
men who have been within college
walls, but educated men in the broad
e.t sense, wherever their culture may
have been obtained. And let not the
farmers decry the means of culture
which brings TO them these benefact-
ors. The future of aSri ulture is not
to be measured by the yard stick OF
those who know everything about the
business already. but by the chain
which is modelled by those who thor
oughly appreciate the possibilities OF
the vocation and SEQ how short of true
success we now stand.-SGa Franc $ o
Cir0Hicle.