Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-05
Love of Rural Life.

1t is very often remarked that the ten
dency of farmers sons is toward village or
city life, which they suppose furnishes
greater social opportunities. When young,
they seem to think that any city or village
occupation is preferable to farming, and
they are even met with driving dray as an
improvement on his occupation. But what
a sad misconception of the dignity of the
independent farmer, when it is supposed to
be improved by driving dray! Such a
misconception never would occur in Eu-
rope, where society is divided into classes.
The landed proprietor class is considered
most fortunate, because this gives a sub
stantlal basis for permanent support, and
thus attaches to it peculiar dignity and
respect.
If we follow these young men who leave
the farm for other pursuits, in the hope of
more rapidly accommodating property, we
shall find that they still retain latent love
for rural life. This is often manifested by
them after prosperous business has
brought them surplus wealth. They then
purchase the old homestead, and improve
or rebuild the farm dwelling and barns,
taking much pleasure in these improve
ments, or if the homestead has been other
wise disposed of, they then often select
other country farms for improvements; but
they seldom go through life without show
ing that this love Of country life keeps a
strong hold upon their affections. There
are few towns in the older States that have
not many such cases of farmers sons re-
turning to the country after middle age, to
find pleasure that they had missed in their
business pursuits. And this very often oc-
. ours with those educated for the learned
professions. They return to the farm with
much higher appreciation of its pOssibili-
ties than they had before they left.
We must not omit to show how some of
those who leave the farm when young, re-
turn full compensation for their early de-
lection. Their minds having been shar-
pened by business or professional life, they
return to the farm in an entirely different
frame mind. They have learned that any
business to be followed most profitably
must be followed in all its parts; so when
they return to the farm they do so in the
character of students. They now have a
full appreciation of books relating to agri-
culture; they examine all carefully tried
experiments; they see where the old pro-
cesses can be improved, and they become
the introducers of improved implements,
as well as the inventors of improved modes
of culture. They are ready to experiment
hope of improvement Failure does not
discourage them, for they know that
all great improvements are preceded by I'M
successful attempts to find the right way,
and they patiently continue till they hit
the right process, and thus become the
benefactors of agriculture. The principal
improvements of Lat ancient implement,
the plow, are to be credited to this class.
The grain drill, the moving machine, the
reaper and binder, have all come largely
through this class.
1t is pleasant to find that these Maynard
sons of farmers, whose departure from the
farm has been so much regretted, have f.
nally conferred greater benefit upon the
occupation of their fathers than if they
had never, left the farm, but had continued
to till the soil in the good old ways of their
forefathers.
This ought to show the farmer the bene-
fit of education. If farmers would join en-
Enthusiastically in building up our agricul-
tural colleges, and encourage their sons to
take the agricultural course of study, it
would soon be the means of adding many
attractions to farm life.