Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-23
For the. SPECTATOR
Letter from Maryland.
FARMERS IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA
THE OBSERVATION OF AN AUGUSTA GIRL.

| FARMERS IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.
THE OBSERVATION OF AN AUGUSTA GIRL.
| RoxBURY, MD.
| Mr.. EDIToR:-A recent trip to the Vir-
ginias has forced upon me the conviction
that in agricultural matters, at least, Ma
ryland "is ahead" Not because of better
facilities; not because of greater fertility;
but because-''tell it not in Gath. publish
it not in the streets of Askelon''-of the
more progressive spirit possessed by her
farmers, the more thorough and scientific
development of her natural resources. /
know that comparisons are odious'' to
| those who suffer by them, and that / am
| treading on dangerous ground; yet Solo
mon himself is my authority for claiming
that, sHe that rebuketh man afterward
shall find more favor than he that flattereth
with his tongue" If challenged, I am pre-
pared to support my statement by statistics,
and it is well known fact that 'tigures
will not lie." Acknowledging their natu-
raj advantages what Virginian will
refuse to do this?-is there any other than
the reason I have given for the significant
fact that the average yield is greater here
than there?
True, as general thing, Maryland farm
ers have a smaller area under cultivation
than ours; true, also, they have no fat cat
tie grazing upon their Thousand hills"
the possession of which apparently has
tendency to render the owner deliciously
oblivious of the fact that his "crops are
smartly in the grass" but he realizes, to
the fullest extent, that if they fail, all fails.
The growing crops are promising; and
while the wheat is not turning out" unu-
sually well, it is said to be of excellent
quality.
Farmers are grumbling-they have not
advanced beyond that point-but are grum-
bling in the good old old-fashioned way of
low prices. The sad, sad question of elbow
to live with wheat at 80 cents (and less)
per busheP' is more interesting to them
than the one l heard at home so unremit
tingly and vehemently argued, "Who shall
be Presidentf'
The Democrats of the State are so conf
dent of success, and the Republicans so
sure of defeat that there is no fun quar-
reling over it.
Hitherto such discussions have been mo-
nopolized by the "Lords of Creation" but
now that there is a female candidate in the
field the ladies will claim their right, if not
to vote, at least to ''discuss the situation"
to conjecture of the duties and privileges
of the future gentleman of the "White
House."
Mrs. Lockwood and her constituents will
meet with as little favor from her own as
from those of the 'sterner SEX" whose
misrule she denounces. One plank of her
platform, however, we will all indorse:
81 object to monopoly in the sense Of the
men monopolizing the funds, both public
and private"
Now, Mr.. Editor, please attribute brevi-
ty and all Deficiencies to the overwhelming
heat. The oldest inhabitants "never felt
anything like it." People who left the
mountains during the cool weather in Au-
gust under the impression that the summer
was ended, doubtless painfully realize their
mistake; as for those of us who left for
sother and BETTER reasons, the delightful
mountain breezes "haunt us stiU'
N. M. d.