Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-25
Distastc TO the Farm.

Distastc TO the Farm.
While thousands OF Southern young
men are rushing into the cities, travelling
about the country invading every hole
and corner in search OF any work away
from the farm, their numbers are daily
augmented by fresh arrivals from the
North on the same errand. The country
seems to swarm with labOr-sockers in
every branch OF industry save that OF az
rieulturo. A newspaper notice OF
clerk, bookkeeper, bartender, or any other
kind of a tender, except soil tender
s'wanted," usually brings q crowd OF as
pirants and the advertiser finds that he
has large number OF choice young mon
from which to make his selection. Fnis
indicates thatthe farm is unpopular with
the young men of the country and that
they prefer the uncertainty OF permanent
employment in such places TO what taey
surely consider the still moro doubtful
employment of the farm. As every effect
has its cause we may consider this dispO-
sition among the young men as the out
growth of Impressions they receive IN
comparing the advantages offered, or as
to the character Of the labor to be per-
formed.
Many OF them, no doubt, are averse to
farm labor, and rebel against its require
ments in excluding them from the daily
excitements of City or town life; but this
would not account for the choice of a
large number who are anxious by any
honorable means to make a good start in
the world. This class is evidently mis-
lead-frst, by the prevailing exaggerated
methods of representing the 6Ourishing
condition Of tsts trades and their large
profits; and second, by the mournlul tale
of the BlGggarl "that farming don't
pay"
These young men ought to know thatno
business in the wNsasl having competition
will long pay wb4aOut proper attention,
and that no othst bu aness in the land is
SO loose and indiflerently managed as the
average farm. They ought also to know
that the grsE swell OF commercial and
DtherTade einplOyments are oyercrOwded
10 an extent tina. has long since reduced
lwagesto bare subsistence, except in very
lfew caIes. Outof a thousand clerks per
lbaps MT 9e Kindred can lay up money
but of MS saIsry, and in old age thou
Bands are still poor and obliged to give up
ltheir pieces to younger men.
The ame may be said Of others who
prefer employment in the shifting trades.
They ought to know that, however pros
perous or the season, for several years,
perhaps there is nothing stable in COM
nerce OF manufactures. That Just such
tboughtIss young men as themselves are
W thousands rushing into business Of all
Kinds and creating a competition that ul-
timatey destroys the profits they seek,
p7d prepares tire way for the inevitable
Yerash that must wind up the show.
The impulse driving many Of our young
men onward into this whirlpool is not the
desire to labor, to be useful, to make
living, but to make money" Very few
Of them seek employment to live-they
eopld perhaps live al home; but the whole
world around them is straining every
nerve fer money, for wealth, because that
alone, in this day, seems to give merit,
give position and consequence. The YER
lest jac-a-napeis made prominent by his
wealth, and the worse sOiled characters
in the land are ciean5ed by It's liberal use.
They give ruin 70 the impulse aud are
swallowed by :he maelstrom Whlcn has al
ready destroyed legions OF that class.
A little ref1<sEo'. a brief, earnest ex-
Elimination into - merits OF the farm
might save thousands OF these young
men, and in time reward them with the
wealth they 50 much desire. It might
seem harder To start--it might require a
little more exposure, hard labor aud
sacrifice Of personal comfort at the begin
ming; but it would be building On a sure
foundation that financial storms need
never approach, and that would be az
true to old age as to youth. It is a foua-
datiOn that will OF itself grow deeper and
broader, and spread out It's branches
stronger and higher with the increase Of
Intelligence and experience, until all the
avenues Of 5-alth are rendered tribu-
tary.