The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-03

successful? to gather as 1t were, the small
rivulets of different experiences into one
grand reservoir where all may come and
drink freely, "without money and with
out price?'
We we'll know that what is applicable
in one district of country may not be suit
ed to another. What would render one
field productive might be worthless in
another, yet, there is great deal valua-
BILE to be learned from the record of 9TH
ers, that we may beautify this glorious
old section of country, and that we may
stand abreast with others who have out
stripped us. My friends. we are dead in
all manner of agricultural trespasses and
sins, and some of us like the old negro,
"when we cum to look it ober in de light
OBJ pain and fear, find odder holes in our
old armour, dat at fust view didn't ap-
pear" We need an agricultural shaking
up. Some Of us need be brought to the
mourners' bench and converted to the
truth as it is in agriculture at this day.
We have indeed glorious heritage, but
to great degree have we not failed to
subdue it and make it fruitful as COM
manded? If its Lord should come to-
day to His own, I fear greatly that He
would have to say "Thou wicked, and
our day of repentance is at hand, and we
are going to begin a new life, and put on
a new garment and hide the nakedness Of
our land from those who will at no dis
tant day come in flocks to our section,
and they are just as sure to do it as they
have gone to other States, and I expect to
see the day when this section of country,
boundless in her many resources fully
developed, and hear and see and listen to
the hum of thousands Of spindles here
on the waters of Saluda. and listen to the
songs of factory girls as they 60 about
their duties.
And 1 expect to see our farmers yet,
making use of all kinds of improved
methods, and taking advantage of the
many inventions and appliances for the
mitigation of human suffering. We will
have more of comfort, more of wealth,
more of intelligence and true happiness
in all our homes, and our rural land
scapes will glow with beauty, for the
hand of beauty in the persons of loving
with Gods own beautiful trees and flow
ers. Let US strive to elevate our calling,
make it great by showing its importance
as branch Of human industry. 1t offers
as great q field as the farmer, and it tends
more to promote the comfort, and multi
ply the comforts and enjoyments of man
kind than any other occupation. Any
number may engage in the business OF
agriculture with certainty of support If
he will only work. I've taken up the
vocation, and I thank God that have,
and trust ere long to be able to exclaim,
Oh the independence and glory and hon.
or and peace OF farmers life! I've had
many experiences in my young years,
and have been tossed by waves Of for
tune and misfortune, have felt some of
life's shocks, its heart aches, its shadows,
its doubts and dependencies, and oft
times the burden laid upon me seemed
more than could bear, and even now
begin to see rift in the clouds, a well
come glimmering Of the "silver lining"
and the future is promising.
In every section of our land there is a
fungus element who endeavor to create a
feeling adverse to the responsibility OF
farming, and hence we see our crowded
workshops, professional men without
business, brieaess lawyers, stationless
preachers, and ragged school masters,
and in our crowded cities thousands OF
poor pitiable wretches reeking in filth,
loathsome with disease, who prowl and
growl daily and nightly for bare living
and this sprawn and slime OF alley ways,
this Observation-Disclosures
Sort" blot upon our civilization, can't be
forced to the quiet country to work. No
estimation can be made of the great good
that could be done to humanity if our
calling was properly understood and ap-
preciated, and how much sin and shame,
crime and corruption, disease and death
could be diminished. Let us sweep away
all this ignorance in regard to our calling
and make it desirable field for educated
young men to enter. Hold forth its many
splendid promises, its many advantages,
dom from failure, and its healthful invig-
Grating influences. We asked young
man some time ago why he abandoned
did he sink money? I say there was 9
NOT haye "sunk money! This mans
expenses in conducting his farm exceed
ed his income. Inattention to business,
or perhaps longing desire for "town,'
caused him to give it up. Why did he
not redouble his energies and try again ?
Don't pay! Why, WHAT industry but
farming can stand at all, subjected as it is
to such enormous rates of interest as the
farmer pays? And hundreds of other
losses that he is subjected to-loss Of farm
animals, loss by insects, loss in idle
lands, and loss in buying supplies, and
many other things too numerous to men,
ton.
So we see amid all the diversified pur-
suits Of man none are SO reliable, Sc
bomb-proof against pauperism as farm
ing. II is urged that farmers generally
have not that accuracy of knowledge and
skill in the framing of laws, that will
make them fit persons to become legisla-
tors. Suppose this true. How many
generations with the rapid progress now
made in this Heaven-born occupation be-
fore they are fit? How many of our
men high in position throughout our
whole country to-day have the entire con-
tidence Of majority of the people? And
this never WILL be until greater num-
ber of men engaged in the practical busi-
nesses Of life are found in our Legislative
halls, tradesmen and farmers. Good
men, honest horny-handed sons of toll
who have been sent there for their true
worth. Men embued with the spirit OF
agriculture, the great foundation upon
which the whole industrial world stands.
Men Of sterling good sense and calculat-
ing sagacity, honest, aUle and shrewd,
vigilant and firm, that they may counter
oot tho OWL and prowinr Influences of