Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-04-06
PATRONS OF HUsnANDRY.
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.

passed by the present Congress. One
reducing the postage on seeds, plants.
etc, from the present rate of Is cents
per pound to cents per pound has
already had test vote in the House
of Representatives, with a very de-
cided majority in its favor. The other
matter is the issuing of fractional cur
rency for use in the mails in place of
postage stamps and postal notes. 1T
would be well, now that the victory is
so nearly gained, if Patrons and farm
ers would once more write personal
letters to their Congressman, urging
the passage of these bills in the inter
ests Of all the people. Specially urge
it upon both your U. s. Senators, as
it is in the Senate that the express
companies will make their greatest
fight against the reduction of postage.
This work cannot be done too soon.
The following points on rough dia-
monds are from the able pen Of Alpha
Messer, Master of the. Vermont State
Grange, and reveal some of the best
lines of Grange work: while it is true
that some men have greatness thrust
upon them it is equally true that it
would not have been their portion
had they lived in obscurity. No mans
talents, whether in business, politics
or in social life, could have been
brought TO light if hidden from society.
The diamond in its natural state is of
but little value. Its brilliant luster is
made TO appear by friction. The
rough and uneven surface is slowly
rubbed away until the stone is polished
on all sides. 1t is then that the beauty
and value of the gem is seen and APP
preciated Thus it is with humanity;
the work of polishing is continually
going on; the ideas of men in active
life are continually rubbing, one
against the other, and they become
polished, often resplendent, with the
power Of thought and imagination,
having crystalized in the solution of
weighty problems in science, i'll IL
nance, in politics and in social life.
With the recluse, who shuts himself
wholly or in part from society, it is
not so. 1t matters not how bright his
intellect may be, or how strong his
latent powers. they are of but little
value to the world until they are prop
erly prepared for its uses"
The most cultured and best educa
ted men are those who have constant
association with their fellow-men
They find this interchange of ideas
absolutely essential for continued and
healthy progress in their different
lines of thought. If this is true of
men of culture and learning, who |
have unlimited opportunities for read
ing and meditation, it must be EN-
phaticallv true of that class of men,
like farmers, whose opportunities Ill
this respect are often limited in the
extreme. The Grange gives farmer
not only opportunity for frequent
contact with others of his own class
and expansion of thought, but also
for learning things of practical value.
The farmers calling is such that 1t re-
quires large experience and close cal
culation to make a success of his busl- !
ness. Much of this experience can be
gained from others, with great saw
ing of time and money. The Grange
affords just the opportunity needed
for obtaining this experience in the
best possible manner
Sometimes people speak of the small
cost of becoming a member of the
Grange $500 for men, S1.OO for
women) A Pennsylvania Patron has
this is to say to his brother farmers;
My experience is that the Grange
does not cost enough, if it cost every
man $50 ten dollars to knock at the
gates and every woman $50 five dol
lars. it would be a rather costly luxury
to go into, just to find out what it was
and then leave it without paying one
cent of dues, with the plea that it costs
nothing and consequently amounted
to the same. For the sake of illustra-
ton | will cite one instance to prove
nv theory. In the little town of Will
Transport, this county, stands Ma
sonic temple and fine Grange Hall,
side by side 1t costs all the way from
S1.O0 to $500 to be Granger, and If
mistake not there has not been a half
dozen applications for membership
for years. 1t costs $685. to be made
a mason, and during that 4 years %,
or possibly 80, have applied for mem
bership. Now, you fellows who
want to be initiated for nothing
and pay no dues, please explain this
great contrast; tell us why farmers
will pay $500 to belong to other
Orders and from $500 to $500 yearly
dues and yet grumble at initiation fees
and dues in the Grange when the ben
efits are so much greater. Shame on
such sentinel. | would like TO see
both sides of this question thoroughly
discussed, for l think it is question
of great moment and of interest to
every member and lover of the Order
and demands the most consideration
before this leap into the dark ocean
of experiment is taken"