The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-02-17
Farm Life.

Almost every day we are more deeply
impressed with the solemn duty of urg-
ing the boys to stick to the farm. When
We contemplate the fact that the rural
districts of such a grand agricultural
State as Illinois are losing population,
and that the cities are constantly gain
ing the ultimate result OF a continuance
of such state of things is nothing less
thar deplorable. Every avenue OF busi-
ness life is crowded in the city. Those
who make a success must sacrifice
much, and comparatively few care to
pay the price for smccess. OF all the
thousands employed in a great city,
those who have toiled hard and long to
achieve success, and by reason of their
toll and painssaking care, command
such confidence that their service are
almost indispeusibly valuable, are COM
paratively few. The great mass is
composed of Dobodies. They are en-
ployed if employed at all, because
positions must be filed, even if lmper-
fectly filed. But day after day they go
to their work, commanding but little
more regard than a machine, and en-
tirely uncertain whether through the
whim or zeal dissatisfaction of their
employer, they will have work to-mor-
low, or be thrown out of employment.
They live from hand to mouth, in
very unpleasantly strict seEse o. the
term. In the professionsthere is no room
except for those who have signal abili-
ty and an industry that will prompt
them to work themselves literally to
death. Indeed, there is a most dismal
prospect for even brilliant young man
In the professions. A few weeks ago
young doctor was arrested for stealing
books. and it was shown that he COM
mitted the crime TO get money to keep
him from starving. His arrest and con-
viction prompted several young doctors
to write letters to the press, and they
all united in saying that the young doc
tor, however well qualified could not
command a living practice. In conver-
sation with three lawyers a few days
since. two of them united in the opin-
| ion that Chicago had hundreds of law
! yers who were either starving or gaining
| a living through unprofessionaI practice
The clerks in our dry goods stores are
overworked. In our grocery stores
they are on their feet from seven in the
morning until six, seven and sometimes
/ ten O'Clock at night, and the pay is poor
| The trades are full. Everything is
crowded, ana still there is a steady y
stream from the country to the city.
1t ought not 70 be difficult for the
! young man who az least gets enough TO
eaL and wear and has good bed TO sleep
on, on the farm, TO see that the chances
OF success in the city are too few TO
warrant him in running the risk. We
know what the encouragement il farm
ing is. We know how poorly it has
paid of late years. But this is not be-
cause of anything in farming Itself. 1t
is the result of unjust. and oppressive
systems, and these can be reformed If
the farmer is true TO his own interests,
and we believe that they will be reform
nd. The people OF this country do net
propose 10 be wholly eaten up by greedy
mouoplies. Farming will come to the
front as paying business. We canno;
think that the people Of this country
will stand idly by and see their IepabliC
crumble and our general prosperity
ruined and these are the inevitable re.
suits of depOpulating our farms and
turning our population into our cities
1t is our duty as patriotic citizens &c
make our farms pay. by relieving then
OF all nujust burdens. We will relieve
them too, and then there will be moth
ing to do but impress the youth on our
farms that useful, prosperous farmer
is more honorable man than wei
dressed or poorly dressed city ldler.