Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-02-16
AGRICULTURAL LIFE.
Some Of the Elements Which Make II Pref.
cradle to City Excitement.

SOmo OF inc EleWonth hnlcu Mako It RfaN
cradle to City Excitement.
There is an element OF largeness ant
liberty about country life, which /,
well calculated to develop individuality
and independence OF character; sc
that a mar accustomed to it feels an
uncomfortable sense of ~closeness and
repression in the city, There is also a
material independence connected with
farm life, which men In other situa-
lions can seldom enjoy; and material
independence is in most cases a neces-
sary foundation for independence OF
thought and action. II the farmer
does not get rich, he at least does not
fail. as a large majority of those who
enter on business careers do, and he
knows that no one can disturb him in
possession OF what he has.
Again, the farmer is free from the
burden of wearying, harassing ankle
ties which has driven many a city
man to his grave, especially if his
sons stay on the farm with him in
stead OF leaving him to depend on such
strangers he a pick up for help.
Then there is an element of heroism in
country life, which the knight of the
yard-stick seldom has an opportunity
to develop. Heroism in man is ALWAYS
associated with physical achievement
of some kind. In summers heat and
winters cold, in the labors of forest
and field, in the competition of manly
sports, in the mastery of beasts, in
buifeting with Nature in her sterner
moods, there is opportunity for real,
heroic achievement, such as commands
the approval OF men and the adniira-
ton OF women, and tends to make a
man satisfied with himself, Nature
often opposes a stout, but kindly re-
slstance in order that her children may
grow strong and heroic in the encoun.
ter; and the element thus developed is
OF high value as u factor of genuine
manhood. But it must be remembered
that many and many a time it is edu-
cation, mental culture and elevation
that make the difference between hero
ism and drudgery. To one man his
occupation is irksome. and has only a
sordid significance; to another the
occupation is a pleasure in itself,
and the opportunity off noble develop
ment. 1t is the spirit in which a man
takes up his walk that makes the diff
and this spirit is largely a
Of education. culture and
breadth Of mental vision.
The fear is sometimes expressed
that education would take the farmers
away from the farm, This in my
opinion is a groundless fear. | admit
once the tendency aid object OF
education was to take boys away from
the farm and to fit them for profess
,ional life. But we hive already
passed that stage. The idea now is
md should be, to educate the man:
md education is valuable wherever
rue manhood is honored. Especially
the American agticulturist be
IN educated His position in life
it. He is not a tenant at the
mercy Of a landlord. He lives in in
dependence and comfort on his own
lomain, and is rearing and e~dutating
family. Every atom OF education he
obtain will come into play. II is
that the labors OF the field
hould be enlivened by discussions on
and science, than that the con-
'~ersation should be mere idle, I'M
levatiug gossip as is so often the ,ase;
nd the farmers hone should be a
enter OF culture, where literature and
Irt should be familiar topics Prof. !
g.. Porter, in Rnral New Yorker.