Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-06

lie
Alpha MrsScr, Master Of the Vermont State
Grange. in Grange Homes 81
In a recent issue of lions Herald the
editor gives the following unfavorable com
parison of New England with Canada and
the West
In riding through New England, pass
ing into Canada and thence into the great
West 1t is impossible to escape the painful
conviction that New England is rapidly de
generating rs an agricultural district In
deed the farms, with the buildings have a
neglected and slovenly appearance in com
pariSon with those seen everywhere even
IN Canada and i'm the West Only in New
England did we see the deserted farm
house, with windows boarded to protect
the glass As the memory of the rocky.
unyielding, and too largely outworn and
barren soil Of New England is recalled, in
contrast with the black, rich, level and ca
silly tillahle farm-lands upon which the eve
rests as we write, we are not surprised at
the proverbial word of counsel of Horace
Greeley. Indeed we would reiterate it to
those who seek the most honorable of all
occupations-tilling the soil.
apprehend that for some reason the
Herald editor has soured on New England
Possibly portion of the Methodist breth-
rem do not pay their subscriptions prompt
ly, or, perhaps, he was overworked and in
leaving Boston for an extended trip for re
cuperation, he saw New England as he felt:
but by time he reached Canada he began TO
experience a sense Of relief from the cares
and burdens of newspaper work, and he
4 4,
a much better appreciation of the works of
man and nature too, and when he reached
the great West he was happy enough to
call everything good. Be this as it may,
the writer does not look upon New Eng
land, Canada or the West, in exactly the
same light as the religious editor does. A
pretty thorough knowledge of New Eng
land, but more especially of Vermont,
through which the writer Of the above must
have passed, and three extended trips to
the West over three different routes, have
given me reasonable opportunities for com
pairing New England and New England
farming with other sections of the country.
and must say that my jud gment differs
widely from that of the Herald editor. In
comparing average New England farms.
farm buildings and surroundings with those
OF Canada, on the line of the Grand Trunk
railway, my judgment would be, that the
farms with the buildings in Canada "have
neglected and slovenly appearance in com
parlson' with New England. The aver
age Canada houses that | have seen are
small, Imprinted and generally have an ac-
emulation of rubbish about them, and
their appearance is uninviting in every re
spect, and the barns or substitutes have no
favorable comparison with those on New
England farms
SO far as comparison with the West is
concerned, it depends largely upon where
one travels. In some sections of Illinois.
Iowa, Wisconsin and perhaps in other states,
especially near the large towns the travel
er sees unmistakahle evidence of thrift,
enterprise and wealth in the farming com
munltles aud the same thing is preGmi
nently true in regard 10 selected portions
Of New England But if one wishes TO oh
tain correct idea of the great West as it
exists today he must travel through some Of
the newer sections and at times leave the
rail and 20 among the farmers and see the
farm buildings and surroundings as they
really are. buggy ride of 100 miles
among the farmers in almost any section
Of the great West would convince most
eastern men that slovenly farming and the
sluyeuly appearance of farm buildings is
not confined exclusively To New England
While can truthfully say that admire
the West, aud look upon the fertility Of
her soil and her increase in wealth aud pop
ulation a. wonderful with possibilities for