The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-17
SENSIBLE TALK ABOUT FARMING.

SENSIBLE IALh AbouI EAhmlN9.
No Profession More Honorable than
ArricuIture..-SelfR is Urg-
ing Upon All--.The Way to Make
Happy Homes.
Southern CuHiudtor.
Its very gratifying indeed to note with
what earnestness and Zeal the farmers arc
pushing forward the crops OF lSS9. Ihere
seems 10 be an effort to excel oil former re-
snlts. and from present indications the labor
will not be spent in vain. \ great many, and
in fact we may safely say majority, nave
long since learned That success IN agriculture
depends solely on the individual effort OF
man, so applied as to make every We pos. possible S,e
the time and by following i'll strict conforml-
ty TO the laws OF Nature and Natures Cod.
But how often do we see men dlSreSardlng the
laws most essential to the full development
of plant life mt its most critical period of
growth: and then, because the soil fails to
respond with waving corn and pastures green,
they raise the cry Of farming don't .pay:'
never for once attributing the cause Of failure
TO any fault or negligence Of theirs. They
will write long articles to the newspapers OF
the country full of theory, which they mink
will forever impress 1t upon the popular
mind that agriculture is failure. and means
only disappointment and lost opportunities
for ali who engage in 1t. Can the views and
expressions of such men. circulated around
the world through the medium Of the press,
be anything but detrimental to the interest
of farmers? l think not, and the sooner all
such chaff and nonsense has been dismissed,
the better IL will be for all classes who have
the welfare of the country at heart. How car can
we ever expect farming to command the capi.
tai, attention and respect II is Justly entitled
to- If few discontented and unqualif1ed men
continne to proclaim the erroneous state
ment of farming don't pay" and asserting
that all who engage in such will only be
"hewers o. wood and drawers Of water for
their more fortunate fellowmen?
This NAV seem to some an unwarrantable
attack upon a few; but, Mr.. Editor, you are
we'll aware of the TACT that once in while
some one takes special care to wage war
against farming; that too, by men who pro-
fess to follow the occupation. 20 dSS, %nere you
heard to dshearten and depress the spirit OF
the most sanguine.
"Farming don't pay-we are imposed upon
by the commercial world, the trusts, syndi,
Gates and money-lcnders.' is the chorus that
is sung. Admitting that to be the case, which
Is true in a certain way, would 1t not be more
becomming in us to exert our greatest en-
deavors in throwing off the hand Of oppress-
ion now throttling US in the guise OF trusts
and combinations OF capital, than TO raise the
howl of farming don't pay?" think SO, and
it is time for all this nonsense to stop.
move that we look upon all who attempt
TO decry the pursuit Of agriculture with In
dignation and contempt. If there are those
among us who are incapable OF guiding ana
them quietly drop out and give room for men
whose ambition and greater ability aspire 10
higher attachments than some are W1ll1ng 70
content themselves with. The silent voices OF
Thomas Jefferson, stands as undying evidence
that agriculture Is not only successful call
ing, but Is "tle most useful, most honorable
and most noble employment OF men," so
away with the discontented element among
us, and give US men who are willing to fight
the battle Of life through the varying scenes
of adversely and prosperity! Men with
strong arm and brave heart, VINO, When
obstacles that may Confront them until their
ideal is reached-men whose integrity anu
force of character is SO moulded as to make
it impossible for the petty trials and tempta;
tions to swerve them from their duty and
purpose through life, the uninaat,1n Of which
Is peace and victory"
There is another class of men who belong to
the fraternity Of farming don't pay" that Is
than all the rest combined. They think that
education Is secondary accomplishment
upon the farm, and a person who has been SO
fortunate as to attain one should not lower
himself to the plane Of husbandry, but cast
his lot among the professional class, or, per-
chance, walk the floor OF some mercantile
establishment, shut in from the freedom OF
life, like bird in its cage deprived of Its lib
erty a greater mistake has never been COM
mifted. Farming needs the aid of the edu.
Gated Just rs much so as any other branch oi
science and for the want of which lies van
gushing at the mercy OF its foes. We want
n mind SO educated and disciplined as to take
in the broad comprehenslveness Of our call
ing, and so applied as to produce results
worthy of its name.
Dear readers, are you eNerting the utmost
Of your ability In improving your condition
and adding to the wealth OF society and your
country? II so. ! bid you take courage? your
labor will not be spent In vain. study your
business and try to make each day an I'm.
provement over the other. Subscribe liberal
iy for papers devoted TO your calling; such as
the CuuiUator, which has done more for 1te
readers than any journal in the South-not
only subscribe for 1t. but read IT., ponder and
reflect upon what you have read, and see II
YOU cannot better your surroundings by an
application OF its teachings to your business:
Seek wisdom, for wisdom begetS power, and
above all do not neglect the other members ol
the family; furnish them with liberal sup
ply of reading matter, embracing in its selec.
tion one or two religious papers Of different
denominations, some OF the leading periodi.
calls OF the day, together with some Journals
devoted to home decorations. and my word
for It. there will be q home OF Joy and con.
tentment; home where love OF the beautl'
full Is cultivated, and home that Will throw
an influence over the young for virtue and
through life.
While we arc striving 10 make n success Of
agriculture let us not do anything to eXalt
ourselves or bear unequally upon the other
professional or industrial pursuits OF men
but all work together in one grand, brother
hood OF laborers to the common veal OF oul
great republic, remembering that misfortune
to one means disaster to the other. SO let our
watchword be, "on earth peace, good will to
men,"
Cahab ba, Ala.