The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-11-08
THE Farm,
Farmers, Gardners, Horticuitunsts,
airy and Stochmen are requested to
Write for this Department.
Lillian Whiting IN the Boston Trav-
eler.

unrest among the farmers of Illinois,
Miss Whiting says: The rapid advance
of wealth in the United States is the
boast of tho people. But the farmers
feel that this great advance has been
made by other classes than themselves.
1t is conceded that the lands of Illinois
have declined 10 aggregate value during
the last ten years several hundred mil
lion dollars. Tie result of this decline
is effecting an important change in the
rural population The ambitious boys
and girls are leaving the farm and the
farms themselves are passing into new
ownerships, representing less intelli-
gence and less aspiration toward higher
conditions OF life. The more thought
full farmers are very much absorbed
just now in studying the causes Of this
decline of prosperity, and the apparent
decline of those conditions which alone
contribute to prosperity. There is an
argument of the politicians and middle
men that coniuses the farmer. 1t is to
effect that farm products are sold at as
high a price, and that marketing, cloth
ing and machinery are bought at lower
prices than formerly. But the farmer
claims, and with justice, that we are
living in a new civilization. AMI that
he, like all other producers, has right
to the best that it affords. He claims
that his products are sold in compet-
ton with the markets of the world, and
at this time it is undeniable that all the
staple products of the farm are sold at
a price less than the cost of their pro-
duction. The farmer sees around him
nearly all other interests combining in
trusts to extort profit on their produc-
lions somewhat in accordance with their
greed. The farming population, con-
stituting nearly one half the sum total
of the people, claim that the burdens Of
this condition OF affairs fall upon them
s,lves. The leading influences o: the
smaller cities and villages at first feel
that their interests are with the trusts
and combinations. But they are now
feeling that the impoverishment of az.
riculture is working blight upon
themselves. The more intelligent
farmers do not claim that their impov-
erishment comes wholly from this con-
dition of affairs.
There is, however, vast inequality
between the prices Of things sold and
the prices of things bought, but more
than that, the demand is for far greater
resources than formerly. When con-
fronted with the statement that their
trouble comes from their own extrav-
agance, and something of a return to
primitive ways would give them relief,
they acknowledge that such a course
would conduce to making both ends
meet. In early days they lived in log
houses mostly built with their own
hands, and these required neither the
architect nor the decorative artist.
Their tables were by no means supplied
with all the deicacies of the season
Conformity to fashions DEGREES, and the
more elegant conveniences Of life, were
not only unknown but uncalled for.
The daily newspaper-that most potent
factor in education and enlightenment
was not daily necessity. The plain
wagon did duty for the carriage. The
men went to their labors in the fields
and the women to kitchen, laundry and
dairy.
But new times demanded not only
"new measures and new men," but new
methods, new machinery of life. SO to
speak. We are entering, in these clos.
ing years of the nineteenth century;
into the portals of new and marvellous
civilization. The greater responsible
tiles placed upon each citizen demand
of him his best. Development of intel.
lectual power and outlook-the COM
mand OF his faculties-requires the best
possible conditions of living. Man does
not live by bread alone. In order that
high quality of life shall come from
the farm the farmers home must have
its sanative conditions, its conveniences
and comforts, and its due share of ell
egancies. The ceremonial observances
of life are not unimportaut. The sons
and daughters must be educated. There
must be books and periodicals in the
house. There must be the means
whereby to cooperate with the village
or city near in enjoying the privileges
of lyceum lectures, concerts, public Ii
braries and churches. To develop
ooo,s raeourcas and faculties to the