The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-19
Farm Literature.

Farm Literature.
The following paper was read before
the Somerset county Farmers Institute
by YIN. Ii. Miller, Esq, of Quemahoning
township.
Reading Matter for the Farmers Fam
lily, with View to Secure Lies Higher
Possibilities and Attachments
1t is not the intention of your humble
writer to tread exclusivele on unbeaten
ground by giving to this institute some
thing entirely new, but simply to call
your attention to the great importance of
securing for the farmers home circle
such reading matter as viii best secure
life's highest possibilities and attainments.
When We have attained life's highest
possibilities, we have in an important
sense immortalized ourselves here on
earth. will only touch on pleasant pos
sihilities and the essential characteristics
in attaining them.
What is life? One writer says, "life
is what me make it; another, more ap-
propriately, says, /" life depends upon
what We have to make it with" Yet
how little We think of the great amount
of material God has given each one of
US, with which to attain life's highest
possibilities. Mind was the first endow-
ment, and that made man the crowning
work of creation. Added to intellect, he
received revelation and evidence that
the natural world was made for his abode.
Its mysteries and harmonies, which phi
losophers and scientists attempt to faith
om-and in many cases have succeeded
in revealing the secret-are to each of US
& part Of the means by which we may
reach high possibilities. But do we al
ways find farmers, as class, availing
themselves Of these privileges and max
ing the most Of them? II is source Of
pleasure 10 know that there is hardly a
live farmer, far or near, who does hot |
take some weekly paper, and in many |
localities, besides local paper he takes |
a weekly agricultural paper. Papers are
so cheap nowadays that he can sub |
scribe for a number Of farm journals and |
one or two standard weekly papers. We |
believe this is the rule among the pro-
gressiye farmers Of to-day, and it is not |
a rare thing TO find in country homes all /
the agricultural and news sheets that can
be at ali useful. Since agricsltural jour
nails are so numerous, much discrimina- 4
tion must be used so as to secure the very /
best for the purpose in hand. By this
We mean that, not only should the matter
be wholesome and clean. but the make
up Of the journal should be attractive.
These qualifications speak volumes for
= paper. because they will then contain
The Information we are seeking.
II agriculture is 50 noble a calling
and IL has greater attractions to-day than
ever before-we say. let Us place before
our families such agricultural papers as
breathe an air Of attractiveness from
every page. Such features will instil into
The growing minds good taste, and will
each them 10 appreciate the pure and
beautiful in all things, and should at the
isme time extend the influence, and Gre
ate love for the occupation of farming
Let the BOYS and girls feel that they are
engaged in as safe and honorable CALI
ny as can be found, and we will lead
thousands into hsPpy and useful lives
who otherwise might have been discour-
lged ard wrecked by engaging in uncer-
ain and questionable pursuits. Let us
ry TO build up and beautify our homes.
L is the sacred refuge Of our lives The
of its loves, its joys and lis
'orrows will cling TO US in all our wander
ngs. Notwithstanding most of our agri-
,uitural journals have departments for
III branehers of the family. vet it seems
o me We should not expect them to
over the ground to our entire satisfac-
ion. The minister is the better preacher
he knows something Of the methods
# men engaged in other yocations the
physician feels it his duty TO have
Of humanity at large, further
han that strictly demanded by the re-
Iuirements of his profession. So, like
rise, the farmer win be better citizen,
broader and more useful msn, and fully
S successful as farmer, if he endeavors
o learn what he can Of the live, bustling
Eorid around him. While this fund of
nformation may be strengthened by the
perusal of the weekly newspapers, and
lie family matter" of the agricultural
Ournals, yet these are not enough to
ford intellectual food. fol the farmers
amiIy year after year. The world is
ffiicted with starved intellects. We
Eould not discourage newspaper reading,
y any means, but the vast amount of
natter in newspapers originates in ordi-
ary minds 1t is gotten up TO satisfy .
ommon demand rather than to elevate.
We hear it argued that one of the mis-
ortunes of country people is that they are
argely deprived of the influence which
ONES from coming in contact with su-
erior minds. We believe this to be true
d a measure. and for this very reason we
old Farmers Institutes, whereby we
re brought in contact with men ofgreat- /
r knowledge and experience, who stim- ]
late Us with fresh interests. In this
Iay there is a refinement acquired
Ihich greatly affects toe nature of home /
fe in the country. Is there nothing