The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-20

That manv of the woes OF which the farm
ers complain are due 20 the Mckinley Dill,
which forces them to pay heavy tribute TO
tho iron manufacturer for every farm imple-
ment they use into which iron enters as
component part, and TO the wool manufac-
turer for every comfortable article on per-
sopal and household use comprised IN whole
or in part of that product. there can be no
doubt. That ubiquitous measure bears hard
on all classes of consumers. but PROBABLY
harder on the farmer than any other because
while he has thus to pay heavy tribute for
what he purchases. he is in competition with
the markets of the world when he has any
thing 10 sell. II he will exert himself there
fore, 20 have this infamous law repealed he
will do much towards having tho burdens on
him, of which he 80 bitterly and justly CON-
plains. materially lightened.
There is one cause Of the troubles OF the
Virginia farmer. however, which is due almost
wholly TO his own fault. No ono in any call
ing Of life, no matter what it may be, can ex-
pest to succeed unless he can conduct his
business with intelligence. and this cannot be
obtained without reading and information.
In ante bellum days the title Virginia farmer"
wasi the synonym Of oil that was refined,
cultivated and elegant. aud it was greatly due
to this refinement and cultivation that the
aericulturists Of those times accumu-
lated much of their wealth. Then there
was scarcely a farmer in the State
who did not have his intellect
sharpened by reading and his mind
stored with valuable knowledge. In every
country home were TO be found at least one
Richmond paper the local journal and one
or two agricultural and literary magazines.
There was not subject of current or general
interest relating TO politics. literature or agri-
culture that the farmer did not know some
thing about and was not enabled to converse
upon: and The result was that no better in
formed class of men could be found i'll any
State of the Union than the farmers of this
Commonwealth.
How is it now? Unfortunately exactly the
reverse. Now visit to large number,
probably a majority. of our country homes
will show that there is not to be
seen late paper and the only literary
Injuries enjoyed are perhaps some old New
England weekly magazine a story publication.
AMI possibly q we'll thumbed copy of Warrock
and Richardson's almanac. In consequence
the minds of our farmers are allowed TO rust
or run TO seed, and they fail because Of the
inability 10 carry on their labors with intel
lects frightened by friction with other minds.
That this is not an exaggerated statement
many Of our farmers themselves will substan-
tiate. and that it is deplorable pity no one
can dispute. We know full well that the
social and labor systems of Virginia have
sadly changed, and that large proportion Of
our agriculturists cannot as of yore, afford TO
give their children collegiate educations, nor
even take advantage of schools of agriculture
established at the University. at Blacksburg
and other institutions Of learning. Still every
farmer can keep about current events,
and certainly any farmer can afford to take
at least one Richmond paper. The WEEKLY
TINES for instance. is a complete compendium
of the news Of the week besides containing
departments for the home, farm and Preside
and carefully selected miscellany full Of use
full information. This only costs one Bland
silver dollar year, and lie must be poor III
deed who cannot afford SO small an outlay,
especially as he must know that it will be re-
turned to him with double compound inter
est in the enlargement and improvement Of
his intellect.
Whether our farmers take the WEEKLY
TIMES or not, however they can certainly de-
vote more time than they do TO the acquire
ment of knowledge and if they would seek
more assiduously to elevate themselves by cul-
tiyating their intellects as well as their acres,
they would find the harvests from both more
remunerative and profitable