The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-06

M how long We shall have to wait before we
.haI, coo :, u,hon every farmer in the South
will DO in communication WIN MI oi us
ncighbors by means Of the teiephone' anu ~
the same wonderful mechanism VIII ENJOY
far more convenient associauon-vocal at
least--witb distant cities than he now has with
the emploves in his stables or even with the
servants in bis kitchen
The picture which our esteemed contempt
rary has drawn is a very attractive one. J"
the future which it unrolls for tho southern
farmer il correct. then there VIII really To no
need why he should ever leave his dwelling
house at all. except for the purpose of taking
exercise. II he is TO employ the telephone IN
communicating with his neighbors aud the
most important agents about his property
why should he not also from his sitting-room
direct the laborers in his fields by means of a
movable line Of telephone wires;'
We arc afraid that our Georgia contempt
rary is allowing its enthusiasm 10 run away
with its judgment We have not the strong
est faith in its spirit Of political prophecy
and this feeling on our part throws for US
shadow of doubt over our confidence in its
spirit of economic foresight That the farm
ing system Of the South will show as time
goes on. the most substantial improvements
in every direction we are fully assured, for TO
think this IS simply TO think that Southern
civilization in all its branches is progressive.
But TO predict that the day will como when
all the farms in the South will be connected
by telephones is to put forth the fabric of a
vision which il entirely worthy of q journal
that is so blind to the trend Of events as TO
believe that Mr.. Hi will be the nominee for
the presidency Of the Democratic party.
If our contemporary had stopped when it
had said that every Southern farm would in
time be connected with the nearest railroad
station or the nearest village, it would not
have been so wide of the mark. but when it
goes on and declares that every farm will be
connected with every other farm IN its noigh-
borhood by the same means Of communi-
cation we must enter protest.
Would it be really desirable 10 give the coun-
try the character of the city by establishing
every artificial means OF intercommunication
am ng its inhabitants. Would it be we'll to
make the whole face OF the land one
town distinguished for all those vices
which come as much from unnteuupt-
Ell Intercourse as from an overcrowded popu-
lation The city is the seat of enlightenment.
but the country is the seat which is dearest
to the spirit OF liberty, that spirit which
springs from intuition and not from reason.
Introduce into the life Of the Southern
farmer every influence that will enable him to
be more productive in his work and derive
larger remuneration from his labors. cause the
whole South to smile like one of the garden
counties Of England, build cities and villages
in tue midst Of this abundance flowing from
the most skilllul employment of every adyan-
tage of soil and climate. but when all this is
done leave the country still the country.
where the soul can continue to keep its hold
upon the fundamental principles of life and
society untouched and untrammeled by those
Influences which are generated in the teeming
haunts of struggling mankind.