The Lamar register., 1893-07-08
PUT tAg GEESE TO Roosr.
Tho Mistake of Lswyer Who Retired
and TOOK to Farming.

ana TOOK TO FARMING.
Don't talk agriculture to farm
err was Daniel Webster's advice to
friend. discuss any otner sub
iect with him-art, literature, polit-
ical economy, finance = but never
farming; for if you once launch forth
on that he will find you at fault in
some particular and conclude that,
ignorant in one thing you are ignor-
ant in all" +" This advice was recently
repeated in the hearing of Herald
man by a gentleman of New York
city upon hearing of the ex-
perience of an amateur farmer,
friend of his. who. after long ana
active career. in which he achieved
fame and fortune, relinquished an ex-
tensiye practice of law for bucolic
superintendent over an estate not
hundred miles from New York.
Shortly after he assumed the man
agement of his farm the lawyer re-
ceived a visit from one of his neigh
bors. shrewd old farmer, who had
never been a hundred miles from
his home. Various matters were
discussed as together they walked
about the farmyard inspecting the
new windmill. improved water
troughs, cattle sheds and other new
tangled fixings." Naturally the am
ateur betrayed his gross ignorance
to his more practical and experienced
companion. The latter was some
what of wit and at last. in visiting
the poultry yard. ventured a sugges-
tion. This is all very fine, he said,
as he glanced about, 'but where do
your ducks and geese roost at night?'
Il never thought of that" replied
the amateur. ..l've seen them
.squatting' around at night and
thought they liked that. FL have it
attended to at once. Low roosts, |
suppose. would be the best'n
The farmer thought they would.
place them about two feet from the
ground" he remarked, and then,
smiling in his sleeve. unhitched his
old mare and drove away home
Not a moment was lost by the
former New Yorker. He erected his
duck roosts. and at nightfall visited
the poultry-yard to observe how the
fowls en- joyed the innovation. 10 his
chagrin they appeared to ignore the
roosting place and were squatting as
before on the ground.
Poor things, I've neglected them
too long" thought the humane ANA
teur. They don't realize the
change" With that he began to
grab at the ducks and brakes and
geese and ganders and deposit them
one by one on the roost. There was
terrible commotion among the
fowls. which attracted all tine farm
hands with shotguns to the poultry
yard.
When they arrived there they saw
their employer, perspiring and red in
the face. trying to balance the web
footed creatures on the roost from
which they fell with terrible ..quack,
ouacks" the moment his back was
turned. 1t was not long before the
truth dawned upon him that ducks
and geese were intended by nature to
..squat" and not to roost.
He returned to the house deeply
ashamed of his ignorance and speed
ilv became the laughing stock OF the
country around. The illustration of
Webster's advice came in the form of
an entire disregard thereafter of any
opinions expressed by the man. In
New York his utterances had been
regarded as words of wisdom upon
no matter what subject expressed,
but m the country they were greeted
with: ..Oh. pshaw. he don't know
nothin.' He put geese to roost-"
French worismcn in New York.