Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-11-07
Written for the Oxford Democrat
WHAT HAS ADVANCED A0Riculr'
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Il WVSs VSo SovSNSco SoNtSoIt
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No longer back than the last century
the food supply, shelter aud means ol
relief from the fatixues aud burdens ol
life, were but little Ia advance Of ancient
civilizations 5000 years ago. The grez
advance among civilized nations OF thu
present day over those even as late al
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
Is due not so much to u better system
Of government IA to the innumersblt
modern inventions which facilitate thu
production Of everything essential u
the welfare of civilized nations aud the
happiness Of each citizen.
A more abundant supply OF food, bet
ter protection by suitable clothing, less
fatigue OF laboring classes to gain 4
livelihood, together with the great prog,
ress msde In surgery and the science Of
medicine, have tended to alleviate the
hard condition Of past generations, and
given those now on the stage Of action a
longer lease Of life.. In the United
States, France, Italy, England and
other countries Of Europe the death
rate has greatly decreased during the
last decades, so that the duration Of life
In England, on an average, Il shown by
statistics to be nine years longer than
it Was hfty years ago.
This improved condition Is not the
result Of change Of climate more favor
able to agriculture, or to more frugal
system Of government, but Is due almost
entirely to the inventive genius Of few,
who have relieved the toiling millions
Of the hard drudgery Of life, aud made IL
easy for them to obtain all that Is nee
essary for their well being.
Agriculture, the twin sister OF civiliza-
tion, will maintain on the American con-
tinent six hundred times the number OF
Inhabitants who could possibly subsist
or the same area In a grade Of clviliza-
ton no lower than that Of the American
Indian. The great benefit OF tilling the
soil moved DIR. Samuel johnson to say /:
"rhe man who causes two blades OF
grass to grow where only one grew be
fore, IL a benefactor to mankind"
II the sovereign rulers OF the world
would abandon the spirit OF war, and
turn their standing armies Into produe-
tive pursuits, the supply OF food for the
hungry and raiment for the destitute
would relieve thousands now languish-
Ing In abject poverty and want.
As full supply Of food and clothing
are indispensable TO promote the growth
aud development OF mankind, mechanical
ingenuity, In the last half century, has
invented hundreds Of labor-saving im-
plements which increase the power OF
production In some cases, more than
live hundred fold. With all these ap-
pliances at hand, there is no reason Why
the industrious husbandman should COM
plain of hard times or that "fsrming
don't pay" Agricultural products are
raised more abundsntly, at less cost, aud
some sell at a higher price than year..
ago, while very many MANUFACTURED
articles for family use are obtained lar
below their former value. IL the farm
ing community do not prosper hnaneiai-
Iy. the cause must be looked for outside
their profession, and = proper remedy
applied.
ANY one who can look back seventy
years, when pauperism was far greater
than now, aud when beggars were
abundant, Il struck With the better
condition of workingmen, who Instead
Of coarse homemade garments are clad
In fine broadcloth, and the servant girls
vie with their mistresses In fashionable
and befitting raiment.
FARMER FROM OLD OXFORD.
Pembroke, Mass, Oct, lsa3.