The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-08-16
HE PUT GEESE TO RoosT.
The Fate OF n Prophet who Presumed o
His Knowledge of Farming.


The Fate OF n Prophet WHO Presumed ON
His Knowledge of Farming.
Don't talk of agriculture to a
farmer was Daniel Websters adj
vice to a friend Discuss any other
subject with him-art, literature,
political economy. finance but never
farming, for If you once launch
forth on that he viii find you at
fault in some particular and con-
clude that ignorant in one thing you
ara ignorant in all.
This advice was recalled by gen.
tleman of this city recently upon
hearing of the experiences oflan am
ateur farmer, a friend of his, who,
after a long and active career in
which he had achieved fame and for.
tune, relinquished an extensive prac-
tice of law for bucolic superintend-
ence over an estate not hundred
miles from New York.
Shortly after he assumed the man
agement of his farm the lawyer re-
ceived visit from one of his neigh
bors, shrewd old farmer who had
never been a hundred miles away
from his home. Various matters
were discussed as they walked about
the farmyard inspecting the new
windmill, improved water troughs,
cattle sheds and other new tangled
fxings-"
Naturally the amateur betrayed
his gross ignorance to his more prac-
teal and experienced companion
The latter was something of wit
and at last, in visiting the poultry
yard, ventured suggestion. This
is all very fine" he said as he
glanced about, but where do your
ducks and geese roost at night7"
81 never thought of that, " replied
the amateur. I've seen them squat
ting around at night and thought
they liked that. I'll have it attend
ed to at once Low roosts suppose
would be the best4'
The farmer thought they would
''Place them about two feet from
the ground, he remarked, and then,
smiling in his sleeves, unhitched his
old mare and drove away home.
Not moment was lost by the for
mer New Yorker. He erected his
duck roosts and at nightfall visited
his poultry yard to observe how the
fowls enjoyed the innovation. To
his chagTin they appeared to ignore
the roosting place and were squat
ting as before on the ground
Poor things, I've neglected them
too long" thought the humane anna
teur They don't realize the
change" With that he began to
grab at ducks and brakes and geese
and ganders and deposit them one
by one on the roost. There was a
terrible connection among the fowls,
which attracted all the farmhands
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 would fall with ter
rible ''quack, quacks, the moment
his back was turned. 1t was not
long before the truth dawned upon
him that ducks and geese We're in
tended by nature to squat, " not to
roost
He returned to his house deeply
ashamed of his ignorance and speed
lily became the laughing stock of the
country round 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 ex-
pressed, but in the country they
were greeted with: "Oh, pshaw, he
don't know nothin. He puts geese
to roost. New York Herald.