The Newtown bee., 1894-07-06
In Litchfield Coun ty.
BETHLEHEM.

BETHLEHEM.
 "REMINISCENCES OF A VETERAN FARMER.
 Another veteran farmer has passed to his rest in the death of Capt l.. F. Scott, the proprietor of the famous Wood Creek Farm, situated in the northwest corner of Bethlehem on the Washington line. Few men were more widely known throughout Connecticut among the older generation of farmers. Capt Scout was man perhaps below the medium in stature, of slender figure, and possessing certain quaintness about his ways
 which fixed him in the memory of every one who made his acquaintance. Secre- tary T. s. Gold of the state board of ag-
 mately, thus writes of him to the Con-
 necticut Farmer:
 'Capt Scott was progressive farmer ofthe
 old style, believing in hand work, directed by | brain work
 With limited opportunities for education he was an educator of all with whom he came in contact. He was a close student ot nature, both in men and things. A man of inventive genius. he had too many plans that all should be alike successful.
 Devoted to his family, generous and hospit- aDle' an example of untiring industry, true patriot, lover of his country and his fellow
 men, honest in his dealings, earnest in every good word and work, he was always an en- joyable companion, and we shall all miss his pleasant greeting, so often enjoyed by his fel, low tarmers."
 Capt Scott had very few educational advantages, when q boy; very little schooling. But as he came to manhood, he saw the importance of it, and he was constantly seeking information. Capt Scott has been welcome contributor to the leading newspapers of this section. the Connecticut Farmer, the Waterbury American, the Country Gentleman, THE BEE and others. He wrote in aa inter- esting way, and when he took up his pen he generally had something to say. He had personal acquaintance with the edi- tors of the many newspapers for which he wrote, and it is interesting to note that about his last request was that they should be notified of his death
 The writer of this article will not un- dertake to comment upon the virtues or the failings of the Captain. He had his share of human weaknesses, and who has not? But no one will gainsay the fact that he was man of tremendous energy, great worker, and a man who endeav- ored to use his talents for the berefit of his fellowmen. Capt Scott has occupied the lecturers platform, speak ing several times before the
 state board of agriculture at
 it's public meetings. Perhaps the most
 successful lecture he has written was
 Farm life, as it is and as it should be-" A-few brief paragraphs from this lee ture are given:
 In the town I live in, there was a young lady married October 9, 1877, to young man in Woodbury, that was born in Newtown, she was 23 years old when married and her brid- al tour was from her fathers house in Beth Iehem, to her husbands fathers in Wood bury, distance Of five miles, and this was made on horseback, riding on a billion be hind her husband, who had six acres of land set of to him as his portion, on the opposite side of the road, and a little below his fathers hodSO3 LhCl0 WdS uO pullulDg on II, and this six acres of land was their all, for every young man was poor in those days, and how to get house on the lot, would have puzzled a young farmer of to-day. But the wife un- dertook, as her part, the spinning of tow and weaving Of bagging and selling it, until she had an amount sufficient to buy the nails and glass for the house; and nails were no small item in those days, as they were all wrought, and cost from F to 16 cents per pound They moved into the house as soon as the first floor was laid, before the doors were hung and finishedit as means and opportunity af- torded. Now where is the young lady of to- day, that would volunteer to do what that young wife undertook, and that was only a small part Of the battle ot life; she raised three sons and 8 daughter; the sons are now some ot the best business men in the state. men ot integrity and worth, always on the right side of every good cause and have hon ored our Legislative halls and Senate cham. bers.
 Several years ago there was great mania for rollers Nearly every large farmer had one. A wealthy neighboring farmer built a very large, nice heavy one, and used it a few years. One day neighbor came to borrow It. He was told that he could have it under one condition, that was, that he should never bring it back, and he never did. He used it 1 ana leIL IL SLdhuluB III the u6lQ. it | stand there until it rotted down, and there | has not been roller used in that neighbor- | hood since.
 One of the queens of England offered mil | lions of money for an inch of time. Now if I timefs as precious as that, how ought we to prize it? l have known farmers talking pol. I itics three hours at time, which was a dead I loss to the farm and the nation. I will say nothing about farmers wives gadding about to get the news and spread it, for the wives of successful and progressive farmers do not do it. Ii we hire men to do our work and do nothing ourselves to pay them, the farm must eventually go to the hammer.
 "For if by the blow we thrive,
 Ourselves must either hold or drive. J And it Is poor economy to have more men than proftably keep to work, for men that we hire take very little interest to econ omize labor; it wants the oversight of the master with his helping hand. It will not pay to hire our work done if we can possibly ] get along without.
 As we have before stated, sfarm Iife,,shas d bright side. As we come from the field at he close Of our labors for the day, we are, or should be, met with the cheer and smiles of l hose we love, which relieves the pain of ach- i ng limbs and brow, and makes more soft the . 10 wny pillow; "the sleep of the laboring man s sweet whether he eat little or much,n and liter refreshing sleep he rises again with the l 1 ark, and, with an elastic step and cheerful ( ,ountenance, he goes to the labor he loves with spirits as buoyant as air, and exclaims, Who does not love to be farmer. and see , he grass grow, The renovation of old farnls is a question of { ime, forethought and experiment. not labor lone; but still labor is essential element n all farm management; without it no great esults are obtained. And hero let me say to very young farmer, when you awake in the ! morning dont't rolIover but roll out; 1t will t itch every slough, cut every bush, and make he tarm shine. never attempt to disturb any man's pinion about almings politics. or religion. ]