The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-02-15

and cultivated, have their assembly
room. their clubs and societies. The
result is that it is an attractive place
to live, and men Will pay higher prices
for land there as well as in other neigh
boring localities of Montgomery IL Or
der to enjoy these and kindred advan-
tages. But perhaps after all the dis
position to leave the farm now Is but
little greater. The natural increase OF
the population has always LETT the
farms because there is no employment
for it. The only changes of any great
import which have ia ken place can be
traced to the abolition Of slavery and
the invention of farm machinery.
these have affected principally the
South. In the North and West the
conditions are but little changed ex-
cept that farming is not us profitable
now as heretofore In the West farms
were mostly bought with borrowed
capital, and in late years mortgages
have been foreclosed and many are
renters instead Of landowners. But
in the South, including Maryland, the
change has been radical. The negroes
have shown disposition to crowd into
the cities. But the fa m-houses are
all occupied and the census shows lit
tie, if any, decrease Of rural popnla-
ton. The change, therefore consls S
not so much in magnitude us IN char
acter.
In olden times the life Of the educa
ted country gentleman OF means was
an ideal existence. The spacious man
sion was always filled with company.
There was visiting, hunting and va
rlous outdoor amusements, whilst in
doors there were literary and intellect
ual pleasures. Carefully trained col
ored servants reduced the troubles OF
housekeeping to a minimum. Such
farmers as these generally were pub
lic-spirited and were the political lea l.
ers IN their respective neighborhoods.
When their sons finished their educa-
ton farms would be provided for them
or they would be established in bust
ness. 1t is this class which has near
ly disappeared from the country. Al
ter the war, when they were no longer
able to establish their sons as farmers
the sons had to 60 elsewhere. he
father was not ready, herhaps, to re-
sign the management of the farm, and
an educated young man is no more
willing to become farm hand and
drive his fathers pillow than the son of
a rich wholesale merchant is willing
to drive his fathers dray. If be has
any ambition he will not settle down
to work which is worth no more
than from twelve to twenty dollars a
month, with no prospect of advance
unless from that wage he can save
money to buy farm.
Ii is just such doung men as these
who leave the farm that We find as
leading, governing men III almost ev-
cry city of the land. When the old
farmer passes away'or is ready to give
up the farm his son Is probably es alb
lished in more profitable business in
the city, ane the old homestead is rent
ed or sold. Thousands, too, have been
sold for debt. 70 these causes must
be added the scarcity of domestic SER
wants in the country, which makes the
life of the farmers wife and daughters
one OF constant drudgery. The farms
are now mostly in the hands Of those
who do their own work. Labor. saving
machinery dispenses with farm labor
ers, and they have been driven to the
railroads or the factory for employ
ment Sun