Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-29

4 liars ~ tttt LAND W IkttNtNk.
AND SAYS A coon WORD FOR IT.
I AgrteslfHrll Editor Iasmocrat:
have read with interest the essay o
Mrs. Y. L. DeCoster published In tn
Democrat of Oct. lst, and a. believ
the columns OF your valuable paper AT
always open 10 honest criticism, vii
you kindly permit me 20 take issue viii
many OF the writer's stAtementss
First, what does she mean by tn
Nests Does she include the Pacific coas
states IL so, she surely Is not ia touel
with the great progress Of cities "huil
IN day" in California. Mrs. DeCoste
evidently has written of California n.
she existed tifty years ago, wheI
fortunes were found In mines, poor laws
mud houses, motley population, absenc'
Of church and school houses, high rate:
Of freight, etc.
A want of knowledge regarding Cali
forria causes many OF our Eastern peo
pie 20 make such statements.
Having been a resident of the ''Lsnt
OF Promise" for nearly twenty-five years
feel fully competent 10 correct few
Of the lady's errors. Now, Mr.. Editor
having been in Maine last spring, | cSu
say that | never saw a deluge in Cali
fornia. Cyclones are unknown, while
the dryness OF atmosphere prevents any
mslarious disease.
10 reference TO the fruit producers so
Letting purchasers at reduced prices
that's refreshing. There has never been
such demand, and at good prices, for
California fruits as has been witnessed
during the past season; and to-day
lemons are In greater demand and
prices are quoted higher than for twenty
years last past.
Absence Of church and school build
ings." No state in the Union spends
more relatively on its common schools,
free 20 all, or has better educational
system, or more competent teachers
than California. The common schools,
eyeryw here, are provided with libraries
for the use Of the children, patented
desks-uot the high back seats in vogue
hundred years sgo-and All the modern
school apparatus. From personal OBJ
seryation and Johns" letter, am in-
elined TO believe that church buildings
and church societies will compare favor
ably with those in Maine.
When Mrs. DeCoster speaks OF ''mOt-
lev population" does she not know that
il Is Eastern and WESTERN designate
West by those states this side Of the
Rocky Mountains-people who have
made California second 10 no state In
the nion: Let her visit the state and
she will find some Of Names people the
most prosperous and Intelligent.
The only difference In the rum shops
OF California Nnd Maine, i, IN the one
state liquor is sold openly, aud the state
derives a revenue from such sales; 10
the other the sales are made just the
same, only the state treasury Is the
loser.
Suil,e 10 say, that Maine Is the land
of nv birth, love her people and her
Institutions, but notwithstanding all this
| should advise the young mau 10 "go
West" but get on the other side OF the
Rockies"
The farmers life here Is by no means
an attractive one 10 the average young
American. As rule, il is life Of hard,
labor from morning 10
night. and OF labor which brings little
reward 20 the farmer beyond bare
living for himself and family. One can
get this testimony from hundreds OF our
farmers. Ii Is this that drives 20 many
Young men 10 the already overcrowded
cities and complicates the ever-increSs-
ing difficulties Of the social problem.
Not only the farmer himself, but his
wife also, as a rule, becomes aged beforr
her time, hence the ''pure-minded, true
hearted, intelligent State of Maine giri
i an old woman at forty. III they are
so fortunate as To reach point where
they can take life more easily, the!
generally find that in the hard protracted
struggle for bread and butter they have
forgotten how 10 enjoy themselves, and
are al n loss how 10 employ their leisure
There are. OF course, many exceptions
10 this, but the average farmer Will say
that the above is not an unfair descilp-
ton OF their situation.
am afraid that Mrs. DeCoster would
find il somew hat difficult TO pick out the
prosperous and contented farmer AL
the present time with potatoes selling al
twenty cents per bushel and other crops
as ruinOusly low.
The contrast between country hte 10
California and the Eastern States Is 80
radical that IL can only be fully under
stood by those who have resided In both
sections.
Take il, first, from an esthetlc and
social side. The farmer in California l.,
10 all intents and purposes, suburban
resident. and this becomes more true
from wear 70 year, ss railroads are ex'
tended throughout the country sections
The amount OF land that is necessary 70
support a family in comfort Is so small
NOT exceeding twenty acres, and IN many
cases not more than ten, or even h'e
acres, that the country homes are Gloss
together. a section of $40 acres support
ing from thirty 70 sixty families. Ihu'
the families OF hOrticulturists IN Calt
tornia are within easy calling distance OF
each other, and are able 20 enjoy many
advantages of social life that here only
fan 10 those who reside in the cities oi
their suburbs.
IL should, however, be understood
that even in that favored cline a mar
cannot make living without work, al
though that work is done under tenfoi'
nleassnter surroundings than thos'
which attend the labor of the eastern
farmer. Those who go TO Cailforni'
with the idea that they can start in 0!
sitting under their own vine and ng Tree &c
watching things grow aud counting "
their profits every evening, VIII nn'
themselves mistaken. fat 'he sau
sneonn, of labor on ten acres there and
man can realize more than he can o'
/ fifty here. 18Th. !;
With schools in session ten months u
the year, good society, pleasant sur SUI
roundings, church influences ana 'hre
hundred sunny days in the year, wh
should not advise the young man
"go west:' H. l M
Fryeburg.
NJ RlOOd