The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-02-21
The Agricultural De-
preston.

| 1t is hardly Deedful to say that th
Editors disagree, at many points, W.T.
the opinions expressed in the following
article. But we are quite willing u
let our correspondent p, eseut his ideas
all the same.
EDS. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. In
causes assigned for the agriculture
depression, in your issue of Dec. 49, ar
about as correct as official despatche
of the kind can make them, while. II
fact, they are very far from the truth
When the average farmer Is asked Il
state the various causes that, in M
| estimation, contribute to the decadrnc'
of farming, he is no more apt to give
correct diagnosis than is the average
sick man to give the same regarding
his health. In both cases cherished
habits or customs are not wont to be
sacrificed and natural pride forbids an
expose too personal and honest. In the
replies under consideration from the
farmers, the conclusions drawn from
them by the charitable gentleman OF
New York City do not touch upon the
PRIMARY CAUSES of agricultural decad-
ence. What is true of New York is
true of all other states of the East.
North and West.
Turn to whichever of the eastern,
northern or western states we will, we
find that the b. Us and girls have been
in the habit Of getting away from the
farms at the earliest opportunities,
with view Of seeking fame and for
tune in the cities. Teachers and par
ents have alike pointed to the cities as
the goal and the reward for the
smart" boys and girls, and, hence,
from their first school days, they have
been infected with the notion that the
Fields and woods of their native homes
were only the hum bic preparedness for
he city mansions awaiting them We
ian see illustrations of this in every
community, and amid the saline
We can point 10 some, on The ether SIDE
If the fence, who have assayed to fol
ow the pillow from the first and whose
;hildren .o.IIu.n on me iarm and con
ribule TO it's success. instead of assist
ng its bankruptcy by absenteeism aud
cholastic expenses. One of these lat.
err farmers near this piece once work !
d for so cents day for men to whom
lie now lends money. lis education
orms the common mind"--let US Re-
member that.
Farming don't pay nowadays
his is one of the apolos les we hear for
eaving the farm, 1t don't pay" simp-
y because farmers aim to live in Il
lyle beyond that which their vocation
flows. Their children who come
ome from college contact with city
outh. wan everything to correspond
nth their new-found ideas-the old |
olks and their methods are all old fogy |
D them. The old folks shell out their
ard-earned dimes to keep in the
ashions, AMI they very soon begin to
nd out that farming don't pay, as a
onsequeRce-when, in fact, farming
eally pays better now than it did 60
ears ago, SO old folks tell me. Com
are prices then and now. Compare
lso the prices of calico and many 9TH
r things, and see if the farmer is not
S favored now as then when the cry |
t farming don't pay" was never
card / have heard of farmers who
lortgaged their farms and gave bills
f sale on their cattle to procure the |
1herewithal to go to the Chicago fair.
t is the fairs that don't pay, not the
arming.
Last summer a young man called at
~ house selling country produce. He
eemed to be sad and out of keeping /
nth his trade, and asked his history.
lie was the son of a farmer and had
1T the farm few years ago and gone
D the Western Maryland College.
.fter graduating he passed a civil SER
ice examination in, Baltimore; but
theirs ahead of him debarred him
RI m obtaining situation. He then
ollowed up me rcantile advertisements,
nd found that scores of young men
ere also contended for every opening
nd that only those who possessed
reat abilities, who were willing to
'ork for little and who were backed
' considerable influence could obtain
aces. He then sorrowfully wendell