Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-01-19
ALL RULES HAVE THEIR OCCASIONAL
EXCEPTIONS.

lAll RULES HAVE THEIR OCCASIONAL
| EXCEPTIONS.
THE COST OF CHANGING BUSINESS Oh
rRApE.-THE CRY MECHANIC AMI
TIE FARM AGAIN.
The question whether mechanic II
the city should give up his business and
take farm In the country, and II &C
whether TO buy large or q small one, Il
attracting considerable attention. From
an euterprising dairymsn and gardener
nesr Providence l have received the
follow ing note In regard to articles re.
Gently published on this subject. Ht
SAYS: "Now II were to advice the
mechanic who thinks OF giving up his
profession in the city where he is getting
$40 month l should most emphatlcally
say Just stay where you are.
| 'sif he leaves the home where he has
brought up his children, reared and
built home, aud laid by nest egg for
the proverbial rainy day there will be
nothing but disappointment for him
from A to II. When man leaves bis
Lifelong chosen trade for new one he
Is most sure TO come TO grief II not 10
want. say stick, stick, stick -
This would undoubtedly be good ad-
vice for great many mechanics and
| others whose lives have been spent 10
cities or large manufacturing villages.
As nv correspondent says IN another
part OF his letter, "They know nothing
Of the management Of either large or a
small farm" But facts are far more
stubborn things than theories. know
of men who have left the city or me-
chanical trade and have greatly bettered
their condition by going upon a farm.
Not all succeed. The majority may not,
but some do and would not throw any
obstacle in the way Of any ones success.
know that great many persons, farm
ers rs well as city mechanics, are dis
satisfied with their present situation.
People are quite apt to imagine that
others are better off than themselves
when the facts are otherwise. We know
the trials and hardships we endure our
selves very much better than we know
the
TROUBLES OF OTHERS.
We may have sympathy for others
who are unhappy but 1t Is our own pains
and dissppointments that we feel most
keenly. So when am appealed TO for
advice by city reader am very eau
,ious about recommending any radical
change.
Nine times out Of teu it would be bet
ter for young man TO perfect himself
in the line Of work he has chosen than
To change for some other occupation.
IL costs something TO change. Expert
ence must be paid for. To be continu-
ally buying new experience instead Of
utilizing that already acquired is not
good economy.
IL takes the better part Of lifetime
for any one 10 become remarkably ex-
pert In any calling. But a business or
vocation Is one thing; home may be
quite another. With the farmer the two
may be combined. This Il not usually
true of the mechanic. Some people seem
10 live for their business, are all bound
up In il. Others value home more and
follow their business In order that they
NAV have home. To some an ideal
home Is n block or "fist' on busy
street In the city, where the principal
objects In sight are pavements, sidewalks
Of brick or concrete, lamp posts and
electric poles and wires. Others prefer
an outlook upon green grass, Towering
plants and shrubs, with orchards, mead
ows aud wooded hills in the back
ground. To some the country is dull,
10 others the city isa prison. \ great
many endure the city for while for
the purpose OF accommodating the means
for purchasing home In the country.
To such people the home Is the aim
aud end. When city man comes 10 me
for advice regarding the purchase OF a
country home am always interested Ia
helping him what can. But when one
proposes to change good paying busi-
ness or trade In the city for country
farm to make a living from, | am slow
10 advise change, especially when |
learned from the beginning up. once
met
A CITY MAN REPORTING
an agricultural lecture on grasses In
which the speaker emphasized the i'm
portance OF clean seed. The reporter
turned 10 me to ask II grass came from
seed. He said he thought Il ',just grew,
or as "Topsy" would have expressed it,
II specs growed." Another city bred
young man, a grocer's clerk. while look
ing At a sample OF imitation coffee made
of wheat roasted and ground, or shred
ded, asked il supposed Ii grew that
way. A man Of similar country expert
ence bought from me last spring dozen
tomoto plants which he set out In little
bed about six inches apart each way.
When such men are successful in their
present occupation and like IL, l would
certainly advise them TO stick.
But have another city man in mind.
| From boy he has ever had farm-home
| in view; has read agricultural papers
and books, and been close observer
and inquirer. He has saved enough TO
buy q $4,000 farm Of 100 acres, or more,
near q good village market, pay for
IL cash down, and invest liberal sum
10 undermining the dwelling house 80 as
make it as comfortable as the best city
homes: also has surplus that would
| last him many years even IL he earned
nothing. He has hired an experienced
| farmer TO aid him, and they are intend
ing 10 have business that will at least
pay running expenses after the first
wear or two. He will make extra choice
! family milk and cream a speciality and
| has already secured fair trade for his
products at the highest retail prices.
| There Is a wide difference between sell
ing several hundred quarts day at eight
cents quart, or at two cents and
| fraction as some have had TO do the past
season. He will intend TO be his own
middleman.
The product OF each COW will be
weighed daily and record kept so tina,
il will be known whether she Is paying
her keeping or running herself In debt.
The entire business Of the farm will be
shown by the books the same as II II
we're purely commercial business. Ag
ricultural books and papers will be made
a constant aid, and the needed labor
saving implements will be provided.
haze advised this man 10 years past moi
TO be too hasty in his purchase, nor Il
buy too large farm, but to aim, first o.
all, to make good country home and Il
let the business part be secondary mat
ter. Too many farmers are carrying
their real estate upon their shoulder
rather than making 1t carry them. Thi
man Ia a man Of breadth and do no
think 100 acres will be too many for hi
Icapacity. l have no fears that he vii
fail in his undertaking. He has COUNTIES
the cost and Is not taking leap In tn
dark. would by no means advise hin
10 stick TO his old business In the city