The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-06-10
TRADES WITH NATURE.
50 DOES THE FARMER.
And Nature is Thoroughly Honest.

David Starr Jordan, President of the
Leland Stanford, Jr., University, in
the National ADVOCATE.
One of the most disquieting features
OF the social condition of our times is a
rush of young men to the cities. Re
sulting from this is the weakness and
insenslbillty of the farming population
as compared with the came class half a
century ago. Steadlness of national
character goes with frmness of foothold
on the soil. We may well look with
alarm on a condition in which men of
wealth and power shall be gathered In
the cities, while the farms are left to
the weak and inefficient or to the peas
ants of other nations.
AS matters are, the cities are great
destroyers OF human life. We have not
learned properly to govern them ef-
fectively, and every city is full of hu-
man failures, results of misdirected ef-
fort. A tour of the principal streets,
halls and meeting places on Sunday
evening in any great city will show
how terribly true this is. Certainly
one-fourth of the population of such a
city as San Francisco for example has
no real business there. These people
are doing nothing effectiye for them
selves or helpful to others, and the con-
dition of the other three-fourths, and
most likely their condition, would be
distinctly improved if these misft per-
sons would 60 back to the farms.
No one can succeed In city or coun-
try unless he is able or willing to do
some one thing we'll and stick to it..
Because the life of the country is SIM
pier and more honest, it is easier for
a man OF moderate ability to fit into it.
I call it more honest, because the farm
life deals with nature at first hand,
while the city life deals with the shift
ing relations of men.
"The farmer trades with nature
through no middle-man. Nature is as
honest as eternity, and she never fails
to meet the just dues of those who
have claims against her."
In the city, opportunities to crafty
ambition are more numerous and great
er than in the country. But opportu-
nifty comes only to the man who can
make use of it. For man who can
do important things and can do them
we'll, the city will always furnish some
thing worthy to do. Hence the success
of thousands of men who have gone
to the cities with their worldly goods
on their backs and no capital but their
brains.
But the great majority of those who
leave the farms are out of this type.
They have not learned to do anything
we'll, least of all anything the people of
the cities want. Hence the failure OF
those who go to cities without capital
of any kind, or with capital of any 9th
er kind than brains.
The great obstacle in the way OF the
effective workingman is not organized
capital it is inefficiency. 1t is the
great crowd of those who can do moth
ing well, and whose presence causes
general scramble whenever there is any
work to be done. Capitalists could
and would double the wages of labor If
they were assured of intelligent, effect
i've and loyal service. Brains and heart
are the only servants that man can
afford to pay for. If you cannot fur
nish one or the other of these, there is
no help for you. You cannot live by
the work of your hands. Least OF all
can you do this In city, where COM
petition is severe, and where three
men are struggling for the chance to
do the work of one.
There is no doubt that the conges-
ton of the cities Is In part the effect OF
unwise legislation. We have used ev-
cry effort to be something more than a
nation of farmers, and in this effort we
have almost ruined our farms. But
legislative action is not the main cause
OF the congestion of cities. The other
causes are bringing about the same re-
suits in all civilized nations. Even
Rome has "real estate boom," an un-
fortunate condition which arises as the
people crowd into the capital. It is
not clear what the end will be or how
the evil will find its remedy. But this
we may say to every farmers son: You
have your own life to make. In
the country you are sure of your ground.
You will get what you deserve, while
your future will not be ruinous. Do
not go the clty-the country needs you.
IF you go with nothing to give that
the city cares for, you Will find your
self cast aside. Brains the city wants
and will pay for and devour. Loyalty