Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-08-10

ton OF causes may be attributed the un-
necessary conditions we have to meet
and which we seek 10 modify or remove.
Many, IL not all of the causes are the
outgrowth OF our modern civilization, or
they are the result OF traits OF character
transmitted along the line from savsgery
tn society. We have Inherited from saw
ags ancestry love of ease, love OF orna-
ment aud crueltry; and civilization has
developed intemperance, rapscity and
avarice. Never In the world's history
was there such scramble for wealth
and power as at the present time. Never
since the dawn Of civilization were so
many excellent qualities that the civiliz-
ing process has evolved. But those are
not 10 our purpose now.
Good and evil still exist and the NIL
leneium has not come.
Evil comes and evil goes.
But it moves me never,
For the good. the good it grows,
buds and blossoms ever"
Another poet says:
wherever God crccts house OF prayer
The devil always builds u chapel there"
And it will be found upon investiga-
ton that the latter has the larger con-
gregation.
But am drifting, and wish to quote
right here from good Mr.. Horr OF the
Tribune. lie says: The great struggle
Of life should be TO keep from losing faith
In our country and In humanity. IL IL a
striking sentiment TO me. The idea oil
struggling to keep our faith In our
country.
Now will return TO the main subject,
establish myself and try TO make a few
points, and show why, as IL seems to me.
the people leave the farms. Some have
Inherited restless disposition from
restless, discontented mothers. These
are useful; they go to people new lands.
We have retained through sill the changes
from barbarism u love Of ornament, and
our civilization has led to the cultivation
Of the beautiful, the ornamental and the
nice things. Nice Is much used In trade
TO describe high quality, but not proper
ly. So there has been cultivated a desire
aud taste for fine or nice things, as fine
so on through the list.
The average farmer cannot afford
these. and so the wife Is dissatisfied, and
the son who has developed high notions
from classical training Ia the high school
is discontented.
Another point. Man Is naturally lazy.
Few, IL any OF us, would work unless we
were Obliged TO or had got In the way or
habit OF working. There Ia inherent in
mans nature love OF ease. There is
an aversion 10 effort. The love OF ease
hampers effort, and yet only by effort,
exertion and exercise can the human
being be developed and made useful,
and be able to perform the labor requir-
ed Of him. Aud Notwithstanding this
great principle In the laws OF nature that
exercise strengthens and develops the
mental and physical faculties and that q
sturdy and vigorous manhood cannot be
acquired except by persevering labor,
we all the time are planning TO save
labor, to get rid OF effort, to avoid ex-
ertion. Inventive people are racking
their brains to invent lsbOI-saving ma
chimes and increase production. And
what will be the result finally, on the
race, IL this rage of invention goes on
Now TO carry on New England farm
successfully requires considerable hard
labor. Some leave the farm because OF
the hardship attending its management,
because of the care and endless labor {;
some leave the farm and find tenement
In the village or city and establish \
temporary or permanent home there, Tor
the purpose Of giving their children the
advantage Of better schools than the
rural town can possibly provide. This
is sometimes the proper course, prob
ably. but there seems to be some defect
| in the management or arrangement, when
a family must leave home TO get their
children educated. Are we not educat-
ing too much:
But the chief reason why the farms
are sold or abandoned and why the son
does not stay on the farm Is because the
| income Is too small. IL Is hardly suffi-
cient 10 meet the expenses. There Is
not much at the present time to induce
the cultivation of the soil for profit.
| This the average farmer finds to be true.
Then farm life Is dull and mOnotonous
and does not lead to eminence in social
or political life, and rs a general thing
the isolation and seclusion make dresr
the home and nurture discomfort.
Several reasons have given why there
| Is drifting Of population from the
farm. More and stronger reasons there
| NAV be, but these are sufficient for the
| case and for the occasion. Much has
been said and much has been written on
this great social and industrial move
ment from the farm to the city, and the
process still goes on and will 60 on until
things adjust themselves. And II In the
brief time allotted to most OF US, no
change In the current is realized, then
must we adapt ourselves to the condi-
tions as best We msy.
But is there no remedy for this inbred
dislike for the farm? II this drift be an
evil and adverse to the highest welfare
of the nation, and has been induced by
the advocacy of false theories and the
adoption of false standards and by i'm
proper education, then TO correct the
evil and bring about reform, right ideas
must prevail. IDEAS rule the world
Prof. Huxley once said, "The creation
of new habit of thought Is greater
achievement than any material In
yeniion." What we need to do Is to
create new habit of thought, and have
our homes and schools and the grange
unfold and develop new line OF thought
In the right direction. Ruskin says
"a remedy for public evils Is public edu.
cation directed to make men thoughtful,
merciful and just."-Alonzo Smith 10
Turf, Farm and Home.
il Il