Evening journal., 1898-03-12
OUR COUNTRY CLUB.


tie county win languish and die. That
our land may even approximate the
maximum OF its powers of productive
ness, Il is essential that agriculture
and socialculture walk hand in hand
To the advanced thinker this has been
apparent for long time, but not until
now has fitting opportunity been af-
forded to Justify a public discussion of
this great social and economic ques-
tion. But with a Country Club in pros
pect the public should be enlightened
upon the beneficial results which will
accrue therefrom.
Agriculture does not occupy its
proper level. Instead OF rising with
the progress of our nation 1t has mani
tested a tendency to fall In the respect
Of the world and to drag down all who
have been connected with Il. The far
mer is a boor whom society will not
tolerate, and his products are only pur-
chased because society dislikes to
starye itself while engaged in cutting
the acquaintance Of the farmer BY
some thoughtless persons this deplor-
able condition Is attributed to the de-
monetization OF silver, and, by others,
to the tariff tinkeriDg Of the last quar-
ter OF q century; but, to the person
who takes the trouble to go to the tap
root OF the evil, it is clearly apparent
that from the time that agriculture and
soclalculture fell out and agreed not
TO have anything more to do with one
another, the products of the farm have
deprecated in value and the tillers- of
the soil have fallen in the estimation of
the world until those whom they feed
call them hayseeds and Hey Rubes" 4"
The strained relations existing among
the inhabitants of the urban, suburban
and rural sections OF our county have
become 80 marked that they constitute
a public menace, and some harmonic
ing element must be introduced. II is
to be found In the Country Club, which
will demonstrate to the rural people
that the urban population has repent
ed and is about to extend the glad
hand and to forget the past.
] am pleased to know that at least one
representative man of our community
appreciates the gravity Of the situation,
and, with his powers of discernment,
is ready to apply the remedy, and that
he, with his characteristic promptness,
will take. adequate steps for the amel-
ioration Of the social and material CON
ditions OF the struggling and debased
ngriculturists He is one OF those men
who rises to meet an emergency be
fore a majority OF his fellow-men
know that it exists. His prescience is
the ear-mark of great genius and his ac-
tion, while the rest OF the community
Is passive, Is indicative of bOldness OF
bttpose and boundlessness of philan-
thrOpic spirit. A man who arrays him
self in antagonism to his class Is in
deed a hero, and / am glad to know
that the hour has supplied the man.
1t was predicted, many years ago,
that the Delaware Field Club would
serve as the nucleus around which
some great movement of this kind
would form; but the keen eye OF
prophecy never foresaw the true scope
and effect of the movement. For a
long time IL has been plainly apparent
to the general public that the premises
at Elsmere, at present tenanted by the
Delaware Field Club, are wholly made
Quate to the fulfilment of its true mis-
sion. 1t was known that sooner OF
later the members themselves would
discover their cramped position, and
the general public held its peace. II
is clear to everyone that, with railroad
tracks on all sides of the premises, il
is impossible for the club to spread It.
self without being run over Wha'
earthly opportunity has a man t
plough when his horses are rearinl
and plunging to the ringing ans
whistling and rushing of passin,
trains, and TO the clang and clatter o
freight trains being made up ON tn
atI Isof frro fr Fm.s
girl TO plant seed and grow vegetable
with long lines of rapidly-mOving Oh
servatories whislzing by the scene o
operations at short intervals? Non
whatever Combinations of capita
and the appliances which they emplo
70 declare a dividend or work thei
way out Of receivers hands paralyz
legitimate agricultural effort. But on
OF two courses is open to the club.
can memorialize the Baltimore an
Philadelphia Railroad Company an
the Wilmington and Northern Raj
road Company to stop running the
trains and to tear up the tracks; or
can watch for an opportunity to moN
out between regular trains, and ru
the risk Of being run down by specla
while getting clear of the premise
InutI eAloAlnE NOuullAoAr dbllNu4lu
and socialculture have no opportuni
TO work side by side. Close, associ
tion in the field Of human effort is
matter out Of the question. Agricu
ture sits on a barbed-wire fence al
sighs while socialculture plays crick
and lawn-tennis or bruises the boso
OF nature with golf-sticks. The on
part that agriculture plays in the day
diversion is after the sport is ende
Then it pushes the heavy roller ov
the field and crushes out all signs
the conflict. Such a condition is n
natural. II cannot continue. The la
OF nature demand a change, and il
apparent that il is about to come.
A Country Club will materially Z
sist in the work of raising agricultu
out Of the slough of despond and soc
discredit. It will give the farmer
excuse for putting on a more jaur
air, and induce him to remove
seedy garments and substitute go
ing outfit therefOr. He will come il
town with his head up in the air
stead of sneaking in and expecti
every moment to be called upon
an excuse for his presence. Under
patronage and protection of the Coz