Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-02
CULTURE VS.. AGRICULTURE.
Vision of the Near Future of Farm-
ing in EnEland-ONerrun
With Lectures.

From the London Punch.
NO foreign trips said Jones. resolutely.
None of your miserable seaside places for
me this year. l shall spend my time at Pud-
dleworth. in the depths of the country.
staying in those delightful farmhouse lodg-
ings where j was made SO comfortable be-
fore. Mr. Giles, the farmer. will be de-
lighted to see me. his wife is an admira BILE
cook. and life there is thoroughly primi-
tive, simple and charming
few days later he arrived at Puddle
worth. and very refreshing the country air
seemed after the sitting heat of London.
Farmer Giles greeted him warmly. and
after few remarks about the weather
topic, Jones noticed. which seemed to in
case-the visitor inquired what kind of u
season it had been for hay.
We'll. SIR" said the worthy Giles. the
hay was all right but We couldn't carry
But Why" inquired Jones. Surely the
weather.
er: ''twere along o that Shakespeare class.
We couldn't get no hands nohow."
Shakespeare class?' echoed Jones, with
much surprise.
Yes, sir. P'raps you mayn't have heard
how We be moving along in the country.
Them there county councils have started
lectures on every sort of subject. offering
prizes and scholarships and foolshness.
All the place be clean overruH with them
drafted lectures-asking your pardon. sir.
Mondays and THURSDAYS ,tis Shakespeare.
tation.' and Wednesdays We has a course
on Applied Dynamics. Wunnerful useful.
sir. they tell me they be- All those lee
lures be in the afternoon, so We cent get
a man to do days work. Then Of an
evening"
But, good graciousr' cried Jones. "you
don't mean 10 tell me that the laborers at
tend those lectures?
THAT they does" said Mr.. Giles. .'They
be that daft on culture and 'eddication.
and suchlike nowadays. OR, even if hey
bain't fools themselves. for one thing
there's tie county council bribing them
handsome tout of the rates. TO come. and
them on You've brought cook, sir. /
hope?" he broke Off
"A cook" said Jones, with dismay. NO;
why, 1 thought that Mrs. Giles
''Lor' bless you, she don't cook nowadays.
She spends her time Il reading Browning.
and the gals are learning painting and the
as you knows, sir. We got what We could
eat. Now We eat what we can get-and be
thankful. or otherwise, according to our
digestions."
what does he think of this system?'
Father, said Mr.. Giles, smiling for the
first time, .is a sight for to see-let alone
to hear. There's a new course of lectures
on Wordsworth, for Infants and Senils
Adults and parsons wife, she came along
and dragged off father to the school for it.
And the language the old councilman used
about lectures" Well, you should have
heard it. sir
But what becomes of the farm. Giles?''
Farming bain't no account nowadays"
said Mr. Giles decisively. "Missus finds
that American flour very good. and our
butter comes from Norway. We does a
little ourselves, of course. so long as il
don't interfere with lectures. And-'scusa
me- Mr.. Jones. but I'm due at one now
tits on .Ruskin and Ideal Art'-and my
missus well. she just makes me GO Make
yourself at home, sir. There's some bread
and cheese, and well be back about o.
But on his return he found that Jones
had taken the $50 EXPRESS for London