Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-14
STICK TO SOMETHING.

As spring approaches there exists thu
usual uueasiness among farmers and
others, and the inclination to change
from one occupation or locality TO an
other is IA strong as ever. This does
not apply TO the substantial and long
established farmers, cultivsting the
farms that have been owned In the family
for century, but does apply TO large
class always looking for something DIFF
ferent, and always complaining Of their
opportunities wherever or however they
may be placed. Instead o. studying
their condition and trying to find some
way 20 improve il they are constantly
studying the conditions surrounding
other people, and thinking how much
better fixed they are than themselves.
This Is very unfortunate and unreason-
able condition in which to be placed and
prevents success as efiectually as any
barrier that could be placed in the way
The people who have succeeded in any
cause or line of business are not thos-
who have been constantly chsngiDg
from one thing 10 another, but are tho g
who have persistently foilowe the same
course. There are exceptions TO thi'
rule, where person has made rsdic j
change aud succeeded, but thev are so
rare as to specially noticeable. OF course
IL Is necessary to Keep up with the times
and adopt new practices and make the
result OF study and investigation avail
able, as well as IN conform TO the con-
ditions and markets of the times, but 20
BE- constantly changing from one busi-
ness 10 another. or from one farm 10
another. IL a serious mistake aud gen.
orally keeps one st the bottom OF the
ladder. To be constantly thinking Of
making such change and 10 be contin-
ually desiring II Is about as bad as
actually making IL. In order 10 be con-
tented and hsppy, ss well ss prosperous,
il Ia necessary 10 have faith In ones oc-
cupstion and 10 give ones best thoughts
not TO finding something else TO do,
but TO how the present duties can be
best performed and how the busi-
ness In hand can be most promoted. Ten
people can be found who have made s
success by sticking 10 = business 10 one
who has made success In continual
liz changing.
The application Of this principle has
special prominence In farming matters.
The farmer Who Ia constantly changing
from one kind Of farm stock TO another,
or from one crop TO another, generally
comes TO the wire In the rear Of the pro-
cession. Ii may be necessary TO change
methods, but not the business. The
farmer who has followed dsirying In any
OF its forms. sheep husbandry or fruit
growing for twenty-five years, and made
either OF them speciality 10 the extent
OF STUDYING the details and adopting up
to-dste methods, Is to-day engaged In a
profitable business and Ia not clsmoring
for change. IL Is this constant, persist
elt attention that makes the farmer, or
anyone else, master OF the situation and
able TO make profit where new man
in the business would fall.
We are intensely interested in the
Young men about starting In farming
aud anxious 70 have them succeed. In
many instances they do not start with
the aid and advice OF fathers who have
been successful, on account OF failure 10
concentrate their energies and stick TO a
policy. We advise our young friends 10
carefully consider 70 what line OF farm
ing their farm aud location are best
adapted aud then select one or two prod
ucts towards which all their efforts
should be directed. IL Is generally best
20 grow the products needed for family
use 10 reasonable extent, but the cash
products 10 be marketed should be limit
ed 10 small variety. By careful study
and experimentation the cost OF produc-
ton viii be lessened each year and will
Weld a profit when other farmers in the
vicinity are producing the same things
Al loss. The advantages OF this
principle are nowhere more evident than
in farming
MANY people have the idea that there
will come u time In their life when they
will retire from the work 10 which they
have been engaged aud spend their clos
ing years Ia quietude. No greater
mistake WAS ever made than this. The
person who makes success or hls bust
ness, be II farming or anything else. be-
comes so thoroughly developed In the
faculties called intn use In the manage
ment OF the business that any change,
while his physical and mental powers
are uuimpsired. becomes dissgreesble
and the rest he hiss looked forward 10 all
his life proves On be irksome and his life
"a shortened by II. The person who en-
joys his closing years most Is the one
whn continues 10 his life work 10 such sn
extent Ss health will allow, doing less
esch yesr, with the proud Satisfaction
that he has succeeded In his chosen life
work. Such condition and such feel
ings are within the reach OF onlv those
people who are willing 10 devote their
best thought and confine their best efforts
10 line Of action extending over n
series Of wears. The person who il alb
solutely contented with the absence OF
care and duty in old sge Is he who has
never devoted himself 70 anything suf-
iiciently 10 be successful, and who has
no mental or physical hsbits formed
that will be annoying when inactivity Ia
adopted. They have nothing OF such
Intense interest 70 them In the line Of
business ss requires any great struggle
10 abandon and they will find enjoyment
In their inactivity. But the man who
has made mSrked success In any line
nf work will find the same work 10 n
lessened degree, necessary for his enjoy
ment and the farmer Is about the best
located Of all 10 follow out the inevits BILE
rule.-Mirror and Farmer.