Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-19

ALBERT EDWARD, sTocKMAN AND FARMER.
economy and reap with the least ex-
pensive and most effective machinery.
He will economic in the matter of la
Dor az other merchants do and spare
himself all but the executive functions
connected with his great enterprise
He will be an important factor in the
life and prosperity of the nation.
1t has become the fashion for rich
and refined people to own farms, and
we may soon have class of social aris
tocrats similar to the southern planters
before the civil war and not unlike the
landed aristocracy of England The
magnificent farm of George Vanderbilt
in North Carolina is not mere fancy.
1t is a business success. The same may
be said of DR.. Webb's estate in Yer
mont. Former Vice President Morton
and w. c. Whitney may not farm for
profit, but they are IN fashion and
maintain handsome country estates.
The Indiana legislature recently de-
feated a bill to introduce the teaching
of agriculture in the public schools of
that state, much to the disappointment
of Professor Plumb of Purdue university
and other agricultural educators. In
striking contrast to this Hoosier states
manship, Cambridge university, which
educates some of the bluest blooded sons
of Britain, has just established a full
professorship of agriculture. The belief
was expressed that sit would be an adj.
vantage if the landowners of the future,
during their most receptive period Of
existence, could learn something while
at the university of agricultural his
tory and literature and of the ways in
which orr ancestors met problems and
difficulties which they, like u.s. had to
face.
The prince consort was during his
life an ardent promoter of agriculture,
and Queen Victoria still maintains the
farm which he fostered. The Prince of
Wales is foremost among British stock
men and is now president Of the High
land and Agricultural Society of Scot
land, position which his title alone
could not begin to get The prince has
rendered signal services to the agricul-
tural cause, especially in connection
with the shows of the Royal and other
agricultural societies. In 1869, few
years after his marriage, he became
president of the society for the first
time and with the princess visited the
show at Manchester amid great enthu-
siasm, the attendance on that occasion
reaching over 1S9. 600 and bringing a
net profit of 5000 into the society $
treasury.
At the Kilburn International exhibit
ton in 1879 the prince was again pres
ident. In 1886 his royal highness was
president for the third time when the
show was held in his own county at
Norwich, and he has just accepted the
presidency for the York meeting in
/ 1900. His presidency of the Smithtield
club for its centenary show will be well
remembered The Prince of Wales has
also closely identified himself with the
work of the horse breeding societies
and at the present time is president of
the Shire Horse society.
The Duke of York and the Duke of
Richmond figure in the leading agricul-
ture shows, and, in fact the road to
greatness in Britain seems to be through
fertile fields and pastures The Baroness
BurdettC outts is president of the Brit
ish Goat society and Lady Craven, one
of the American beauties, is chicken
fancier of international reputation.
With tendency toward Anglomania
and money at per cent, will America
not soon have landed aristocracy
which will outshine that of Britain
Will not the substantial American So
ciety of the future be rural landlords
rather than shopkeepers? Will not the
highest type of American men and wo'
men be those most closely associated
with nature and natures God?
GEORGE EDWARDS