Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-09-01
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( HEALTHY :
( INFLUENCE
Pure Bred Stock and the Intel y
lectual Life of tho Family. {


Quite apart from the enhanced mar
ket value pure bred stock has another
value which is not always estimated ut
its true Wortll-the value of it's in1lu-
ence upon the intellectual life of the
family. One only needs to go into the
family home on the farm where pure
bred cattle, horses. sheep or swine are
reared to be convinced Of the reality
and the bcncticcnce of this influence.
said Mrs. Virginia C. Meredith in Il re-
cent address. If other proof is needed,
it may be had by comparing or con-
trasting Il home on such a farm with
n on the farm devoted to grain farm
ing. 1t has been said that wheat farm
ing %debauches the mentality Of the
farmer. While this is probably too
strong a Characterization, yet it graph
ically suggests the mental vigor pro-
noted by the life on the stock farm.
There are some phases Of the profess
sion Of farming not always well de-
fined in own thoughts. 1t is well
worth while to consider some Of these
In their relation to the intellectual life
Of the farm family. For example, the
circle of acquaintance and the associa-
lions which inevitably follow ones
Identification with any particular pure
breed of live stock will widen the men
tai horizon; also the range Of read
ing-imperative if one would keep
abreast Of the advance being made by
all the pure breeds-will itself strength
en- the understanding and broaden the
general intelligence. Then. too, the
study Of natures methods. the mys-
teries Of h%eredity, the influence of en-
yironment, bring one into intimate SYM
pathetic touch with the great forces or
laws that wait upon and reward u
intelligence Or perchance punish our
ignorance.
The more than human response in af-
lection and absolute trust which the
horse, and even the Southdown, will
make to the masters car teaches the
highest lesson concerning our obliga-
ton to others. And all these lessons
are so easily, SO imperceptibly, trans.
ferrcd to other planes Of life, where
they influence conduct and destiny.
When one appreciates intelligently and
sympathetically the high privilege of
controlling the conditions that create
vegetable and animal life he may get
a glimpse Of that perfect love and per.
feet justice divinity exercises toward
it's creatures.
II intellectual vigor is given an outlet
on the stock farm, equally true is II
that intellectual vigor finds a noble
field in the farm home. There have
been many definitions Of the wore
"home," all showing some phase thai
appeals to the speaker. An inclusive
definition is something like this: Home
is a place and an opportunity for the
complete development Of the physical
mental and spiritual natures and in
ferentially for the same enjoyment Of
life. The farm home offers peculiar op
portunities for the development of the
physical. This goes without saying. A
happy childhood in the open air is the
Inheritance Of the farm child. and the
force Of sunlight, pure air and exercise
are we'll nigh conclusive in determine
ing physical completeness. The near
est to great forces in vegetable anG
animal life, il at all utilized, must
awaken powers Of observation anG
strengthen the judgment by contem'
platiOn of cause and etfect-the direct
adaptation Of means to an end so con
Y clusively taught by the recurring sea
sons and the continuous round Of ami
mate and inanimate life must have in
calculable effect upon the mentality.