The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-06-07
TIE REAL MAN WITH THE HOE.

by Robert E. Jenkins of the Chicago Bar
NOTE - Markham's MAN With the Hoe" is
an insult to every farmer and every farmers
son in America. It draws picture that has
no foundation in fact. 1t is utterly vicious, in
that it degrades honorable labor and promotes
contempt for work and dissatisfaction unrest
and despair where there should be hope,
happiness and courage. It and all similar
woeful wailings are worse than worthless
trash. (R E. Jenkins)
This man with the hoe Of whom shall write,
The American man who stands forth in his
might
The American king, where hard honest toll
Sheds halo of glory Ger tillers Of SELL
The man with .the hoe the typical man,
OF the husb andmen noble and not under ban,
But free to do right, with Open fair chance,
To their own and their children's best for
tunes advance
This man with the hoe foundation of wealth.
Supplies grain for the trader and food to save
health;
He drives away famine and want and distress
And ushers IN plenty all people to bless.
This man with the hoe is type of the best
Of our na tiOnal life in the East or the West,
The ideal man of the people en- masse
The pride of Columbia, the yeOmanry class.
This man with the hoe moves well in his place,
With a good manly stride and a smile on his
face,
With strong, brawny arms, his implement
yields,
Nor leans on his hoe to gaze round DER the
fields.
This man with the hoe is settled for life
With the maid with TIE pail for his comedy
young wife;
To earn their own home they toll and they
They bear trials with courage and hopefully
thrive.
This man with the hoe keeps up with the age,
He reads through the evenings the works of a
sage,
o. a tri-wee]1ly paper or book of the farm,
Till wisdom and knowledge both give his life
charm.
This man with the hoe is father of boys,
Six fine, manly MS share his cares and his
joys;
They work on the farm as farmers boys d.,
Then attend school in winter when working is
through.
This man with the hoe was faithful to God,
Was sustained from above as ltfe's journey he
trod.
Took his children to church and taught them
to trust,
To observe all the laws and in dealings be just.
This man with the hoe saw his children
succeed,
Grow up and go forth different canings to
lead,
Saw the lawyer, the merchant, the farmer
contelted,
The pulpit and platform and press represented.
This man with the hoe and his true, loving
wife,
Blessed the world and were each blessed with
long, happy life;
Was honOr'd with Office and places of trust,
The reward Of the man who is earnest just
This man with the hoe, the man with the hoe,
You can find him Astounding wherever you go,
One knowing him not has walled DER his lot,
And drenched him with tears, though he
needed them not.
Who in our country most laurels has won,
The barefoot rom the farm or the millionaire's
son?
This one in his ease fails high purpose to press,
The other necessity arrives to success.
These men with the hoe, look on them with
PRIDE
IN all trades and professions through the land
far and wide
The farmers boy leads. Hard work made him
strong
Take the hoe for his emblem Enshrine it in
song.
Oh man OF the hoe, oh man of the plane,
Oh man of the b. axe on the swift rolling train,
Man of the toilers whoever you be,
Your labor is patent of true dignity.
The pess 'Lnist's standard for men is all wrong,
He rails at the wealthy and envtes the strong:
Ills manhood, not money, we should prize
here on earth,
What man is, not has, alone measures true
worth.
Most sons OF the rich and all sons of ease,
Who lazily live and seek themselves but to
please
Are failures indeed, For all life is strife
And worth only to live is the strenuous life.
Shame on the teachers of hopeless despair,
Who call man brute, crushed down under
care;
Who degrade and debase in their doctrine OF
woe,
The real, manly, triumphant, good man with
the hoe