The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-02

which inspired 1t. But Milleto picture
uoss not represent any type of Ia mer.
lie found this thing" half brute. half
human, in the field. alone and abandoned,
ana transferred 1t to his canvas Millet
painted a freak picture. Markham wrote u
freak poem.
But when priests. preachers ana lay.
men, Journalists. hrevet journalists ana
nacKs all over the country. took 1t into
Aeir heads that the picture and poem
applied to the tller Of tina soil OF this
country and wrote long dissertations to
prove 1t. wrong was done which 1t will
take years TO repair, or the farmer 20
forget There has been many cruel nings
at the farmer, but none that has gono
deeper INTO his soul than this.
No one but farmer can know how III.
tensely farmers feel As a rule they lack
expression. Their thoughts must come
out in action. You might talk to one all
day and not understand him, find him as
one without hope; you might use ali
your art OF diplomacy, and never bc
able to draw from him a beautiful
thought; you might ask him a thousand
questions and never get satisfactory
answer.
No, II you want TO learn his knowledge.
share his hopes and enjoy his though 8,
go out in the field where ne works. he
and his wife and his children Look at
the long straight rows, watch for tho
bud and the blossom and the fruit, drink
in the beauty. symmetry and promise OF
everything that grows There his knowl-
edge is shown TO ba as varied as nature.
his thoughts finer and subtler than art,
and his hope as wide and large as the
universe.
| have often wondered II the world at
large ever did, or ever will, recognize this
farmer as the real producer of the trus
value of all wealth. Did anyone ever
think of it, except the farmers that the
world lives, as it We're, on their charity?
Sophists may dispute this. but when all
the ingenuity OF argument is exhausted
the cold fact remains that they live off
what the farmer produces. The world
silver and gold Jewels and puppies, PAL
aces and prlncely domains would be only
as ashes and dead sea fruit should tina
farmer refuse to give to 1t the products
of his labor.
1t is what is over and above what the
farmer actually needs to keep soul and
body together that feeds the world. And
who has ever figured out what that
means? 1t means the endless toll OF
millions OF men, women ana children II
means stinting, close economy and hard
ch'Po VI cNclS hlhut II ihtFiAAo NA NH''iNNF'
waiting, hopes come to naught, never
ceasing battle with earth. air and sky,
with storms, droughts and foods,
And what does he gcs in return2 Surely
no one will say tsat he gots his share OF
the wealth to which his efforts give
value. If he did there would be few
more comforts on the farm. more equal
chance for his wife and children with
other peoples wives and children, and
the beginning Of that ml!--iuln of which
dreamera drea n.
But l am no special pleader for the
farmer; he wants none, he needs none
Through all the hardships he endures
/ through his toiling and struggling, he
feels his responsibilities to his God, his
country and himself and come what may
he will never shirk them. He knows that
on him rests the duty to keep the hom'
and the home life pure and holy; to show
/ to the world the beauty and grace o.
the answering faith that Is in him, ant
to walk uprightly before God and man
the living example of strong and sturdy
manhood. Il