Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-23
FARMER BROWNAT SCHOOL
Is Given a Few Pointers.
Lessons From the Official Records Con-
corning Prosperity In Iowa Under
Mckinley.

Farmer Brown left his home near
Waterloo the other day for a short va
cation. The crop prospects assured
cided to pay visit to a son who is in
business in Des Moines.
-Four years ago Farmer Brown
would not have thought of taking such
trip. lie hadn't the time for it then.
He worked hard all day four years
ago, and laid awake O. nights calculat-
ing how he was to meet the payments
due on a certain mortgage, the exist
ence of which troubled him SOrely.
Then, too, he had heard how Uncle
Horace Boies figured out that it would
take 40 bushels of corn to pay for a
railroad ticket from Waterloo to DeS
MOines and return and that free sill
yer would be much better for farmers
for then they could have excursion
rates every day. And so he stayed at
home and voted for Bryan.
Fortunately, Farmer Brown will
never know whether the promises made
by Bryan and Boies would have been
verified or not. There was, however,
an opportunity afforded for the test Of
their predictions of calamity and
Farmer Brown waited in fear and
trembling for the disastrous effects
which they said were sure to follow
the election of Mckinley. BTt Some.
how they didn't come Times became
prosperous despite Their predictions
The mortgage was paid off and
Farmer Brown was happy and felt at
times that something had sidetracke1
the tlhes OF TOuble that were prom
ised. However, he was not Just Ger.
tain whether or not this prosperity was
,~FSeII. He knew he was doing better
than ever before, but he hated to think
that he had been buncoed by Bryan.
And so when the conventions of 1900
had named the same candidates he de,
termined one day to do a little indie
pendent investigating on his own &C.
count.
The next day, bright and early, he
set out for Waterloo to take the train
to Des Moines. He had walked but n
short distance along the busy streets
of that city before he instinctively
Strengthened up and assumed military
attitude, while his steps easily caught
the rythm of the tap! tap! tap! as the
hammers in the hands OF the busy
workmen on the many new buildings
beat time for the march of prosperity
Looks like prosperity has struck
here" he commented to himself.
When he reached the depot he founi
that 20 instead of As bushels of corr
would pay his fare to Des Moines and
return. He thought of what Uncle
Horace Boies had said four years age
and admitted to himself that possibly
Bryan and Boies might have been mis-
taken.
On the way to the capital city he
saw that the light of prosperity wa.
shining full upon the thriving town,
and cities and smiling on the neat farm
houses and the big barns lying just be
yond the wide fields that were ave
nued with towering cornstalks or bill
lowed with the emerald waves of grow
ing wheat and oats. Long before he
came in sight of the great golden dome
of the capitol, he was ready to admit
that appearances rather indicated il
was not only possible but probable
that the two BIS had made mistakes in
their calculations.
Say, John, why haven't you written
home lately?" said Farmer Brown
after the first greeting of his son. who
met him at the depot. 1--WE haven't
heard from you for a coon's age"
II know it," replied John shame
faccdly. "but to tell the truth, father
business has been so good that
haven't had the time. You see this
prosperity has just made bushes!
BOOM"
"Ah, see" unused Farmer Brown
and turning to his son he added
that's just what / came down here
TO look after. want to see about thi.
prosperity they talk of so much"
His son assured him that the EVIL
tlences were not difficult to find.
Before going to the store after din
ner John hitched up the family hors,