Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-02
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

To the boy on the farm as to the boy
everywhere, the one important question
TO be asked of himself over and over
again until a satisfactory answer Is
found is, What am l good for; what
lines of work will give me the greatest
pleasure and profit?" To attempt to fit
square pegs to round holes, and round
pegs to square holes, is most unprofit-
able, thankless, and well-nigh hopeless
task. A man without business capac-
ity cannot hope to be his own master,
successfully. Such man must work on
salary for others. Find out what you
are, your capacities, and your limita-
tions. To know your business thorough
ly must be the aim, and in the long run
he succeeds best who has the best prep
aration. A college education is the best
preparation for any calling. The worlds
premium is placed on trained and edu-
Gated brain, not on muscle. If you
would succeed cultivate your brain
power. Not only is knowledge power
but it is the basis of all true success.
The dollar is not the best measure of
success, but even on that basis, mental
training is in the lead. For without
mental training the difficult things can
not be done. The worlds reward is for
doing the difficult things.
"The man who fells the trees in the
woods may receive 10 cents per hour;
the man who controls the carriage OF
the great saw mill and decides on the
instant what shape and dimensions the
lumber shall take may receive 25 cents
per hour for simply moving little lever;
a third man causes piece OF the wood
to take on the forms of beauty for the
great staircase and may receive 90 cents
per hour; the fourth furnishes the de-
Sign for this beautiful staircase, and may
receive 81 an hour. The man who does
the so-called hard work receives the
least pay. Why? Because it is the
least difficult. This difference of remun-
Grafton holds good on the farm. Mush-
rooms sell for 80 cents per pound; maize
for one-half cent per pound. Why? Be-
cause anybody, even a squaw, can raise
maize, but only specially skilled gar
dener can succeed in mushroom culture.
Hothouse lambs bring Sc to $40 when
two months old; poorly bred sheep at
two years of age may bring from 81 to
81. Why? The breeding and feeding OF
the one is easy; of the other difficult"
But if the boy is we'll trained and edu-
Gated should he not turn his endeavor to
some other calling than agriculture? is
the question which arises in the parents
and in the boys mind. The answer to
this is not easy, and must be met for
each individual case by itself. To aspire
to do some of the most difficult things
the world needs to have done is worthy
ambition. Not to try to achieve be-
cause of fear of failure is cowardice. 1t
is. however, only the rare man who can
achieve greatness in any calling. The
rural life has very much to offer to
those who are trained to appreciate the
beauties of nature and obey her laws.
The average farmers always has an as
sured though modest income, and the
better farmer have an ample income
for maintaining improved rural homes:
If YOU want to have at your command
independence and the comforts of living,
/ do not know where you can better hnd
them than on the farm.
CHAs. d. WOODS, OrOnO.
University of Maine, June A, 1901.
"Diying and finding no pearls In the sea.
Blame not the ocean, the fault is with thee.'
Too often when we find no love of the
farm in our boys heart, the fault is with
us. There are many boys who gladly
choose farming as their profession and
remain ON the farm from pure love OF it.
There are others who from uncontrolled
circumstances forced to remain against
their inclinations. To both of these
should farm life be made pleasant. Some
drudgery there must be on every farm
but give the boy some part, some inter
est Of his own by which he may derive
an income by his individual efforts
Teach him that there is spread before
him the grandest book ever studied Dy
mortal. His eyes may behold more
beautiful pictures than painted canvas
ON city walls. Teach him from tht
earliest years to love the birds, tht
flowers, the trees, to make them hi
friends. 1t takes but little to bend hin
the right way. Teach him that eacf
has a secret for him, and a. he gets near
to natures heart the ties will draw hin
to the farm.
.He'll hear the ripple Of the brook.
See sheen of velvet sod
And feel these truths all lead him ON.
TO worship natures God.
KATE B. ELLIS, Fairfield.