Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-10
WOULD BE A RURAL BARON.
Roswell Field On Abandoned Farms
He Aids A Purchase In Vermont and
Finds the Environment Enticing.

To the regularity of the rainy season as
a twclvemonth festival may be attributed
the popularity of golf as a game here
abouts, for it rises superior to all consid-
e~rations of weather, and Is cminently adj
apted to the climate of New England,
where, according to so veracious an ObSer-
yer and chronicle as Mark Twain, III
separate and distinct kinds of weather
have manifested themselves III a single
day, says Roswell Field writing t.
the Chicago Post. Taking adVtn-
tarc of this gracious disponsation of proVi-
donce | have journeyod to Vermont and
assisted a Western gentleman in obtaining
an abandoned farm. 1t is the proud nope
of every loyal son of Vermont, compel ell
by business cXigcncY to wander from me
family rOottroe, to return after an interval
of wears and buy an abandoned farm.
You must not gather from this that N'r-
mont is one long stretch Of deserted ag-
ricultural belongings. AT the same time,
if YOU have any friends or n~cighbOrS VINO
desire to go, sentimentally or practically
into the abandoned farm business, he can
still obtain II few job lots on application.
abandoned farms are sold at reasonable
prices to desirable persons. ! do not re-
call exactly the sum paid by my friend
for his harlnial estate, but he admitted to
me that the same amount of money would
procure a very good season seat Al inc
Boston symphony concerts, so | assume
that he paid a fair price. So far as could
see, the STAPLE product of this delightful
spot for il was a delightful spot-Was
rocks; hut as this farm was out of season,
it is hardly fair to judge its resources by
its perennial accompanimcnts. Moreover
my friend pointed out to me a sheep,
giving vitality and elasticity to the land
scapc, but whether this sheep followed tho
flag of sale, or was merely a tourist like
ourselves, | have not as yet learned.
Nv f,fan1 - t.tyx. maud nf hiC nIgnItn-
~ farm, and he is taking back West with
him several interesting views of scenery
from various elevations on his property.
II Is only fair to admit that the Wow of
the mountains roundabout is exceedingly
IcXhilerating. and if the discouraged agri-
Cultdrists abandoned their farm it WAS
certainly not because they found the altI-
tnde and the slope lacking in scenic effects.
But a man cannot live on scenery unless
he has a chafng-dish at least, with "A fair
crop back Of it, and | suspect that when
the Lord tumbled up the earth to mako
the State of Vermont he dii not take into
account 50 much the honest and indus
trious farmer as the enthusiastic summer
visitor.
My friend tells me that 1t is his intcn-
ton TO return next year and convert the
rickcty old farmhouse into a modern suns
MGR cottage, with a surrounding porch, in
order to get the full effects of tho scenery.
Then he will surrender himself to ii life
az rro.b ,ir ana ,nrinr Vegetables hnv,
f,raottnn Tho Varieties of vegetables that
prnu out 81 tho rocks hut dare say thev
arc nutritious and ulentiful He is mo,
unuirdful NJ Tho Fact that = narrow-gaup,
rniIwov ~ onlv tye miles way ana mn
ina nsoont from tho station 10 his farm
while arduous and patience taxing. is not
, impossible.
Nv western haron &c fully persuad,d
mat uith fresh air and with n|lcnty Dur,
snring water he will lead an ideal exist
, onco He took mo over TO the countr,
storo not moro than three miles distant
and introduced me to the PROPRIETOR. whom
y found "a very communicable gentleman
win n reasonable amount of curiosity a