The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-11-29
VIEWS OF VETERAN
FARMERS.

~ was NY Pil'HcSo hoV ioHS "So w
be an interested listener to the con-
versation of two old gentlemen con
cerning things of long ago. They had
been farmers in their younger years,
and knew the ins and outs of the busi-
ness, and were comparing the methods
and successes of the old-tlme farmer
with the process and failures Of the
disciples of modern agriculture. They
were in no degree bitter concerning
the new plans prevailing, many of
which, in their estimations, tend to de-
grade the time honored calling and
strip the farm pocket-book of its fat
ness for people bordering on the
promised land, with one foot on terra
firma, and the other reaching for a safe
landing on another shore, are not apt
to be severe in their criticisms, but
evince more sorrow than of anger
when you see their fellow worms pur-
SUNG courses that they have learned
to know are not productive of the most
satisfaction.
These two intelligent octogenarians
showed by their hale and hearty ap-
pearance and vigor of intellect that
they had mastered the art of right liv-
ing, and were entitled to a professors
chair in that branch of knowledge.
Their we'll preserved minds and bodies
would seem to give weight to their
words concerning business matters.
They were quite agreed that farmers
underrate their own calling, deprive it
of good repute,.. ..injure the sale of the
land, and drive people, their own sons
included, away from the farms rather
than towards them, in their constant
meanings and fault-findings about the
poverty of the occupation. They
showed in clear light, that it would
take wiser brain than mine to con-
trovert, that there never was better
time than the present for young
man, with his bare hands and no capt.
tai, to earn farm for himself. Wages
are high, perhaps too high for the
prices received for farm products, but
the advantage to the laborer remains.
A man of moderate capabilities can
command SIS dollars per month, or
$3.50 per year, and he gets his living
in the bargain. He doesn't usually
consider living Of much Importance
until be gets out of home and has to
board, then he learns its real value /;
or until he takes some one into his own
home for his wife to feed and care for,
which is an equally good eye opener
of the cost of living. The farm work
man can save 1925 each year of his
wages without pinching, if he has a
tmind to. And he could save more if
he WOULD practice the economy the
kshEiy young man Of old had to, when
swages we're less than 500 a year, and
be had to pay the tailor more for max
ing suit than the entire suit costs
now ready made.
Ii he wishes to succeed he must not
fool his money away on things that do
not count. In running to balls, in
driving fast horses, in loafng in the
dram shop, smoking in country stores,
in buying diamonds for the girls, and
taking them on expensive excursions.
He must "creep before he walks" Too
many want to eat their white bread
first, to sail high in the beginning, and
then they light low, and so through
life living from "hand to mouth" car
rying notes in bank and debts they
cannot pay in the mad scramble to
look fine, which all sensible people
know is vanity and folly, and will bring
to them suffering sooner or later.
These gentlemen also drew some
comparisons between the girls of old
and those of the present day, which l
fear verified the old maxim that "com-
parisons are odious." Girls used to
busy themselves making bed quilts,
and storing away beds and bedding,
table linen and useful household arti-
clcs, and in learning to make bread
and butter, pies and cookies and lots
Of other good things to eat. The bride
of old didn't go into her new home
with everything on her back and moth
ing in her head. She was trained in
her business she took pride in learn
ing how to keep house, and was help
meet in the true sense.
The baker didn't furnish the farm
er's table with with bread; and the
stores with canned fruits, vegetables,
pickles and condiments of all sorts.
When a man took wife he was rea-
sonably certain he had somebody able
and willing 10 cook his meals and help
him along; now he has somebody to
hold him back. The girl of the period
is studying fine dressing and imprac.
tical things mere than the work that
God calls her to as wife and mother
and yet she will get married if she
does not know how to boil potato OF
turn pancake.
1t dnesn't take much money now to
buy farm; less than tue cost Of the
buildings erected by our thrifty ances
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