The Republican journal., 1902-11-13
SOCIABILITY IN FARM LIFE.

! IapeI ON [. NJ. W mite OF B0Wd0lnham
Read al the Meeting of Sagadahoc Pomo-
! ma Grange at Richmond Corner
Since God first placed man on the
earth agriculture has existed. 1t is the
first and only occupation directly insti-
tuted by the Divine Creator
W hlle this shows that agriculture was
intended to be even what it is. the first
and fundamental occupation upon
which all others should be dependent,
1t also shows that the agriculturiSt
must from the very Importance of his
position, influence all others who are
dependent and have intercourse with
him. If he is immoral, if he is slack in
his habits, if he is llliterate, if he is not
noted for his honesty, it is impossible
! that those with whom he has dealings
should not be influenced by his example.
Hence the social side of farming as
I well as the financial must exert a power
ful influence on the nation at large
lie unit of society is the family.
| W hat the families are as a whole that
! is the standard of society. If the SocIa-
! billty of the farm becomes impure it is
! but a short time before that impurty
| communicates Itself TO all ranks and
/ classes. 1t is a matter OF history that
when the Roman aoricultuIist became
! poor and the sGc!dbllity of his life i'm
| pure that the poison quickly infected
all classes of society with the result
/ that soon Roman society was the most
/ degenerate and indecent Imaginable
How is it that our glorious nation has
1 reached its present foremost no,itiopY
/ The reply is simple to find. That which
! the American family has been in ana
OF itself. that has tine American ualiou
been. This nation has moi achieved its
greatness and fame for nnrity hv chance
no. not lv any means. 1t has come
( through Wonderfully uniuup channels
/ Unlike many new countries il was moi
first settled by criminals driven from
them native home and ffpeino from ms
/ tice. but il had It's BEGINNINGS at Ply
mouth Rock and jamestown Inv reopIe
who We're fleeing NOT from Justice. but
from those who would tread upou ana
crush the last particle of free thought
and liberty in them 1t was not a rpcS-
less and evil influence that they hroupht
viii, them ON thp contrary if was a
deeplv RELIGIONS one
Here than do we find tine beoiuuino
Of american socie+v and with a d4enIy
rphojons inhnence around and inf fhp
h4Ginnino At least could not helm blit
he good Furthermore this beginning
was ON fine farm. In the early DAYS well
njgh All fine nonIilatiou WAS enqagpd in
farming The soriabilitv of those DAYS
i'm the family itself was found nrinci-
nallv in He row Of snntterino annlps ON
the hearth and tine +rllin+ of stories
and legends INV fine older members of
the family. Practically the only liter
ary Influence exprtpd mon this socia-
bilitv was that derived from the Bible.
which conld not but help being of an
plevating character The neighborhood
social gatherings were usually of a help
ful kind. such as buszinos barn rails
Inps and choppiug bees while attending
am opportunity for social intercourse.
taught thf. beautiful lessons of charity.
and the common bond. friendship.
With Am increase of population and
rapid rise of our countrV conditions
have Glanced lint the original high
standard Of morality i'm country socia-
biljtv has remained I'm the sixties a
common uhase of sociahility was the
sewing circle for the benefit of those
brave mon whover fiuhting fora noble
principle Here too was the lesson of
brotherhood not only taught through
sociahiljtv but if was indeiiblv impres-
sed mon fine characters of the part1cj-
nants hprause of the GREAT gravity of the
eve,,+s thpu TAKING Mace
With fine close 81 the warard thp px-