Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-28

OF them worked hard on the farms in
their youth and got their early mental
training IN the healthy democracy of
farm life.
Ihe forces which made these farm
nred boys leaders of men when they
mao come TO their full manhood are
sun at work in our country districts.
Selt-heip and individual initiative re-
main to peculiar degree typical of
iiie IN the country, life on a farm. in
numbering camp, on a ranch. Neither
the farms nor their hired hands can
work through combinations as readily
as the capitalists or wage workers of
cities can work.
1t must not be understood from this
that there have been no changes in
farming and of the farm life. The
contrary is the case. There has been
much change, much progress. The
Oranges and similar organizations, the
farmers Institutes and all the agencies
which promote intelligent cooperation
and give opportunity for social and
mental intellectual intercourse among
the farmers. have played a large part
in raising the level of life and work
in the country districts. In the do
main of government the department
of agriculture since its foundation has
accomplished results as striking as
those obtained under any other branch
of the national administration.
By scientific study of all matters
connected with the advancement of
farm life by experimental stations; by
the use of trained agents, sent to the
uttermost countries of the globe; by
the practical applications of anything
which in the theory has been demon
strated to be efficient: in these ways
and in many others. great good has
been accomplished in raising the
standard of productiveneSS in farm
work throughout the country. We
live in an era when the best results
can only be achieved, if to individual
self help we add the mutual self-help
which comes by combination, both of
citizens in their individual capacity
and of citizens working through the
state as an instrument. The farmers
of the country have grown more and
more to realize this. and farming days
tended more and more to take its place
as an applied science-though as With
everything else the theory must be
tested to practical work and can avail
only when applied in practical fashion
But after all this has been said it
remains true that the countryman-the
man on the farm, more than any other
of our citizens, today. is called upon
continually to exercise the qualities
which we like to think of as typical of
the United States throughout its his
tory-the qualities of rugged independ-
ence, masterful resolution and individ-
ual energy and resourcefulness. He
works hard (for which no man IS 70
be pitiedD and often he lives hard,
(Which may not be pleasantly; but his
life is passed in healthy surroundings,
surroundings which tend to develop
fine type of citizenship. In the coun-
try, moreover, the conditions are for
tunately such as to allow closer touch
between man and man than, too often,
we find to be the case in the city. Men
feel more wildly the underlying sense
of brotherhood of community of inter-
est. | do not mean by this that there
are not plenty of problems connected
with life on the farm, life in our rural.
districts. There are many problems;
and great wisdom and earnest disin-
terestedness in effort are needed for
their solution.
After all, we are one people, with the
same fundamental characteristics
whether we live in the city or in the
country. in the East or in the West, in
the North or the South. Each of us,
unless he is contented to be a cumberer
on the earth's surface. must strive to
do his life work with his whole heart.
Each must remember that while he
will be noXious to everyone unless he
first 10 his duty by himself, he must
also strive ever to do his duty by his
fellows. The problem of how to do
these duties is acute everywhere. 1t is
most acute in great cities. but it exists
in the country, too. A man TO be
good citizen, must first be good bread
winner. a good husband, a good father
i hope the father of many healthy
children: just as a wOman's first duty
is to be a good housewife and mother.
The business duties, the home duties,
the duties to ones family come first.
The couple who bring up plenty of
healthy children who leave behind them
many sons and daughters fitted in their
turn to be good citizens-such couple
emDhatically deserves well of the state.
But duty to ones self and ones fam
lily does not exclude duty to ones
neighbor. Each of us, rich or poor. can
help his neighbor at times; and to do
this he must be brought into touch
with him. into sympathy with him. An
effort is to be welcomed that brings
people closer together. so as to secure
a better understanding among those
whose walks of life are in ordinary cir
cumstances far apart. Probably the
good done is almost equally great on
both sides, no matter which one may
seem to DE helping the other. But it
must be kept in mind that no good Will
be accomplished at all by any philan-
thropic or charitable work, unless it is
done along certain definite lines.
In the first place. if the work is lone
in a spirit of condescension it would be
better never to attempt it. 1t is almost
as irritating to be patronized as % o.
wronged. The only safe way Of working
is to try to lind out some scheme by
which 1t is possible to make common
effort FOR the common good. Each Of us
needs at times to have helping hand
stretched out to him or her. Everyone
of us Sins on some occasion, and shame
to his fellow who then refuses to stretch
out the hand that should always be ready
to help the man who stumbleS. i is our
duty to lift him IN. but it is also o1r
duty to remember that there is no earth |
IL. IN, frxt;fr. to, In !