The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-11-17

tE Itt quincy iE'n iht mere l#tti AiAlt =
knowledge Amid the hloaasst couycn
tion- and social vantie> II The oits Us
tension ana artificial methods s; .te l.ter.
ture Wits and perishes + mus, have
solitude and time n which % serr4natc.
Its life is in its unfcttered spontaue.ty,
and the free winds that blow under the
open sky are its sustaining breath Tic
country produces the man tire cauutt5
fills n heart up with materials ,ne youu
try bids him write Whether literature
concern Itself with the details or the IS der
aspects of nature with he passions or the
occupations of men It's best examples v,ll
BE supplied by the incidents and situa.
+ t on, OF common life under natural cz-
ternal conditions. r il not true That every
period Of renewal III the history II lD,r.
ture IS a period of a fresheuca go1mun
icaton with nature, either a oleai
look INTO the face Of the great word out
side Us, or in 4 new discovery II the cIc-
mentary, and therefore universal smpl
cite, OF the great world wlthms
l. THE WANDERING.
The blessings OF attachment to the syil
are. that primary one oi harmony WITH
nature. whiA draws after il br ght re-
tinuc Of dependents; the opportunity ot
selt-rca lZation IN an atmosphere Of uae
rendcpce and freedom and rcpooc, cx
emption from the pettine9ses and moral
oblquites which swarm on the surface
OF a crowded and conventional life. But
distinct as they are and excellent botf
for character and for achievement. they
do not seem greatly to impres the average
man. He may go so lar as 70 admit then
IN theory but he declines to be pract
cally influenced by them. While be IS
singing the praises Of rural lie, he pack,
up for the city. This impulse to wander
forth from nature and gather INTO tn,
city group is well-nigh a. old as mankln,
itself. 1t was the second man, who, !.
we read in an ancient writing, went on
} from his 1locks and from the presence o
the Lord. and builded city Fear lay
, back of this primitive wandering fear 9
natures vast so1tudes and fear oil tn
! marauding children OF the wilderness
| But the modern drift into the city. whicI
gained In the last century an unprecedenl
ed volume and impetus, is determined b.
other causes. Allow me to suggest som
z of them:
J. The materialistic habit c~tabliehes
} in the long struggle for physical comtor
| becomes inyeteratc and demands wide
: field for exploitation with the chance &
' quicker gains.
5 2 The substitution of machinery 10
/ human labor III 50 many agricultural pro
e cesoes.
8 The application Of machinery to man
G utacturing processes, y hich localizc
e manufactures III ccnters ot population
; a The development OF transportation
}, whereby it became possible and conTenen
a fer the rustic family to reach the cit,
I a. we'll as food supplies for practicaIn
L unlimited number.
o You observe that these are manG
y economic facts, and in the light Of thel
the movement to the city, which p
c world phenomenon, is seen to 5e the re
/ suit, not 50 much OF a social or ac@theti
\ preference, as OF an economic compuision
2 1t will continue 20 long as these corit
tions obtain, or until equally rowerfa
: conditions arise to oppose il. Besiaa
. what is mentioned later, he only cheo
i which j. as yet above the horizon
!, the relation OF the external food suDpi
ID the growing mass. Certainly the NOR
= preaching Of the charms q the country
side VIII limit the rural exodus no NOR
than the old royal proclamation, damn"
: back the currents which swclIed too ias
+. the population Of London.
Tho results Of the DRIFT t, the cit1
from tho point OF view or the counrs
arc even more manifest than rs cause
= The first result is -parsene~s Of the rlra
. population. I need not remind yen tha
i'm this condition the most serious of ~
: rural problems take their rise. TIN,
T. what renders provision for the religion
/ and educational needs Of tire countr
I districts so difficult. 4 second result
~ perhaps more disastrous. %ot only n
5 there a feW left. but The average quail,
y OF these few suffers b. tie fac. that i
city appeals with especial force 70 IL
re brighter and more eurerprisInc section
ID tho community. And what would the c.t
IN do WITHOUT these bright harbarians iroI
to the woods Tbs. alc ifs Lie and IA
il into II as 50 much fresh arte-'al blood 3.
or renew is faded physique Ba. what
81 disaster 10 country litr. Tins policy
!, giving its choicest product ~ tie q.
- without return IS a violation n ono
!, tie primary principles 81 good farmln
"A and the fact that country lifo goes p
i ward at ali Under this uubroken az
!, costly drain IS tho highest possible pro-
- r It, inoxhaustible fertility But III
i depletion cannot 20 on indefinitely II !
increasing rate without serious loss
=, the totally OF our civilization. 10 =
country clearly and none the lc5o 10 y
city whose very sources q Iaa'nten1u II
and renewal il ine<itabiy contracts
- 1T will not be a cheer ~ ta-k. tAou-
= it may be wholesome ore. 10 look mo-
- particularly Il the general situation al
'r recognize the several items which ira
81 for us what may b. called
!, |. TIE LOST ESTATE.
And first Nc must set down me -
"a erty of country life Itsolt. Sure goo'
saws Ruskin. is first in feeding peo"
70, then in dressing pcople, then ii loGzu
lcr reopIe. ana lastly II rightly pleasing re
~ ple. with arts, or sciences, or any o1a
he subject or thous ht now mueh ot he su
he good in these several particulars 90
ed the country dp elIeI ENJOY, not dldS9d