The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-01-29
FARMER LIFE IDEAL
THE LOT or THE TILLeR OF THE
soil IS TO eE ENWEo.

ina OF Wis Independence. ana Al
though the work II Hard ana In
ccssant the Reward IL snre.
II some Of the farmers who are dis
couraged because they have not made
n fortune or their farms and who feel
inclined to envy their brother toilers in
the city, imagining that life in the city
Is more desirable than theirs. easier
and filled with plenty Of leisure to en-
Joy all the pleasures with which the
rustic imagination gilds and glOrifies
those distant scenes and activities,
thcy need only try TO dnd out their
mistake. Far fields are green" and
lose much OF their attractiveuess upon
a nearer view
To the city man OK Ol iinary means
and opportunities. who. like the ordi-
nary farmer. has no bank account to
! fah back upon in case of emergency,
life is one ''demnitlon geind" and with
out the soothing Influences Of nature
that surround the farmer to quiet the
fever and unrest with which the strug-
gle competition and turmoil around
him keep his nerves ON she rack day
after day. AS rule such men are not
their own masters but must order
their speech. dcmeanor and Inclinations
to please the powers that have control
over their daily doings IN order to keep
/ bread in the mouths and clothes on the
/ backs OF both themselves and their
families.
( The farmer. II he does not feel well.
can rise In the morning at whatever
hour 1t pleases him so to do. for an
hour OF so or a day OF two does not
make much difference In his affairs.
except Mt the most critical periods OF
planting and harvesting. He can have
his own opinions. and voice them, too,
on politics and religion and all the
stirring questions OF the day without
fcar OF antagonizing the powers that
be. who can sack" him II his views
and opinions do not happen to coincide
with those Of his masters or over
lord uhe boss).
That the farmer is hard worker no.
body can deny. Tilllng the soil Is not
easy work Since God gave the com
mand to man to earn his bread by the
sweat Of his face" the farmers life
has been a life Of toh. 1t takes some
strength and effort to dig a living out
OF the ground 1t Is not easy to earn
living, much less fortune. without
effort. and the farmer is not the only
one who "sweats." Brain workers
nave no slnecure. although some per-
sons imagine that all they have to do
Is 10 sit at desk and add up figures
or to twiddle a pen in their fingers. The
life of q salesman behind the counter
is most wearisome and monotonous.
The beautiful days Of spring go by,
the birds are singing as they build
their rests, the flowers are blooming in
the valleys and on the hillsides and the
grass Is growing greener and greener
IN the meadows. yet never a glimpse
does he get of the beauty Of the bright
world except when he can take car
ride OF an evening or on a Sunday or
holiday.
/ A grOcer's clerk works more hours
and harder than the average country
boy. who can go to the corner" and
pitch quoits and gossip with his cronies
NhNh Nht NAly gRAhb AAAh - Ju1A 81
ting from work. and, as for the man
who delivers milk In the city. he has
even harder work and longer hours.
At 4 In the morning and even earlier
his wagon is heard on the streets and
himself racing from top to bottom OF
the high apartment buildlngT II the
cold and sleet of midwifery morn
ing or in the enervating heat OF sum-
mer AT breakneck speed he goes and
one could almost imagine that his life
depended upon getting through his
rounds In due season. Competition is
80 great that be must neglect nothing
and always be pleasant and obliging
to the most unreasonable of customers
for fear Of losing one There are the
lcemen. carrying fifty pounds and often
100 pounds OF ice up four flights OF
stairs. which is no easy task. and as II
Is not skilled labor the pay is probably
not more than 1t should be. considering
the amount OF strength expended.
Hard as the work Is and moderate as
is the pay. no man can afford to lose
his Job. so he has to be very careful not
to antagOnIze his employers.
The man who does business on a
small scale aud is his own boss prob
ably finds II no easier to make living,
for he has to do the greater part Of his
own work. and In the case OF bad or
Improbable season Is sometimes not so
well on as his hireling. who Is sure Of
@'s uysGs ~ least