Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-03-05
FARMER LIFE IDEAL.


a fortune off their farms and who feel
inclined to envy their brother tollers
in the city, imagining that life in the
city is more desirable than theirs, cas-
ier and filled with plenty Of leisure to
enjoy all the pleasures with which the
rustic imagination gilds and glorihes
those distant scenes and activities,
they need only try to find out their
mistake. Ear fields are greer" and
lose much of their attractiveness upon
nearer view.
To the city man of ordinary means
and opportunities, who, like the ordi-
nary farmer, has no bank account to
fall back upon in case of emergency
life is one "demnition grind 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 the rack day
after day. AS rule, such men are
not their own masters, but must or
der their speech, demeanor and incli-
nations to please the powers that have
control over tkeir daily doings in or
der to keep bread in the mouths and
clothes on the backs Of both themselves
and their families.
The farmer, if he does not feel well,
can rise in the morning at whatever
hour it pleases him so to do, for an
hour or so or day or two does not
make much difference in his affairs,
except at 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
fear of antagonizing the powers that
be. who can sack" him if his views
and opinions do not happen to coin
eide with those of his masters or "over-
lord" (the boss).
That the farmer is hard worker
nobody can deny. Tilling the soil is
not easy work. Since God gave the
command to man to "earn his bread
by the sweat of his face" the farmer
life has been life of toll. 1t takes
some strength and effort to dig liv,
ing 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. Brair
workers have no sinecure, although
some persons imagine that all they
have to do is to sit at desk and ado
up figures or to twiddle pen in theil
fingers. The life of salesman be
hind the counter is most wearisom'
and monotonous. The beautiful day
of spring go by, the birds are singing
as they build their nests, the flower
are blooming in the valleys and OF
the hillsides, and the grass is growing
greener and greener in the meadows
yet never glimpse does he get of th'
beauty of the bright world excep
when ne can take car ride of al
evening or on Sunday or holiday.
A grocers clerk works more hour
and harder than the average country
boy, who can go to the corner anc
pitch quoits and gossip with his GRO
MES when the city young man Is lust
getting from work, and, as for Che mar
who delivers milk In the city, he ha'
even harder work and longer hours
At in the morning and even earliei
his wagon his heard on the streets anC
himself racing from top to bottom o.
the high apartment buildings in the
cold and sleet of midwinters morn
ing or in the enervating heat Of sum
mer. At breakneck speed he goes
and one could almost imagine that hi
life. depended upon getting through
his rounds in due season. Competi
tion is SO great that he must neglec
nothing and always be pleasant anC
obliging to the most unreasonable o
customers for fear o. losing one
There are the icemen, carrying hft1