The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-19

prepared by tutors and governesses
and then sent to expensive schools or
colleges, where the daughters are
taught to converse in French and the
sons are made halfbacks or quarter
backs, that they may win renown on
the football field. And then, when
the new year rolls around, pater fa-
milias dives deep down into his pock-
ct, and his checkbook is in constant
use, for the life of country gentle
man" has made wide ridges in his
bank account. How lucky for him
that lae has the hs,ei'seee =, tcy,.,
PASSING OF THE OID-TIMER.
The ranks are being rapidly thin
ned of the old school of country
gentlemen. Not that their decen-
dants and successors are lacking in
the essentials that add charm to the
type, but their environment is differ
ent. The younger generation can re-
member and recall the Judge" and
Colonel and the Major" but
what has become of them? In few
instances they are still found true to
their traditions and with the where
withal to support them, but in the
majority OF cases they have vanished
in favor of new blood.
Formerly, when Maryland and Vir-
ginia were less thickly settled and the
whistles of the locomotive had never
been heard in many sectious, the
country gentleman presided over
a very large estate. Frequently he
owned several thousand acres, and
agriculture was his nominal means of
livelihood. He lived we'll and his
family enjoyed the luxuries of the
period. He eschewed "work with
his hands," and his duties were ex-
ecutive, and consisted principally in
riding over his possessions on the
back of a well-gaited saddle horse
In spite of debt and mortgages, he
kept up the pace for years, but final
ly he reached his finish. In many
instances it was sad and inglorious
end.
The genuine dy din wool
Country gentleman" OF today is an
exception if he rides over his farm"
horseback. This luxury, as rule,
can only be enjoyed by his city broth
er, who acquired his money from
some other source, and is country
gentleman from choice, not neceS-
sity.
In the remote districts otherwise
the real country-5oo acres in these
days is considered large estate, and
the majority of farms are much small
cr. The man who, by virtue of his
birth and breeding, morals and char
acter, occupies the highest position in
the community finds it imperative to
toll from sunrise to sunset ifh would
keep up with the procession. He
cannot mount his charger and get re-
suits, as, possibly, his father did be-
fore him, but he must lead his men,
and often place his hand to the plow.
NO FRAGRANT HAVANAs FOR HIM.
He cannot smoke a fragrant cigar
and sally forth after a late breakfast
to see "what' doing" for the chances
are that some of his men have not turn
ed up, and if they have they expect
him to take the initiative in the days
work. Half the time, too, the cook
cannot be depended upon to appear
with regularity, if at all, and not
only the original country gentle
man," but his wife as we'll expert
ences that greatest difficulty of the
age in the agricultural districts-the
problem of securing trustworthy and
reliable labor.
And so it is that the country gen.
tleman" meets with many shoals in
what the idealist would view as beau-
tiful sailing. He sees the practical
side of his lot in life, with the result
that he brings his sons up with an
eye to looking around them for some
thing more lucrative and less labori-
Gus than tilling the soil for an exis-
tence. He realizes that he cannot live
on the past and its traditions. He
faces the present with fortitude, but
he looks to the future with anxiety.
Truly, his lot does not fall altogether
in easy places. Still, he is happy
perhaps.
This much for the country gen.
tleman" to the manner born. Now
for his city brother with the means to
enjoy agricultural pursuits. He has
not been reared to an intimate knowl-
edge of the hoe and rake, the shovel
and the p1ow. Therefore, he can
conscientiously regard them as de-
lightful instruments for pastime.
Not that he uses them because his
uncongenial business in town monop-
olizes too much of time, but theoreti
cal1y he treasures them among his
most priceless possessions. and it
makes his heart glad to hear the click
of the moving machine as the hired
man drives it. Oh that he only had
the opportunity to bear the burden
himself.
LEADS UTOPIAN EXISTENCE.
His life is practically Utopian-
this city-made country gentleman"
His house is supplied with running
water and heated with steam, but
open wood fires add bit of cheer"
in the early autumn days. He rides
to hounds, as did the country gen.
tleman" from time immemorial. He
belongs to hunt club, and wears a
"pink" coat, so called because it is
red.
He drives four in hand, and takes
gay parties to the races and to the
Horse Show. He goes TO the little
country church every Sunday and
discusses "crops" with his neighbors
after the service. He owns fine
automobile, and having the inevitable
business" to fall back upon, it is not
a matter of vital importance to him
whether wheat is s. or so cents a
hus1e1 or whether or not the corn