The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-23
50u&YgTI7l Am q NJ the Men who Work H-TkEH7nN
e t&Rl4&H0 with Hand "a gEIMa5D)
BY Arthur A. Ellsworth

is3 9A%A AN q rtownslrlan farm - MI, 4
SAS Frequently the question Ia asked
a8 not only for the townsman at
large along the lines Of social
economy. but 1t Is taken up and
reiterated by the townstnan himself, who,
dissatisfied With his condition or position.
or both-n the city. feels the impulse to turn
back to tho soil. H
!, Time was not SO long ago, when In most
/ sections OF the country at large man was
VI supposed to be making his living on the farm
Ill for the reason that he couldn't find 1t any,
y where else In the worker world. Today the
idea Of a mans retiring TO q farm before he
has reached tho limit Of his activities In the
clty.is at once one of the most popular move
nents. appealing alike to young and old IND
rich and poor. IA
The president OF tho United States went
.H down into Virginia the other day and bought
a farm. George Ade. tho Chicago play
wright, has been drawing cons lderabls
revenue every yea OF the now century from
his holdings Of Indiana farm lands Athou-
sand names Of prominent business and pro-
n fesslonal people who have invested In farms
! In the last few years might easily be written
between these two figures.
IA ig 4
y Farming Simply Common Sense.
But as to whether the city man Is able TO 3
4 y" farm, successfully In competition wit \ 3
VI those who are farming successfully already
I becomes atllast a question OF ndaptnbhty,l
Y common sense. and Judgment. Some men
\ lhavlng all OF these would not farm for tho
" reason that they have not the temperament
Y thus TO 80 into retirement from the seduc-t
! tive Influences OF tho city. man having
4 l wife and daughters Just out OF school--or
4 worse, daughters who should Just be enter
\ ing school-might consider his qualifications
! tor the work the least OF the things TO be
| considered favorably for the move.
u Almost any city man can farm who. pre-
/Hyious to his taking up the work, has nmassed
~ fortune in the city It need not be large
H. fortune. either. for with any sanity In ia rm-
vi ing q fortune Will go further in that busi-
n ness than In any other wildcat venture. The
N man to whom the question appeals, however.
VI is the man who has a city house, pal d for.
small bank account. and tho disposition to
1k convert both into farm where in some
vi sort OF retirement he may make comforta-
II Bile living for hlmsef Ind family.
IA Specializing Keynote OF Business.
II Farming at one time meant corn and hogs
I. almost anywhere In the central west. Today
IL farming in the neighborhoods OF the great
vi cities has been split UP and spe cialtes have
II been developed until the word farmer sug.
I gests no moro to some sections Of the country
than the word doctor suggests the speciality
VI 10 which the doctor is devoted The state.
n ment made In public that Mr.. Jones is q
farmer does no more than to prompt tho
\ question as to his speciality.
IN Specializing in farming In the United
III States already has been declared overdone,
and It's specialists have gone Into the bank {
ruptcy courts out OF all proportion Yet In
common with many other specialized efforts Il
all along the line the unsuccessful specialist
has given the black eye to the cause. leaving
to the best material In specializing the fruits
sof ever promising success.
Il Ten years ago a young man In Chicago
vi bought ten acres OF land in the general direc-
N ton OF Aurora. paying part cash for It. y
~ Chickens were to be his speciality, and be-
N tween Ms house, which he recons tructed far y
II 10 exceed the houses Of most OF his neIghbors.
a he put in chicken E plant /" that cost him
q more,money than he had ever had at any one
u time In his life. II, 55
n Causes of One Failure.
4 He didn't know much about chickens, but &
N he soon learned enough to run an ncubator
~ He had hired man and his wife to look after
l the steam plant and the chicken yard In
\ l general. He was considering opening a re-
" tail store fer the Gale of his produce in Chi
N cago vixen his first seml.annual interest be- &
came due 1t was mldwinter and the eggs
| we're the sole source Of income Within a
i month a life Insurance policy for So 900 de-
manded Its premium Fuel bills were higher
n than he had expected. His wife dlslked
ba,country heartily. In the spring an I'M
! I'd ta.<nsm 49, Z ~