Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-07-04
The Future Farmer.

There is something very unequal IN
the present distribution of our popula.
tion and nothing is more needed than
correction of this growing evil. We
have only to read the headlines of the
morning papers to see the wretched
condition of the average city laboring
man. Strikes and lockouts are of such
frequent occurrence that they are now
looked upon as the normal condition OF
affairs and no longer attract more than
passing attention. To correct this the
population must again surge back to the
country and to bring this about should
be the labor of the future statesman.
The possibilities in this direction are
very great, and they should be attract
i've. Nothing is more needed in this
country than redistribution of the
population wisely and judiciously made.
To secure this we must make farming as
attractive as it was meant to be by God
when He created a garden and put a
man in it to dress it. The poet Cowley
writes: "God the first garden made,
and the first city CAIN" and Cowper
assures us that "God made the country
and man the town." True to his nature
man has done what he could to spoil the
country, Gods handiwork. 1t can be,
to some extent at least, restored to its
lost estate. And it is fortunate that
much is already being done to accom-
plish this. We have only to cooperate
intellgently with forces already at work
in order to keep the country from being
depopulated and the city from being
over-crowded. In some other countries
rural life is popular. 1t can be made so
with us. Indeed, the popular taste is
already turning in that direction. There
is no business that demands more brains
than agriculture if it is properly carried
on. But in these days brains must be
literally paid. The competition for
talent is severe, and the farm must be
prepared to meet it. II there were
assurance of adequate reward for farm
ing even the present isolation and lone
illness and other unsatisfactory condi-
tions would not repel.
To bring this about the environments
of the farm must be made more attract
i've. Certainly the songs of the summer
birds should be sweeter sound than
the shrieks ON the floor of the stock ex
change. If the old charm of the coun-
try has been lost sight of in the mad
rush of modern life it should be our
duty to see that it is restored. The prob
lem is to develop the life on the farm up
to the full measure of its great reSpon-
sibilities. We must make farming a
career in the sense that other honorable
occupations are careers, assure the
farmer of a fair return for his labor,
develop in him pride in his work, make
him see that it is worth while for him to
put into it all the brains he possesses
and that scientific farming pays, and
give him that intellectual stimulus
which comes from a larger and freer
life. We must elevate the farmers
business until it is on an equality with
the best business in the country, and
farming as a profession is the best pro-
fession on earth. When we have done
all this, and shown to the world that in
the country alone can be found the high
est ideals of human happiness there will
be no difficulty in keeping the boys on
the farm, and other boys will want to
come. Is not the experiment worth try
ing? Do not the farmers see that they
owe it to their profession, the most
ancient and honorable of all professions,
to exert themselves to the utmost TO
give it that standing in the eyes of the
world that it ought to have and once
did have? And cannot all our people
be made to understand that anything
which contributes to the accomplishment
of all these results is worthy of their
cordial and enthusiastic support? There
is nothing here suggested that may not
be done.
The grange is rapidly shaping matters
in this direction and the near future is
bound to see the change commenced.
May the day be fastened when the noble
occupation of farming will take its true
place among the professions of men.
journal Farmers.