Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-10
LIFE ON THE FAKM
How Its Many Advantages Are
Often Overlooked f

IAOW AtB MANY AufhutdkCS III
Often Overlooked w
The thoughtful must be impress
ed with the social unrest OF tn
day; with the great struggle TO
place and position. The younl
mans ambition is no longer in thu
direction Of agriculture, because
the life to his mind is too circum
scribed, too quiet and too exacting
In other words, there is not enough
of the glitter and glare Of city life
that does 80 much to excite and
stimulate for the time being, but
which finally leaves one nervous,
If not q financial wreck Ia middle
life. The wild rush to the city 81
the present time is due to the fond
belief Of the average man that Q
fortune awaits him. What future
is there for the average young man
who enters a factory or learns a
trader Each year the period OF
apprenticeship is heightened while
the trade union dictates to him
what he shall and what he shall
not do. If he is possessed of genius
along a certain line, instead of
helping him it retards his progress
and says "thus far and no farther
shall you CO." The time was
when the quiet, peaceful life Of
the country was more thoroughly
appreciated and enjoyed than it
is today. Time was when mans
ideas of success were not measured
by the standard of geld alone.
Time was wi en- people were more
nearly free and equal than they
are today. Then the social line
was not so strictly drawn as now
and a man who preferred to farm
as a means of livelihood was count
ed as good as the professional man
or the merchant CT the neighborlug
city.
The question has been frequent.
ly asked why the country boy
succeeds so well when transferred
to the city. T. is is not II diifcult
matter TO understand when one has
had the experience of living under
both conditions. Did you ever
think of tho many activities which
enter into the life of country boy9
First, as a mere youth he has
a chance to develop brain and
muscle in the open air. Unless
his home is more insulated than
the average there are brothers and
sisters and neighboring children
for playmates. What greater
leasure is there than to roam the
fields huntlrg for the wild flowers
and gathering the nuts in the
autumn season, chasing the squir-
els and catching the 'possum. 1t
nay be that he is called on to
'ender lone useful service. He
nay have the COWS to bring home,
n the pigs to feed, or the chickens
o look after, or the mules to ride
o water, and these in their way
ire all pleasures and they are
eaching the boy a thousand use
'ul things. 1t is the great variety |
# conditions that he has to meet
hat develops in him the self-re-
liant characteristics which are so
invaluable in later life.
One of the objections to rural
life has been found in the fact OF
is isolation. There is an idea in
he minds of many persons that in
rider to be happy one must be in
ociety; one must have daily visits
rom their friends to the exclusion
f the good old family life that
leant so much and was 90
thoroughly beneficial to all. The
ountry is more densely populated
ow and it is quite rare for one not
o have neighbors close to hand.
he churches in the country are
,uch improved and the farmers
re building pixies here and there.
hey also have telephones In their
ouses and the daily paper is de-
vered at their door, and in the
ummer when the weather is hot
ut under the shade of the big
rees, they have seaside resort at
heir own doors.
One of the most serious objec-
ons to country life in Virginia
ill disappear when the primary
,hool is made stronger and more
lfective, while central secondary
,hool will afford the children Of
he community the same ad-
antages they have hitherto found
necessary to go to the city to
btain. Has not the conditions Of
olation practically passed away
! the country, and do not the
lings just enumerated constitute
lie very best and choicest things
life when taken into considera-
on with the other privileges
hich country life permits more
lar Offset the electric lights AID
le hum and buzz and hurreh Of
he city.