The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-03-30
VALUE OF A FARM.

Few men who own farms realize,the
actual value of their holdings. Com
pared to land, the intrinsic worth Of all
else sinks into insignifcance. All
other wealth is feeting. Gold has no
value in itself, and it's worth is deter
mined by it's scarcity. Buildings and
business enterprises decay and perish.
Monuments crumble. Time obliterates
all from the face of the earth and only
the land remains. All wealth springs
originally from the soil, and it alone is
capable of producing anything. Soil is
closest to nature and from nature
springs all enobling thoughts and
acts and deeds. Inspiration comes
not from brick walls or heaps
of gold, but from nature. The humble
tract of land, valued at few dollars,
and thoughtlessly sold or traded has
furnished space and sustenance for
thousands of generations. The dews Of
heaven and the blood of warriors have
been absorbed by it. Since chaos
changed to form it has gone on produc-
ing, year after year, century after cen
fury, age after age, forest and field and
grass, adding annual contribution to
the wealth of the world. Its produc-
tive capacity has repaired the action OF
earthquakes and covered the crimes
Of men. Devastated by storms or torn
and disfgured in strife Of battle, nature
gently covers all, and the land again
appears, clothed in verdure, colored by
divine touch, peaceful and smiling
encouraging hope, inviting industry
covering the black past. Opportunity
is there; the field for honest labor and
freedom and happiness. Childhood
boyhood, manhood and old age are spent
there, and after all that is mortal is
finished, the soil receives it's own, dust to
dust and ashes to ashes, humanity re-
turns from whence it sprang, replaced
by posterity, which in turn receives
the annual offerings of the land, lives
loves, hates and dies.
If you have farm, or plat of ground
learn it, love it, improve it, be proud OF
it. Do not sell it. Pay off that mort
gage. If you must roa keep the home
place anyway. Have home and a
place in the world. Instill in the minds
of your children the love of land, Of
nature, of home and of freedom.
DIR. Alexander, in the Farm Gazette
speaking of farms in Scotland, which
are rarely sold, but pass from genera
ton to generation, says:
go to one of these farms noted fol
genial hospitality aud upon the walls
of the parlor you will see portraits o
men and women of the family who il
their time worked the old farm ant
loved it we'll. On the same wall hans
pictures of prize winning animals tina
have won fame for the place, and below
them, on the sideboard, you will SCI
massive silver cups and salvers, tn,
trophies of ancient and modern shows
Could you buy one of these farms
Mo- Could you easily persuade tn
owner-or tenant, as it more often i
to leave the old place and take up life
work on new farm or in a new land
Mo-! There is love of home and it's hal
lowed memories: strong desire to roun
out the fame of the name of the plac
and the reputation of the family an
perfect content to make such aims
lifetiEle's vocation. Here the boys an
girls grow up. Here one of them re
mains to carry on the work when tn
old folks go to sleep in the kirkyar6
and here, to the home nest, turns tn
hearts and minds of every member {
the family, with love and longing. 1t
a beautiful sentiment, this love of tn