Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-21
PLEASED WITH HIS LOT
COMMENTED FARMER CALLS AT
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
A farmer. a farmer,
A farmers life for me.-Old Song.

James Wilson of Iowa. farmer by IN
stinct politician by profession and Secre-
tary of Agriculture by appointment mas al
ways believed that scattered throughout
the United States there are thousands ana
hundreds Of thousands Of men VINO are
farmers, first, last and all the time by
grace of inclination; who love the Simple
lives they lead, and who would not eA-
change the freedom of the fields for the
bondage of the cities, no matter what inc
worldly inducements might be- But even
the Secretary could never have hopeo 10
meet such an enthusiastic farmer as VS.
itor to the department the other day proved
to be. And the sad thing about the whole
affair is that the Secretary was at the
Cabinet meeting when the visitor arrived
at the Agricultural Department, and that
he has merely the word of his subordi-
mates for the actual presence In his once
of this aeeting vision Of contented
farmer.
For nine years the Secretary has been
at the head of the Agricultural Depart
ment but in all that time there have been
mighty few specimens of the contented
IA inner on view at the Agricultural Depart
ment He has been talked OF and referfeo
to and quoted, but genuine. 1ulI-groWn
specimen, warranted or the nome oranu
never been seen within the walls of the
temple of agriculture.
The visitor of the other day didn't at
tract much attention at first He was Dig
and angular and he walked with the gait
of those who follow the plow and VINO
tramp daily over fresh-turned burrows.
Moreover his face was tanned by the sun
almost to the tint OF ma nogany ana MS
hands were big and rough and SCARED
~ stepped in here he said to clerk IN
the Secretary's Office, Ito see If l couldn't
get some more bulletins: They're mighty
interesting reading ana, what flofe'
they're plumb truthful"
aYou want bulletins on subjects connect
ed with the FARM the clerk inquired.
you're mighty right replied the visitor.
Farming and stock raising. That's what
I'm interested in. 1 was brought up on
farm and If I have my way I'm gong 10
die on one. There amt nothing like It,"
ct is pity more people don't think that
way" the clerk remarked with smile. 1t
seems to me hear of discontinued farmers
right along, but never of a contented one.
"Well. take a good look at me. son. the
big man replied good naturedly. for I'm
a farmer without a kick. Trouble Is with
these people who do all the growing. they
amt cut out for farming. They ought to
be bending over desk. or standing be-
hind a counter, or running one OF those
typewriting machines A real farmer never
gets disconnected Every time his crops
60 back on him do you suppose he sits up
and growls? Do you suppose ne planes II
on Providence or on the weather or any
thing like that? Not a bit of it, He Just
scratches his head and begins to tnlnk
about things, and, ten chances to one, ne IL
find out before he's through that 1t was
his own fault, some way or other.
Some people think farming is such hard
work." remarked the clerk. to keep the Dig
man talking.
lizard work. the visitor cried. Not
bit of it. Why, It's just fun and play. that's
what 1t is. In the spring. when there's
ground to pillow and seed to SOW, It's just
fine. Never did smell anything nicer than
fresh-turned earth. AS for following
plow it's just simply stroll You can
look around, If it's fine day, and just
naturally take all the beauties OF nature 20
yourself and IL it's gray and damp, why
you can just wonder what kind of day
it's going to be tomorrow. And narrowing
and sowing why that amt hard work,
either.
contented farmer after pause that's just
play too. All the crops have to be worked
up and it's interesting to watch them
grow and urge them on. And when You
come across some of them that amt doing
SO we'll, it's fine to sort of take them by
the hand and lead them till they can walk
by themselves. And then when the harvest
time comes It's better yet. If the crops
are good you can feel good, too. and II
to do better next year. There amt but
one kind Of profession for me. II you can
call 1t that, and that's farming. Tell the
Secretary / was in and that come from
out his way
The contented farmer left his name and
address and IL he reads all the bulletins
that are sent him in the near future 1T Is
q pretty safe bet that his land will not be
rotary Wilson Is happy In the thought that
the iong-sought ideal OF the temple OF ag-
riculture halls fr0m Iowa.