Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-08-03
Return to Farn1.........
Some IndlcatIons That Rush to civ MAY Cease.

Some Indications T
Had there been no change in pro-
portional employment since 1870 we
would have three and a half million
more farmers than we have to-day.
On the other hand, we would have
100000 less manufacturers, 2,00O,-
600 less persons in trade and trans
portation and 100000 fewer in pro-
fessional work
Much has been written about the
deserted farms of New England, and
the focking of farm lads from every
where to the cities, to engage in
other occupations that that of their
fathers.
Reliable history says that shortly
before the Revolutionary War nine
ty-seven per cent. Of our people were
farmers. One hundred years later
Census Of 1870 less than forty
eight per cent. GA per cent
were engaged in agriculture. At
that rate, another seventy years
would close out the industry alto
gether, but 1t is not going on at that
rate now, and, what is more, it is
not going forward nearly as fast as
twenty years ago.
1t looks very much as though the
next census may show a comparative
halt in the change from farm to city
occupations, for the last ten years
shows very little loss. Does 1t indi-
cate a reversed swing of the pendu-
lum?
To rightly understand the sltua-
ton, we must look at the actual
number Of farmers, as well as the
percentages, for, in spite of the de-
"vo"-~a F-.o~4Iea5e7, Iue Iarm WORK
ers have increased in numbers from
nearly six million (5,922,471) in
1870, to over ten million (1O,3S1,-
1859 in 1900. Nor does that tell
the whole of that side of the story,
for those thirty years represent a
period of the most remarkable adj
vance In the use and efficiency of
farm machinery ever known. There
fore 1t is probably safe to say that
million farmers to-day are quite
the equivalent of two million thirty
years ago in the planting and har-
vesting of food crops, and those are
important items In agriculture. At
any rate, our farmers are supplying
the nation (that is now almost twice
as large as thirty years ago. more
generously than ever before, and in
addition they are sending away more
than twice as much to supply other
nations as they were sending thirty
years ago.
While the supply of food and of
clothing fibres is important, that of
brain and Drawn is more so. The re-
duced proportion of farmers has not
reduced the relative supply of mater
ial products, but, rather, that rela-
tive supply has been increased. Has
1t reduced the rural supply of brain
and Drawn that is the real funda-
mental of national endurance?
1t is now, and ever has been, from
the farms that have come, by large
odds, the major supply of our cap
tains of government, captains of
manufacture, captains of trade, cap
tains of transportation and captains
of intellect in all our great activities.
From colonial farms and cabins
sprang such leaders as Adams, Otis
and Patrick Henry. From farmer
stock all our earlier and many of our
later Presidents were drawn.
The training and influence of ma
ture incident to farm life are of vast
Importance in the development of
American boyhood. The early ris-
ing, the steady training of muscle,
heart and lungs that comes of axe
and pillow and harvest time, of
breaking colts and driving flocks and
gathering fruits, of hunting days and
fishing days and wrestling bouts, to-
gether with the plain yet savory
foods such as abound in most Ameri-
can farm homes, build a physical
foundation fit to stand the furious
strains that come to the captains of
the nation in winning their marvel
lous, successive victories.
The sweep of the winds, the songs
of the birds, the beauty and frag-
rance Of the wild flowers, the glory
of sunrise and of sunset, the very
silence of the open limitless country,
build into the life of expanding
childhood and of opening manhood a
touch of reverence and Of generosity
to which the artificial environment of
town life is compulsory stranger.
The broad view of field and of for
est, Of plain and of mountain, the
great stretches Of cultivated areas,
the long country roads, going on and
on forever, the ceaseless flow of
springs and streams, the quiet con-
slant growth of crops, the direct and
unconventional argument of plain
speaking neighbors, build into mems
lives a breadth of view, a sense of
correlation and steadying power
that can come from no other source.
Add to this fact that the rural
schools are better now than ever be-
fore, the rural homes have more
books and newspapers, and at many
a farmers flreside the multi-educat-
ing telephone Is adding its insistent