The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-06-06
AN ALI-RoUND VIEW OF A DARK PICTURE


Not long ago young man said tc
me, 'I don't care cent if some
young fellows do leave the farms,
Let them go; there will be the more
room for the rest of us. I expect to
get my living by farming, and the
other fellows may get theirs just as
they choose" / admired the spirit
of the lad-his cheerful determination
to live or die by the farm was refresh
ing in these days when so many are
stunning the fields for easier ways of
making money. To many minds ease
and money appear to be the snnsnsua's
6onum of life. A business venture is
measured by the standard, "How
much is there in it? How many
hours day 7"
The young farmer who is unfamil-
lar with the great enterprises of the
country cannot realize how much hard
labor is done behind the curtains by
those or otner occuPatIvus.s x1e SSSs
the doors of banks and counting
houses opened at 9 or 10 O'Clock A. M.
and closed at 8 P. NJ, and he thinks
that the fellows in there behind the
bars have very soft snap of it-only
FIVE or six hours to work, and one of
them off for dinner He doesn't see
cashiers and clerks toiling among their
accounts after hours, Strengthening
every item, so that they can give
strict account of every cent that comes
in or goes out. Nor does he note that
the country storekeepers have longer
working days than most farmers.
They must rise with the dawn to
catch the few struggling early Gus
toners, and stay up until the last
lounger sees fit to depart. They have
no evenings to speak of to spend with
the family, or to do anything but at
tend to business. If the farm boy
were able to look all around the ques-
ton, he would find that farmers do
not stick any closer to business than
other men who succeed in their differ
ent vocations.
I think very much like my young
friend about the exodus from the
farms. Let those go who want to-
sometimes circumstances are such that
they are obliged to go; but I should
like to stipulate that when they have
made their choice, that they stand by
it, and not come back to prey on their
old parents, or to borrow money of
them when ambitious ventures have
failed. The parents who raised them
have some rights that ought to be re-
spected, and one Of them is to have
comfort and rest in age. They work
ed for their children while they were
unable to do for themselves, and when
age comes on the tables should turn,
and the children, if need be, should
attend to the parents wants.
Most of those who remain on the
farms, so far as I have observed, have
more real enjoyment of life than those
who leave, even if they do not have
&c. u,s.ch money! They are healthier.
pendenI fTian those whose business
largely subjects them to the caprice
of other people. Nobody can sum-
marily turn the farmer from his fields
to beg or starve; that is a city pre-
rogative, as many are finding out
these days. The only reason why |
lament that so many leave the farms
is because believe it Is not for their
own good nor for the good of the
country.
Every one has some besetting weak
ness. It is written, "There is none
righteous, no, not one;" and in city
life temptations are so numerous and
alluring that unusual strength is re-
ouired to resist them and maintain the
good character that is leading prin-
ciple in any business which is tostand
the test of time. 1t would seem bet
ter for young men to shun temptation
rather than needlessly expose them
selves to it, since no one can be GER
tain of his strength to resist. Many
young men and girls go into the cities
with the best of intentions-it is said
that hell is paved with good inten-
tions-but the flesh is weak, very,
very weak, and tens of thousands are
lured from the narrow way to join the
ranks of the homeless outcasts that
tramp the streets Of the great cities.
The city philanthropist tries to send
all the vicious boys and girls and men
and women that he can to the coun-
try and on to the farms to work and
to be reformed, because he knows it is
a good place to be, and that they are
safer far away from the temptations
of the city. Wouldn't it be the bet
ter part of wisdom to keep our coun-
try.born children in paths that time
has proved to be best for them and
educate them in schools near home,
rather than send them on trains to and
fro, to be initiated in city vaDities and
to study things they will have no need
for in their lifework, and maybe to
marry there and raise spoiled family
for the city reformer to send back to
the country to be improved? Oh, that
our eyes could be opened ere 1t is toe
late, to see the effects of our needless,
reckless training of the young
The liberty that is freely given
them in childhood and adolescence
often proves to be stumbling block
to them and a source of great sorrow
to the parents later on.
Some kind unknown friend has sent
me a pamphlet entitled, "The Bowe.
nv Mission Broad Line" Init I find
the following: eff thefresh country
boys only knew how much more com
fortably they are circumstanced a
home among their parents and friends
few would run the risk which con
fronts them In the larger cities" Th'
pamphlet is illustrated with various
scenes in connection with the work o
the Bowery Mission of New York
One especially, The Midnight Breat
Line, was an object lesson to me
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