The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-24
A GENTLEMAN FARMER"
Preaching and Practicing Different
Propositions.

While it will be readily admitted
that the farmers life can be made
one Of drudgery if he inclines to let
it drift that way, it is equally true
that it can be made quite as enjoy
able as the average business life, al
though perhaps not quite as desir-
! able a road to immediate wealth.
The subject was brought to mind by
a story related by n of a party, sit
ting together the other evening, the
relator having been a party to the in
cident.
1t seems that a PROFESSIONAL
man, at the time we'll known TO many
citizens, had conceived the idea Of
establishing a model farm not over
a hundred miles from Hartford, had
built an immense barn after the most
approved style, erected a three hun
dred ton capacity silo, had become
interested in fine stock, including
high class poultry and the like--in-
deed was starting at the top of a lad
der that others had been climbing
with the cautious step of experience.
Matters seemed to be going swim
mingly and the farmer" was branch
ing out in every direction. In time
he thought to add another line, that
Of breeding pigs. He communicated
with the story-teller, who at the time
owned half a thousand or more OF
various ages and breeds, and he
dropped around at the model farmers
place to negotiate a sale. Just here
is where the object lesson comes in.
The pig-owner met the intending
buyer in his study, attired in an ele-
giant house jacket, his shapely feet
encased in patent leather slippers and
his entire "get up" indicating the
gentleman Of leisure. He desired to
start in with one hundred swine in a
bunch. Advised by the experienced
man that he had better take a less
number until he had experience the
visitor was gently informed that the
buyer perhaps knew what he wanted.
The deal being accomplished the two
fell to talking about business in gen.
eral and farming in. particular.
There is no need of a man doing
drudgery on the place; 1 prefer to be
a gentleman farmer" remarked the
newly-hedged, and proceeded to ex-
plain how easy it vas to remain one.
Time wendell its way. The seller
of the pigs bethought himself of the
gentleman farmer" who had started
near the top Of the ladder, and took
a leisure hour to drop around and see
him. No one being in sight about tina
place, the visitor sauntered down tc
the barn. AS he neared the entrance
he heard an emphatic voice evident.
ly addressing its owner. The entire
dairy side of the beautiful barn
seemed permeated with blue flame,
AS he got closer, the pig-seller was
surprised to recognize the usually
model voice of the new farmer. En-.
tering the cattle barn he was sur.
prised to observe the owner (whose
earlier acquaintance had been made
while he was attired in an elegant
dressing gown, cooked up on a-milk.
ing stool, coaxing the tactical fluid
from the container while he made the
air blue with something akin to pro.
family. His effort at apology was
met with a hearty ooh, don't mind
me! If it is any relief to you, go
ahead; I surely don't blame you"
1t seemed that the men Immediately
concerned in the milking had gone
off ION a time" leaving the gentle.
man farmer" at his wits end to get
out of the difficulty.
Later on the whole system went
wrong. The men tired of the don!in.
eering of the mar higher up and
sought work elsewhere; the stock
grew thin and unremuneratives
while the pigs-who really inspired
this object lesson-actually came to
devouring each other to keep from
starving.
The moral is easily pointed. Bet.
ter start at the bottom Of the ladder
and let experience govern the up
ward climb rather than feel that a
fairly good bank account, along with
absolute ignorance Of the work to be
undertaken, will help a newcomer
to outstrip the mature farmer who
has given years to the study and prac.
tice of a profession that needs much
besides real money to make salts.
factory successful.-Hartford Cour.
ant.