The state herald., 1909-03-12

was wont TO ask: why. that fellow SG0Gz-
loafs all day long over that corn
field" the crows and the farmers wife sorry.
And they have reasons too. The romancer who
mentally on yards and yards of poetry about the
pathetic plight Of the guardian of the chicken coop
and oat crop. must wend his way about the plan
taton of his country cousins In constant fear OF
touching a live wire and he has such
lifelike themes for his alleged poetic ability.
The small farmer is sorry TO his brother
OF larger worldly goods take step forward by
proclaiming the scarecrow extinct.
The city man may no longer wonder at the art
OF putting the sham together and his suggestions
about giving 1t a touch OF decoration is positive.
ly obsolete.
As for the crows II is the duty OF every
mother crow. as well as the father crow. to teach
Its young that the scarecrow is the friend OF all
crows. Hence. the silent friend OF winter and
summer can no longer be perched upon by the
young crows in learning TO fly. and the figure
which was intended TO be the crows god OF III
omen. but which In the eyes OF the darkhued
minions Of the air was an indication OF the
whereabouts Of edibles In the shape Of corn, usu
ally. is TO be swept into oblivion.
The farmers wife hates TO see the scarecrow
go because Of pleasant associations During the
long summer days while she is alone. the men
and boys being on In the fields. the silent stn
armed policeman carries on silent conversation
With her. and she has surprised city people by In
serting corn husk In the scarecrow's upper left
hand pocket as a tribute To the vanity OF the
inanimate farmland. Always absolutely safe to
talk to. never answering surlily. always silent
under the most scathing arraignment. is Il any
wonder that the scarecrow viii be missed by the
women foks7
Thus a score OF years may see II extinct. Amid
gnnshing Of teeth by the old.time agriculturist.
tears by fair conversationalsts, cnwcawS by
crows seeking the cause OF the new vogue. mourn.
Ing by the city folks and others the curtain In
TO be drawn over this pitcous individual
The word scarccrow signifies It's realm OF use.
fulncss which s to scare crows. hawks, rabbits.
sauirrels-in fact. most anything or being which
IL liable TO innict gricvous wrong upon Mr..
Farmer.
While the scarecrow itself may become extinct.
the art OF making schrocrowH VIII always live.
agricultural experts declare. The realistic scare.
crow In work OF ar,. A touch OF realism here
and there will often chnso away trnmps In the
summer timc-near.sightcd uampa especially.
The scarccrow Ia purely nm American ins,i,u.
,ion. invented for the purpose OF helping the
farmer protect his grains. but reversed by thieves
and made nm eycrprcncnt food indicator. No
body knows who Invented II and nobody cares
much.
Ono story which has found so much crcdcncc In
that told by n New England farmer. who remcm.
berH the times before the war, Al that time he
knew u farm hand In Maine who was by natural
instinct n ahirker Of work. His employer learned
this after the man had been In his employ three
hours, Seeing that he was practically useless In
general farm work. he set him 10 watching prize
cornncld. hoping thatby this method he might util.
i've tho mans services and save his corn. for the
crows were hungry ana there were lots Of them.
For two days this suited the son OF rest nne. for
he could lie down and doxe. the mere sight Of
him soaring the crows for miles around.
The shirhcr whose name cannot be diyulgcd