Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-02
An Unjust Representation.

1t is truly q homely picture that DR..
Twitchell reproduces in his letter OF
recent date, voicing the opinion of
"man Of business" as representative of
the conditions prevailing on Maine farms
and In farm homes in our state at the
present time. We are at loss to know
have found a community of farmers in
our broad state carrying the 'wayback
conditions so wildly represented.
The writer claims to have intimate
knowledge of general conditions obtain
ing on the farms and in the farm homes
in all quarters Of our state, and We find
much more to compliment than to con-
denim in the life on the farms through
out the state. Farmers, We claim, are
Intelligent, progressive and up to date in
complimentary degree in their prac-
tices and in their equipments for the
farm and the household.
In no farming section in the country
are there to be found better farm build
ings, and kept in more complete con-
dition, than on the farms of Maine, and
these buildings are generally furnished
with modern appliances for comfort and
convenience in carrying on the work re-
quired. Throughout whole neighbor-
hoods water from the springs on the
hillsides flows through house and barn
and where not so available thousands of
modern windmills rear their heads and
carry on a similar work. The women
loaded with pals of water from distant
wells is not a picture OF modern con-
ditions.
In the present day life on Maine farms
If there is one feature more deserving of
commentator than of censure it is the
tidy condition of the premises abound
ing, and the care exercised of the tools
and costly implements provided for
carrying on modern farm work. Charg-
ing Maine farmers with slack and sloven-
ly habits in this direction Is the widest
of Misrepresentation In all our famil-
iarity with Maine farmers we do not re-
call a single instance of a costly imple-
ment left "housed" continuously In the
open air. Instead directly the opposite
is the prevailing practice, and in recent
years thousands of houses have been
erected on the farms for the express use
Of housing the farming tools. Within
sight of where these words are written
three such structures on like number
of farms adjoining, have been construct
ed the past autumn.
We called attention some weeks ago
to the many country houses, in these
later days being piped for water, heat
and lights. These are the modern ap-
pliances of life on the farm that are fast
superseding old-time conditions, and We
are still at loss where man of affairs
could have got the ideas he was made to
express in the letter referred to, unless
they were the Rip Van Winkle dream of
generation now happily going into the
unknown past. These habits of indus
try, care and attention to details, to-
gsther with providing the farm and the
household with modern appliances for
carrying on the work, are what is giving
the air of thrift and prosperity to farm
life in our state, and what has establish
ed the reputation of our farmers in
business affairs of being the most re-
liable and prompt paying class of farm
ers they find in any state in the union.
Will DR.. Twitchell contend that the
"business man" is right?-Maine Farmer. |