Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-01-13


farming?" The answer is that the
farmer is underpaid and over
worked. Granting this to be true
In measure, yet not to the degree
charged. some Of the statements
made by the writer, evidently an
fastener, are curiously interesting
in this section of the country.
A social stigma attached to farm
ing formerly, according to this inves-
tigator, America, after China, was
the first country to remove 1t, land
some shade Of social depreciation Is
now being attached to 1t with us and
in the East"
That farming Is not respectable
is surprising Information! That 1t
was somewhat disgraceful in all
countries In ancient times is still
more startling. History seems to
contradict the statement. The most
complete system of setting limits
upon social aspirations that the
world has ever known is the Indian
caste system. The four great Indian
castles were priests, warriors, farmers
and "sudras." The three castles
first named were twice born" All
who were not Brahmans, Kshatriyas
or viasyas, were "once born" and
beyond the pale of social recognition.
From this 1t seems that tilling the
soil was regarded as quite a respect
able occupation some 5000 or 1000
years ago In India. In ancient
Ceylon, by some students supposed
to have been the Garden Of Eden,
kings often put their hands to the
plcw, and building an irrigation
tank was a work of piety for which
rulers we're virtually cannonized. In
Holy Writ farmers are not spoken
Of as "nobodies," socially considered.
In modern Japan the caste system,
destroyed, placed the land
owner high in the social scale and
he merchant and trader somewhere
lear the bottom. In ancient Greece
he merchants were not considered
above farmers. In England for
many centuries a landowner was a
gentleman" while merchant was
lot.
1t would be easy, but 1t is unnec-
,ssary, to point to additional proof
II the error of speaking Of farming
IS an occupation lacking in dignity
md denied esteem. King Edward
of England interested himself In
The KhedlYe of Egypt is
practical farmer and spends much
+ his time experimenting an estab-
not much more pretentious
han many farms between the Mis-
ssippi and the Atlantic, and not SO
arge as many Western ranches. :.
Social distinctions, or taste" dis
motions, antedate written history or
tradition. Despite the unceasing eff
Drts of the neither strata to climb
pward through individual effort,
nd the agitation of sociallstic phil
sophers for social equality, these dis
notions have existed, in one form or
mother, and with greater or less
lgidity, in all civilized countries.
/ a general way lines of social divls-
N run between different modes of
wing, degrees of prosperity and
aims to respectable, or distinguish
|, ancestry. They are inevitably,
i'd In all lands and periods, shifting.
ven in India, the most caste-bound
'untry In the world, social climbing
not unheard of or impossible. Even
America, the most democratic Of
,untries, class distinctions are not
known or unrecognized. Although
Q individuals utmost striving may
It always lift him above the social
vel at which he begins life, 1t may
added that, in general way, per-
ms and classes who get on by legi-
nate endeavor--or moons wrongly
ndoned by mankind because Of
rye results-get into society" The
. crust In India is formed by Hindu
tests, who live by their wits at
Q expense of classes that can be
posed upon. The same Is true
mobiles of Europe, and Of the rob-
r barons who adjust the tariff
tier than their interiors, and out
ledules America. Other castles
} formed by classes that get on;
ties are those who don't get on
all.
In modern England trade is being
,ognized in a social way. The
Of civilization has ele-
ted trade to a respectability in
Int Of dimensions that It did not
We when the British Isles were in
bIted BY rude barbarians who used &c
to prevent the neigh o.
RS from saeking their castles and IN
am malarial moats for the plea OF