The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-24

my notebook written down as our steamer bas
entirely left San Francisco: "all sorts and cond,-
tons" Of ideas.
One thing intended saying a word about in nv
other letter is the amazing prevalence of the auto
mobile throughout the United States Eyerywhere
one goes the auto hobs up. even in the most nm
expected places When reached New York ear,v
last week one OF the first things saw was an an
tomobie hauling lumber, and could hardly mako
myset believe that IL is only ten years since went
70 New YORK and found the one machine running
from Fifth Avenue TO Grants Tomb almost
curiosity to New Workers themselves. and my hay-
ing ridden In one matter OF interest to my
friends, even among the towns-people In the South.
when ! got home. Doubtless more monev has
been invested In automobiles in the first ten wears
OF their development than put into railroads
In the hrst ten years of their development
Going around the world alone-all bv vour
sen about half my friends have exclaimed on
learning OF my intentions Now, OF course I
should rather have personal friend along a
sood chum. but since can not think It better to
strike out by myself. turned loose on the planet
rather than have my movements governed by a
party OF strangers Besides | have a weakness
ior doing what have made up my mind to do,
anu resolved long time ago that would cir
Gle the globe before reaching the age OF thirty
ana shall lack only two weeks of giving this plan
nterai fnihilment. as should not have done IL l
mad been unwilling TO come alone.
Besides while Holmes was right when he said
that there are no friends like our good old
friends. l may at least console myself with GER
tain compensatons: with the knowledge for exam
pie. that II man be worthy OF his old friends he
can add new ones. Nor is there anything more
broadening than this contact with men of all
ereeds. all nationalties. all industries: certainly
one avoids n certain in-breedng OF IDEAS a GER
tain non-rotation of ones intellectual crops as
damaging In the things OF the mind as In the
things of the farm
Inc more travel, too. the prouder become of
the human race. the more evident II becomes to
me thht the average man. regardless OF border or
breed or birth. is essentially fine fellow wheth
er southerner. Northerner. Westerner, or Oriental
me man VINO VIII not go out OF his way to do you
favor is the exception and not the rule The
cynic who said. THE more I see OF men, the bet
Ter ! ike dogs" reflected on himself rather than
on the human race. for my. part about the only
man am unwilling to trust ia the man who does
not believe IN the honor OF men and the virtue OF
women. And believing In people as | do | am
kaa 10 add to my list OF friends among all classes
nun may travel through the world and strew
- en win Friendships is the motto OF a little
COOK OF addresses that came to me. as n steamer
gift. and shall hope to mako q tr,a In nv ~
case Yet am reminded here that inst
as ! was coming aboard the band on the deck
struck up that old plaintive Southern air
All up and down the whole creation. sadly 1
roam, ''
stu longing for the old plantation and tho old
folks at home"
do not expect to roam sadly,"-very happily
on the contrary.-but suppose no one was ever
reared amid the cotton. the cane and the corn
fields OF Dixie. who did not carry with him ever
after the memories OF his earliest boyhood on the
old plantation" and recoections-like the minor
notes In beautiful musc--of the "old folks" now
dead or broken with age: