Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-05-10

| Flagg. president OF the portland Doaru o,
1 trade. at the meeting of the Maine State board
| of trade at Waterville. March Is
| When the State grange met in Augusta
last December, city newspaper remarked:
in Augusta" Wherest the Maine Farmer
made the following reply: THE writer
who wrote, THE Tramp of Cowhide Boots
| is Heard in Augusta in reference to the
meetings OF the State grange, evidently ac-
quired his impression OF the farmers OF the
| State from W hat he has read about them in
| Puck or Judge, or from seeing Joshua
| whitcomb or 81 Plunkett on the stage OF
some cheap theatre. Probably he passes
hundreds OF men on the streets OF his city
every day who are farmers, and II he
thinks at all thinks that they are retired
| business men. Patent leather shoes were
prominent among the grangers, rather
| than boots. The only two men of our ac-
quaintance who wear boots, except when
engaged in farm labor, are both bankers
/ One of these men has son who is a work
ing farmer, and he wears patent leather
shoes when he dresses up.'
In response to this article, the city
paper replied: "The Farmer is too sensi-
tive. Very likely the writer Of the
phrase of which it complains was hi nself
country born and bred, farmer boy who
| came to the city and who knows all
about country ways, and appreciates and
sympathizes with them. He might even
remember the time when the long-legged
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able for farm work. So far as observation
| goes, the farmer periers lighter footwear
| in these days-shoes instead of boots. As
to the phrase, the tramp OF cow-hide
boots that is to be taken as species Of
poetic license
| Be that as it may, the relations Of the
city and the farm will never thrive on
such bandying of phrases. 1t would be
interesting to know the exact economic
cost OF each joke perpetrated to- day at the
expense OF the farm. In the matter OF
| jokes the city has all the advantage. The
city has the daily and the comic papers
and the circulation. 1t can laugh at the
! farm, and it can banter with apparently
small defense.
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| see before me a company OF men, COM
mercial, manufacturing, professional;
members and representatives OF boards OF
trade throughout the State. What is it, i
ask, that gives your business dignity and
Importance Why do your travelling men
| differ from the mercators, the travelling
traders Of the Roman days who ventured
/ into the north at The risk Of their lives,
| pushing their business, despised by the
very people to whom they sold? Trade
was cringing creature, and il the traders
saved their lives they did not save their
dignity.
Why do you differ from the shop
keepers, merchants and artiHcers OF more
recent times, whose backs were but the
stepping-stones on which patricians and
soldiery assembled into powerf By what
transition did you and such as you assume
| . place in government in, the upbuilding
Of a nation and the. shaping Of its policiesi
1t was the hand of science. Sciencef
What is science? First, it is knowledge,
and knowledge alone is power. But science
is knowledge arranged and classified; and
when knowledge thus equipped began to
be applied, it called the forces OF the earth
and air, it summoned the Imagination
and the mind of man to the exaitation of
industry.
Business mounted TO the seat OF power
Business demanded brains, and II got
them. 1t mArshalled armies for It's exploi-
tation, it spanned continents and it cir
al lad hon -
and profession in life, and especially 1t
chose the city for its home.
But having given this great impulse to
the city, it brings responsibility now to
adjust the city's relations with the farm.
The science which has given dignity and
charm to manufacture and to trade should
be extended to the exaltation Of sgricul-
| ture.
| When the boy upon the harm perceives
that science is slowly obaiterating dis
tances, that the city is turning with in
creasing interests to his pursuits, that he
can take his place in the worlds work
with full assurance of recognition and
support, it will be the beginning Of con-
tentment and satisfaction at his lot. 1t
will carry him into manhood with en-
thusiasm for the farm and cause him to
attack the problems with the same bus
mess system that characterixes the city.
1t is pleasing, therefore, to note that a.
ready some Of the city dailiss are devoting
pages from time to time to agriculture.
And cut this item recently from . SUM-
day paper: obstruction in agriculture in
the elementary schools il receiving con-
siderable attention from educators all over
the country"
Q! it il bound to come, this interest Of
the city in the farm. II eggs at sixty
cents dozen will not bring 1t, then
recognition Of what science has done for
business and what science may do for
agriculture will hasten the much desired
adjustment. For farming ID but . bust
ness; student recently pointed out its
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