The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-19
81 ISAAC L. TOTEM,


When February puts in appearance,
it never seems long until spring ar
rives. 1t is at this time of year that
the city man who has been cooped up
all winter, feels more than ever the
prison-like atmosphere of his exis-
tence, and those who have found it
impossible to turn a deaf ear longer
to the call of the soil, and have plan
ned to seek their fortune in contact
with mother EARTH, begin to get rest
less. They are eager to take up this
new life where they can feel the free
lance spirit, and their enthusiasm in
regard to the independence of the agri-
cultural pursuits over-shadows many
things that should be considered in
connection with the new undertaking.
We do not wish to discourage any
one who has become convinced that
there are excellent opportunities on
the farm today for the man Of intelli.
gence; but we would like to have a
little talk with them so that they will
not give up in despair, as some have
done, after one seasons experience
nothing would please us more than to
see a great exodus from the city to
the country this spring.
Those of you who have lived on the
farm before, and are now intending
to go back to that life, should not ex-
pect to find conditions there DIS they
were when you left, even though you
have been away from the farm only
few years; because one part Of the
world does not stand still while the
other advances-and the agricultural
sections are not exceptions.
The farm life today is not the farm
life Of yesterday, and the farmer of
the present is not the farmer of the
his point Of view has changed. There
fore, this fact should be taken into
consideration; and, in planning what
you are going to do out there on the
farm, be sure to look to the conditions
of today instead of that time when
you were on the farm before.
Remember that the agriculturist OF
the present is more of an executive
than he was when you knew him be-
AVlCp 0uO Su0S SAC AnoA WIZ A0" ~
tains the highest prominence in the
! farm world is the one who applies as
great business sagacity and Just as
great scientific principals to the bus
mess of farming as the city executive
does to his business.
No longer is the modern agricultur.
list contented with scrub stock and
low crop yields. and he is putting forth
greater efforts to improve the quality
of the farm animals and to raise the
average yield of crops per acre. He is
, taking greater pride in his farmstead,
and It now presents a more clean cut,
thrifty appearance.
Not only have the methods of hand
ling the farm changed, but the social
side of the life has changed as we'll
Do not expect, then, to find the same
conditions existing there now along
this line as they did when you left for
the city. When you take up the coun'
try life once more, be prepared to
adapt yourself to the new social life,
and make up your mind to fit into ii
the same as you determined to fit into
the city life when you came to the
city.
1t is sometimes difficult to view q
place and the conditions. there other
than they were when we last saw
them. OF course, when We stop to
think of it, We do not like inertia and
should not expect it in any place that
is at all desirable in which to live.
Those who have never lived in the
country and are now arranging tc
move to the farm in the spring will
find what We have just said to the city
man who has lived on the farm before
worth considering; because most OF
you; no doubt. have obtained much Of
your impression of farm life from the
country-bred city man.
In connection with the farm wort
let US say that 1t. il NO harder thar
| work in the city il We 90 about 1t In Z
reasonable way. In fact, the mar
who has been engaged in brain worl
solely In the city. viii find the muscu
lar exertion connected with many oi
the farm operations much less tire
some than the brain work and when
he lies down to rest ut night his sleeE
is refreshing.
It IL, true Of course, that when the
man who has been accustomed to the
sedentary life enters IN occupation