Putnam patriot., 1913-05-23

history of our country. The American farmers left their blows and hastened to the call of their country in i76. They shed their blood at Bunker Hill en- dured the horrors at Valley Forge and witnessed the surrender at Yorktown. Then they returned 10 their hillside farms, their stony acres, their poverty stricken but liberty won country and set to work to build up a Nation, rear ing their sons and daughters in God fearing ways and impressing upon their minds that nobility of soul was the prize for which they must run.
 And the career of the primitive American farmers was handed down to his son; the career that stands for nobility and success. The sons and grandsons of the men who faced the British in 76, hewed down the virgin forests, built roads across the moun- tains, sent the first steam boats across the ocean, and laid the steel rails which have bound the Continent to- gether. And when the dismember- ment Of the Union was threatened, it WAS the same sons and grandsons even unto the third generation, that answer ed the call Of their country, and on to Washington they marched hundreds
 
 answer the call as did the country? Read the muster roll of the regiments for your answer. The hardy farmers from Maine and Vermont, from all over New England they hastened to their eountry's need. The new States of the great Northwest sent their sons and answering the battle cry with the same love Of country and holy patriot ism in their veins which their fathers had felt hundred years before, they answered with shot and shell and gave up their life blood that the Union be perpeiuated and the Stars and Stripes float over d country united forever.
 That was the career of the early American farmer; the career which stood for nobility Of soul, and that is the career which stands for every one living in the country today. Does II stand the test in the monev-mad race for the things of this world2 Why do the cities reach out year by year for our country boys and girls? Because they need the nobility of soul, the strength of character, the loftiness of purpose which is the birthright of eveiysboy and girl whose parents have been tillers of the soil. That was the career of their fathers and il is theirs; and whether they remain in the coun- try or go to the cities yet they keep with them the Strength of the Hills and the Peace of the High Places of God
 A career stands also for success. Does the American farmer get il2 Speaking collectively what business man in the world holds as good a let ter Of credit today as does the farmer What has built up the western pTairies with their acres of gleaming golds What holds together the great banking systems of the world2 What power Is 1t that sends the mighty ar gosies o( trade across the ocean and girdles the earth Tn bands of steel2 It is the success of the American farmer. Where does all the output of the im- menSe automobile factories go year by year. Were they working solely for the City trade the hum of their indus try would mol reverberate throughout the land. IL Is the farmer who owns them--it is the farmer who has made that industry the gigantic proposition it is today. Look al our colleges. How are there ranks filled year by year. The sons and daughters of the farmer, in increasing numbers, cross The campus yearly; for they have drunk at the fount of know wledge and know that il is good:
 And so we might go on and enume- rate the success of the American farm CT. No longer do the cartoonists and the funny paragraphers picture the farmer as an ignorant hsyseed of intel lect scarce above the animals, the prey of every sharper who pfys his nefari- ous trade. The farmer today holds higher position than he has ever held before in the history of the American people, and consequently the chances and opportunities for career in the country are greater than they ever were before.
 But how can boys and girls make careers for themselves in the country 1 s the question tacing tens Of thous- l ands of our youth. Our Agricultural solleges are answering it year by year. | They have done noble work in digni- 1 wing agriculture. They have made