Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-28

that isn't dogmatism.
Indeed. a. man has simply got to
nave some, mighty positive opinions
about some things or he won't get
very far farming.
Butsm the things he is positive about
are sort of queer things than other
folks are uncertain of or frankly
doubtful about. and if he goes about
proclafmtng them with bumptuous ar
'rosance. that would be dogmatism.
My old uncle wouldn't plant his Gu
them except in the young of the moor
aus next neighbor wouldn't plant his
nor allow them to be planted excene
In the old OF the moon.
never heard what the cucumbers
OF tne moon thought about either one
SuS " LOOKS to me as il they were
ootn ooSmatlstS Each one was abSo-
luteiy cocksure he was right Fach
one was actually offensive in the 49,
gance with which he illuminated
AGAINST the ignorance Of the other
Each one raised good cucumbers. some
Years ana precious poor ones. other
years. But. no matter what hanDena3
each one stuck to his dogma like
ourdock burr to a dogs tail They
Scolded and SQuabbled, and ST y11u-eii',
ana i swan-ed" all their lives long
and may be doing it, vet, on some
green field beyond the smiling flood,
for aught know.
There isn't a class of mar .nv,.,h.-.
to whom dogmatism comes so natural
and Is perhaps so e0phcable as farm
ers-- Perhaps one might saw there
are none in whom it is more excus-
aole-n 1t ever is really excusable
In any one.
Most OF us spend our lives learning
NwwS
nrey or hundred acres Of soil We
see the same hills day after day. We
straddie or jump the same brooks We
watch the same sort OF clouds. bring
ing the same varieties of weather
season AFTER season. We plant seeds
In the summer. gather crops in the fan
and get up frewood in the winter. We
walk the same paths to the barns
morning, noon and night We 90
round and round. from dawn to dusk
nom spring to harvest, from youth
20 age. doing about the same things
IN about the same way with about the
same tools
Is 1t any wonder that we get used
TO our own ways OF doing: used to
our own methods; used to our own
contrivances: hxed and settled in our
own habits?
What is more natural than that we
should insensfbly come to regaI our
own methods and contrfvances as the
best possible methods and contrfyances
Tor ourselves?
1t Is but a short step from that con-
vlct1on to the opinion that the same
methods and contrivances would he
better for the neighbors than their
own
Right there is where becins the
danger OF find ones self mounted on
q hobby and riding straight towards
dogmatism.
A keen but friendly correspondent
intimateds the other day, that I was
given to making some pretty positive
assertions in these Talks
Probably I am. I've got several
somewhat positive opinions, which find
their only adequate outlet in rather
positive language. I should not get
mad and go to throwing dynamite if
someone should charge me outright
with being unduly dogmatic at times
I've been farmer too long to escape
the marks OF my calling. II there's
any fault which any farmer has got.
l feel fairly assured that I've got the
same. either developed or in embryo,
That's just why hope some of these
heart to heart talks will get under
some other fellows vest
Because hen see that I'm not try
ing to talk down to him from some
fancied elevation OF superior virtue.
but am meeting him as 4 neishbor.
with the same horny callouSes and the
same dirty finger nails and very sim
liar il not the same mental blains and
blisters.
Yves all Of us inclined to dogmatixe.