Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-16


that John, Peter and Jacob raised a
fine crop of oats, and they were very
proud thereof. But they were not made
eonceited thereby, and they speeulat-
ed among themselves that somebody
may have raised q more luxuriant crop
than they. And Peter and John said
unto Jacob, $50 ye and visit every
farmer for 10 miles around that raised
oats, and if we find one that raised
more bushels to the acre than we, ask
him all manner of questions till ye find
out the secret of his success, then come
back and tell us all about it, that we
may all profit thereby. An if ye
shouldst meet one who raised less bush
els to the acre than we, be generous
unto him and give him Of thy knowl-
edge that he may profit thereby. And
be We not partial, but fully as eonsid-
crate Of thine enemies as of they
friends. Ye may soften the feelings Of
thine enemies thereby; Furthermore
thine enemies may be frinds Of thine
friends and become conveyance of
thy good news unto them. And it came
to pass that Jacob went forth and in
his travels through the country he
came upon an exceedingly fine field OF
oats that would yield near twofold as
much as he and his Deighbor had been
able to grow. And he was much as
tonished thereby and hurried to find
the owner, and when he had found him
he began asking him questions that he
might learn the secret whereby he grew
such oats. But the man answered him
spitefully and turned away from him.
But Jacob felt within him the great
value the knowledge of this secret
would be unto himself and his neigh
bors. and he humbled himself before
the man and begged him to answer
his questions. But the man became
even more insolent Then Jacob waxed
very angry, and called the curse OF
God upon him saying, Gas a punish
ment for thy heartlessness and miserly
Selfishness it shall be made known I'M
to all thy neighbors what sort Of man
thou art. They shall gaze upon thee
with contempt and toathing, and We
shall know the great unhappiness of liv-
ing without the respect and well wish
ing of thy felowman."
HThy secret shalt be wrested from
thee in spite of all thy precautions, and
thy neighbors shalt profit thereby. "
"At last great sickness shalt come
upon thee and thou shalt die after be-
ing narrowed with the consciousness
that thou hadst wasted thy great OPP
portunity to know the all-absOrbing
happiness of having given of thy
knowledge with fulness Of heart to
thy fellowman that they might be bless
cd thereby. And thou shalt be tortur-
ed in thy last hours on earth with the
consciousness Of the worthlessness and
emptiness Of all earthly gains that are
Kent at the sacrifice of thy neighbors
respect and well wishing -
Then Jacob proceeded on his way and
II happened he came upon very poor
field of oats, and he felt sorry for the
owner thereof, and he sought him out. /
and with great brotherly sympathy in
his heart began telling him wheroby he |
might better his yield. But to Jacob IS
great surprise the man became very
angry aud refused to listen unto him,
and he sneered at Jacob saying, |
stWhereby didst thou become so much
wiser than thy fellowman9" And he |
told him he had better 60 home and
mind his own business,
Then Jacob became angry and he said |
unto the man. "Thou fooll Thy mind
is so contorted with false ideas of pride
thou eanst see naught but a desire for
sclf-glory in the efforts of thy fellow |
man to aid thee. while thou art less
humble and more conceited than he who
would aid thee. Thou must be a victim
Of thy own folly. The knowledge in
the world muat grow bevond thy I'M
derstanding. Thou must become q lag.
gard in the race for livelihood. Thy
Fnd shall become even more barren.
Thy taxes shall become great burden
ON thee. Thy rent shall be greater
than thy earnings and in thine old
age thou shalt become q burden on hy
country"
And il came to pass that Jacob re.
turned unto his own home. And great
was the depression of his spirits, and
Mis- soul rose in revolt against the in.
eonsistanCies Of the human race.
The experiences Of Jacob are but
fair example of what the county agri.
9ulturist has to pass through nearly ev.
cry week Of his life The only differ
Snce is he dare not give vent to his
feelings, The selfishness of some, IN /
imbued desire to get all they can from
the world without giving anything back
not only them as parasites on the rest
OF the human race, but is one Of the