Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-09-13
THE LURT OF THE FARM.

Now is the time of the year when
you hear the city man talking most
about his farm, and how many bales ne
has raised to the acre, and how early
he gets up to visit his lower place"
and inspect his new herd of Berk-
shires.
The desire to farm is almost inner
ent in man Just let a man accumu-
late few dollars in the city, and he
begins to dream about owning "a little
place" by the roadside
Some millionaires have penchant
for the purchase of well-night price
less wollrs of the master painters.
Others indulge a passion for ceramics.
fStill others make collections of rugs or
books or curios. Some even have been
known to buy legislators and keep a
collection of them on hand. A few
spend their money on the upkeep of
magnificent country estates.
One of the latter type was the Van
tderbilt, who died several years ago,
and whose show-place in North Caro-,
lioa is celebrated the world over as
probably one of the most deliberately
appointed rural homes in the world It's
grandeur exalts it above the humble
designation of farm" and yet, no
doubt, Mr.. Vanderbilt, who keenly low
ed the fields and woods, probably re-
garded himself as a farmer.
We are inclined to look more or less
scynically on those rich men who main,
tain such wonderful establishments,
but they should be regarded sympa-
thetically and given encouragement.
The way they spend their money is
rot to be 'despised or scoffed at. 1t was
Francis Bacon who said: where men
Of great wealth do stoop to husban-
dry, it multiplieth riches exceedingly"
Besides, they are gratifying a natural
inclination What manner of man is
he who does not desire the simple
pleasures of a farmers life which no
fother life can yield? However, many
there are who would have the pleas
lures without the toll and the burdens
and if they have the wealth that is
usually their program.
, William Penn declared he preferred
= . country life above all else, and he
and Emercon concur in that it is "the
: oldest and most universal profession
o business or trade" Hesiod, the first
r poet of whom the world has know
GeGge, wrote pastorals and dwelt on
r the charms of rusticity. Cyrus, mighty
n king that he was, found more pleas
ure in setting out fruit trees than in
V winning victories over his enemes, or
a ing occupying splendid throne. Gin
d cinnatus was called from the pillow to
: lead the Roman army, and Gideon that
mighty man of valor,' went from his
# threshing to the command of the Is
: raelites and defeated the Midianites
d Horace, the poet, declined to become
e secretary of state of the world under
o Augustus Caesar in order that he
might stay on his country place. Then
there is the even more remarkable
case of the Emperor Diocletian, who
voluntarily abdicated his throne, re-
! tired to his farm and raised cabbages
h, The farm-more properly, we should
g say country life-has always had q
st fascination for philosophers, as vel
ID as for men of means Thus we fine
lie Adam Smith declaring that las to cul
tivate the ground was the original des
by tiny of man, SO in every stage of his
10 existence he seems to retain predi
s, lection for this primitive employment.
Lg And Cicero, who delighted in his rura
N residence, listed it as the ideal pleas
Sc ure of old age and wrote one of his
to finest essays about it.
Of The farmer really does not know
how much he is envied how much he il
e. to he enyied