The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-08
ZEAL CAREER IN AGRICULTURE
:. J.. - - nifty For The Great Busl.
! S Of Farmers.

-" lipif scripture, anu dill eGpoT.
- ~. E s. Z truth.
-. @...c .Jy. tLuI consideration,
''''~"'. H." nc i;rmer is his attitude
81 lis IL H. What does he think
I'll: it,--;.ii:t docs he think about
y, ."~? Zoos he love his fields and
vniG%?Does his eye rest with peculiar
,nd" "css on his sleek mules and fat
>attlc? Does he feel in his very soul
hat farming is a high calling, the only
vocation for him? Or does he value
fields and woods and cattle in terms
merely of money? Will he sell them all
Cor a price, and gladly turn away from
them forever? Is he farmer by chance
Or by choice? Has he simply inherit
ed" farm? Is ne farmer because he
knows no other way Of making iiv.
Ing" because it may seem to him the
easiest, most Independent life? Has he
looked the world and It's businesses in
tho face, and deliberately decided that.
as for him, the piow and the fresh
earth upturned, and the growing plant
have charms above all?
Before any further real progress can
be made In the development Of our
country lhe,that country life must be
saturated with love of the country.
Many more farmers there must be,
whose determination to stay on the
larm il quite as fixed az their dctermin'
alton to win success, and comfort and
happiness, for themselves and their
families, by means Of their farming.
Such farmers will not be bribed by a
sudden rise In the prices OF farm lands
to sell out" and move to neighbor-
ing town. They will not be driven away
by labor troubles. They may sell a part
Of their holdings, but they will still
cling to the soil BY the use Of modern
machinery in the home and on the
farm, they will SO multiply personal
efficiency as to reduce greatly the num-
Der OF laborers, and increase the output
OF all who work. These farmers will be
fully persuaded in their own minds,
that they above men in other callings,
have opportunity to raise strong healthy
children. They will appreciate at their
true worth, the breeze blowing clear
and pure over the wheat, the sight OF
cattle on the hill feeding slowly home
ward, the run in the woods after nuts.
for the children's growth, both Of body
and mind. Who but the farmer can
furnish in abundance to his children,
clean milk, fresh eggs, tender vegeta.
bles, home-raised bread and meat? The
medical records OF the Selective Draft
Board,have just revealed that the
healthtsst zone in the United States 10
from North to South, practically CO.
incident with the zone OF greatest
agricultural development, the great
Mississippi Valley. May not the more
abundant food supply there be the
secret OF the stronger, healthier
young men?
Bread" is the universal human cry.
Only the farmer can furnish 1t. No
other occupation fills 80 fundamental
a need. Preacher, lawyer, doctor, mer'
chant, manufacturer, banker,-we can
not do without them, but their import
ance to society Is less than the farm
er's. The first occupation both IN point
of time and point Of logic II farming
And the farmer, the real farmer, will
realize that he is, under God, the dis
penser of the bounties Of Nature to his
hungry fellowmen. He will value his
profession accordingly.
The very practice CT The art OF
farming affords opportunity to-
the farmer to grow to the full.
mentally and spiritually. He is
not dependent on men and things
as other men are. He IS dependent
on cloud and sunshine, on the hidden
processes Of life; that Is. he Is depend
ent on the wisdom, power and goodness
Of God. He ought to be better man
for It. Just because the farm gives this
opportunity for closer relationship with
the Lord of life, there Is higher dls'
nty about this business than we have
commonly accorded 1t. We have looked
at the dirty hand, and the bent back
and we have called the farmer uncouth
and his profession unclean. The world
has taught him to despise his work and
himself. It admires the skill OF the
great surgeon, but forgets the years
he spent in the sruesome work OF the
disseeting-room. 1t praises the artist
who sings q song, or writes story, or
paints q picture. but the artist VINO
gave US our breeds Of cattle, or strains
of wheat or corn, our improved meth
ords of tillage, are almost unknown.
Yet their reward Is with them. In the
quiet, even in the obscurity OF their
farms, they 80 lived and worked that
mankind Is perpetually their debtor.
Your farming holds the possibility
of such a career for you.