Year: 1872

Speech by MF. Greeley at the Reeelt.


ton at His Humble Farmer


Home.'


After dinner at his reception at Chappa-
qua, on the 18th inst, Mr.. Greeley mounted
chair and made the following speech,
which -prebably indicates the extent to
which be will talk politics during the cam
paign. He said:


"My friends we are met together in a
merely social gathering, for no other pur-
pose than to foster the good feeling and
harmony that has sprung up between the
different parties from the widely separated
sections of the Union. l propose to say q
few words myself on the subject OF nay
farm; subject which certainly need excite
no apprehensions on the part OF my political
friends. 1t Is twenty years since my wife
and determined TO move to this spot. We
had lived in the city and were married
fifteen years. We lost four children
out Of six, and we felt that II We
did not give the remaining two a
home in the country we might lose them.
We locked around for some time before we
were satisfied. My wife's wants were few
and humble. She wanted farm that had
a frst-rate spring, an evergreen shade and
a cascade of rippllng water upon it. 1t
was two years before l found place to
sait. I was at Pleasantville, making a
temperance speech, when my old friend
John G. Ferguson, here with us to-day, told
me of this farm. tasted the spring water,
and was satisfied. Mrs. Greeley did so
too, and said it would do, decidedly.
There was some difference about the
price. When it was discovered that
we would pay certain price for it, the
other party naturally concluded that we
would pay higher price. We bought it,
however, not for the financial value, or for
the meney return it would make US, be-
cause it was all bogs and rocks, on which
could experiment with my ideas of farm
ins, Qrue, you can't very well get cascade
without rocks,) but for its combined advar-
tages. Beginning with forty acres, we
built the house in the woods, where there
was then not half the wood there is now.
The bog grew mosquitoes and frogs. 1t had
that faculty. The concerts of the combin-
ed productions were not always unpleasant,
though they were rather untimely. eFH


81 went to work and made blunders, Of
course. Every friend predicted that would
get out in a year. l said that if did the
Sheriff would sell me out, though that
chance is lost now, for the deeds are made
out in my wife's name, and they could not
sell the farm without her consent. | have
been in business of various kinds, and have
lost money. 1t has gone, know not where
-Gone where the wOodbine twineth,
/ suppose - and everybody thinks
have been fooling away money here.
And while l have possibly sunk money on
my farm, at least know the hole where it
went down. L have a large assortment Of
friends who were never here, but who
know Just what each turnip cost, and who
are perfectly satisfied that I have destroyed
every tree in my woods. l love the woods,
/ have an affection for my trees, and do
not cut down to destroy, but to build up.


"Where l find dead or worthless trees
hinderiDg the growth of better and noble
trees, cut them down and make room for
nobler growth, and l trim off the lower
pendant branches of the trees because
know that half of the woods destroyed by
fire have been lost by the thick condition
of these lower limbs, which gives fire fuel
and headway.


ssThis is the first time that many Of you
have been here. l have lived here for
twenty years. have deep affection for
this place. hope to live here and in Gods
own time to die here. A good farmer
would probably have made money out of it,
but don't pretend to be a good farmer,
because l can only work at farming a few
hours in each week, and that only
about twenty weeks in year, and
l have made the place pay well for
itself. hope that eli of you, not all at
once, of course, but in groups more widely
than the present, will frequently call on me.
[ a voice, Down to the White House, ]
Bad farmers make their blunders and 60
bull-headed right along. No, l have made
blunders, new ones, but never keep on
making old ones.


81 thank you for your presence and at
tention; will now ask Senator Gwynn, OF
Mississippi, more recently of California, TO
address you. We will have a number of
speeches from gentlemen here, and take
good care that the train does not leave u.s.