FARM LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND. 43 



turecl persons having great resources within themselves often have 

 a fondness for solitude, but it is not permanent, the cultured mind 

 seeks companionship of a level with its own ; or higher yet. In 

 speaking of society I do not intend that narrow definition of which 

 the term "fashionable life" is the synonym, but I mean that broad 

 interpretation which covers the free interchange of feeling between 

 human hearts and minds, and that brings man above the level of the 

 brute creation. The social side of New England farm life is far 

 from what it ought to be ; it is good, it is cultivated to a certain 

 extent, it is high toned, but it is sadl^^ lacking in the genial good 

 nature shown by the Germans and some of our southern kindred, 

 and could we incorporate that upon our intellectual standard we 

 should have a far better form than we have now. As a proof that 

 New England society is in advance of that of other sections, it is 

 only necessary to allude to the statement that every real estate 

 dealer will make when describing property in the neighborhood of 

 settlers from this section, "We have fine society here, sir, the 

 people are from New England." If New England society has a 

 commercial value abroad, is it not worth something at home ? Answer 

 me that, ye decriers of New England's advantages. 



In summing up the advantages of farm life in these States we can 

 place a good soil, a fair average climate for the latitude, as large a 

 cash income per acre as any other sections can show, more ready 

 sales of produce from nearness to market, improvements from civil 

 and religious organizations made and paid for, better educational, 

 social and religious advantages, and the healthfulness of its climate. 



But are we to drop the subject here ? Is there not another question 

 that confronts ui in the possibilities of our farm life? Are the con- 

 ditions to remain the same as they are now for years and srenerations 

 to come giving us situations similar to those of Russia and other 

 European countries ? Most empliatically I say not. America stands at 

 the head of the agricultural world to-day ; first in the fact that our 

 agiiculture is not in the hands of a debased peasantry, but in ani 

 intelligent and educated class of our people who already possess^ 

 the spirit of progression and improvement, a cultured and capable^ 

 people as the many who have sprung from its ranks prove ; andi 

 second in the fact that we alreadj' have the markets of the world in 

 the leading staples, exporting a trifle above 10 per cent, of our 

 entire agricultural product, a matter of amazement to other nations. 

 This general export from America I predict will increase New 

 4 



