704 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



OPPORTUNITIES OF FARM LIFE. 



RUTH CURTIS, AURORA. 



[Read before the Dearborn County Farmers' Institute.] 



It is an old saying, "God made tlie conntry, man made tlie town," 

 and in tliat grand old book, whieli is truly the farmer's booli, we learn 

 tluit after the fall the tirst vocation instituted was that of agriculture. 

 Nowhere can we receive more or better training than on the farm. 



The learned men of all ages, philosophers, statesmen, bankers, and 

 orators, from Cicero to Lincoln, have had their earliest training on a 

 farm. 



The nations that neglect the tillage of their soil are invariably nations 

 of poverty, a people of debased morals, of endless contention and murder. 

 For example, look at the Spain of to-day, at Russia and Brazil. Since 

 this is the case, the greatest nation of to-day (which is our own) surely 

 needs to encourage this branch of her industries, and we as farmers 

 should be proud of the trust imposed upon us. 



Of all earth's noblemen none possess greater independence or greater 

 opportunities than tlie farmer. There are none that bear so much respon- 

 sibility for the world's enlightenment. 



What an opportunity, then, is afforded tlie young people of to-day, not 

 only the hope of entering one of the many professions, but to become one 

 of the most important factors of our country— a progressive farmer. 



Who can not picture an ideal farm home? That is surely the place 

 of all others where one can enjoy life to the utmost. Nowhere is there 

 such a share of pure, healthful pleasure as in the country house. There 

 is the coasting, the horseback-riding and cycling, the picnics, the tramps 

 to the woods after nuts or wild flowers. All these and many more are 

 the birthright of the country lioys and girls. Then with an abundance 

 of good reading, the daily newspaper, the telephone, who can enjoy life 

 any more than the young folks on the farm. 



To-day there is a far-sounding call in all professions for prepared men 

 and women, and surely the farm needs its share of culture and intelli- 

 gence. The America of to-morrow is the growth of the America of to-day. 

 As the young people are leaving their homes for the city, more and more 

 will they appreciate the pure enjoyment of rural pleasures, more and 

 more will they see that all the artists of our largest cities can not produce 

 such a beautiful panorama of ever-changing scenes as Nature has limned 

 for lier admirers; for what human artist could* portray anything so 

 beautiful as the flaming splendor of the autumn woods, or the delicate 

 beauty of the trees and flowers, as after a spring shower there comes a 

 sudden burst of sunshine and the trill of caroling birds. 



