THE IRRIGA TION A GE. 



261 



of views with other farmers, and becom- 

 ing an indispensable companion the year 

 round." 



This is just what a farm paper should 

 be not simply a mass of theories as to 

 farm methods written by some one who 

 has. perhaps, had no practical experience 

 on a farm and would hardly be able to 

 tell a cherry from an apple tree except 

 during the fruit season. The farmer is 

 as well versed in his line of work as are 

 men of any other trade or profession and 

 what he needs is a publication which will 

 bring him into more intimate connection 

 with the rest of the world do away with 

 the feeling of isolation. The Advocate 

 has adopted a high standard, but if it 

 reaches it. it will become a model "farm 

 paper." It is well, at any rate, to aim 

 high. 



A Theepitaphon the tomb of 



Good Edward Courtney, Earl of Devon- 

 shire, is a sentiment which might 

 be made a life motto for us all. It is as 

 follows: 



"Through the toilsome world, alas! 



Once and only once I pass. 



If a kindness I may show. 



If a good deed I may do, 



To any suffering fellow-man, 



Let me do it while 1 can. 



Nor deny it. for 'tis plain 



I shall not pass this way again." 



The month of April marked 

 Reed!" the retirement into private 



life of Hon. Thomas B. Reed, 

 who had so long been a familiar figure in 

 the United States Congress that his re- 

 election as speaker was considered certain. 

 His resignation at the close of the fifty- 

 fifth Congress was, therefore, quite a sur- 

 prise. If Mr. Reed had served through 

 the term for which he was elected last 

 fall he would have been in the House of 

 Representatives twenty-four consecutive 

 years. He is now about sixty years of age 

 and contemplates becoming a partner in a 

 New York law firm, a business which he 

 hopes will yield him a fair amount of 

 money: something that his political career 

 never did. Many men grow rich out of 

 politics, but Mr. Reed is not of the num- 

 ber, and while he has, as most public men 

 have, many enemies: while his autocratic 



methods as speaker won for him the title 

 of "Czar," he retires voluntarily into 

 private life with a reputation for strict 

 honesty and integrity, which even his ene- 

 mies dare not dispute and of which any 

 one might well be proud. He who can, 

 amid the many temptations and opportun- 

 ities of a political life, retain his honesty 

 and remain "unbribable"' and uncorrupted 

 is certainly a man of strong moral nature. 

 After a political career of almost thirty 

 years, Mr. Reed retires into private life 

 comparatively poor that he may acquire 

 a little money for his family. 

 Onr The present bankrupt law has 



Bankrupt been in operation about nine 

 months now and diverse are 

 the opinions held as to its value. It is 

 claimed by some that it has been of great 

 benefit to the honest business man of small 

 means who became bankrupt, enabling 

 him through it to start afresh. While it 

 is thus a blessing to the honest bankrupt 

 it will also enable many dishonest ones to 

 take advantage of their creditors. Strict- 

 ly speaking it is not morally good for us, 

 since men become too prone to think their 

 business obligations may be disposed of by 

 taking advantage of the law, but it has 

 certainly proved a wise measure in cer- 

 tain cases. 



One writer, in discussing this subject, 

 claimed that while the law was a needed 

 measure at present and one that would 

 prove beneficial to both debtor and credi- 

 tor, he was in favor of having it repealed 

 in a few years, and the assignment laws of 

 the various states made as nearly uniform 

 as possible. 



There are any number of 

 people who are constantly 

 wondering "what will they 

 say?" And they live in dread of the great 

 bugaboo public opinion. They fear to do 

 this or that because if they do they "may 

 be talked about.'' And so they expend a 

 vast amount of worry and often go against 

 their better judgment on account of this 

 bogie man. "People may talk," say these 

 sensitive folks wnen some course of action 

 is proposed. Well, let us suppose that 

 people do talk; what of it? The people 

 who have never made an enemy and nev 



"Thsy 

 Say." 



