But first let us consider the question of farm-labor, which, 

 though it offers problems theoretically most difficult of solu- 

 tion, yet, as will readily appear, practically settles itself. 



In New England, and the older portions of the West, the 

 manufacturing population is centered in cities ; and the more 

 remote agricultural districts, in which the fertility of soil even 

 originally good has been exhausted with but limited power of 

 renewal, Avill no longer support the natural increase of popu- 

 lation. . Cajiital, as represented by the value of land, remains 

 stationary; labor is over abundant, and hence under paid. 

 But a remedy more than equal to the difficulty is found in a 

 widely diffused taste for city life, that leads our boys away 

 from the farm, and makes the time they are compelled to stay 

 seem almost a hardship ; so" that, as in a similar instance be- 

 fore cited, it may even happen that those remaining are so 

 few as to alter the balance in favor of home labor. 



To go beyond the mere laborer, let us take the case of the 

 young man who, Avith little or no capital, but plenty of energy 

 and })luck, has decided to go where land is rich and abundant. 

 Such is a common type of the Western pioneer. To go where 

 land is still to be obtained at government prices, the settler 

 must go far beyond the region of cities. For an habitation 

 lie hollows out the earth, roofs the excavation with logs and 

 thatch, and o\cr all piles earth again. Earth covered and 

 earth surrounded, the first winter he may be obliged to quit 

 his burrow for the plains, there to obtain suljsistence by hunt- 

 ing buffalo. At last he is enabled to procure a few cattle ; 

 his fortune is begun. Is he prepared so long to endure sep- 

 aration from all that goes to make life pleasant to a social 

 being, ultimate success is well nigh certain. This is not an 

 exajrcerated picture. Manv a stock-farmer who can count his 

 herds and flocks by the hundred, thus began ; and who will 

 doubt that such energy and perseverance would win its way 

 at home. 



The grand distinction between the Eastern and Western 

 bejrinner of farm-life, — :ind I admit its force, — is that the 



