FARMING COMPARED WITH OTHER BUSINESS PURSUITS. 



An Address 



Delivered by WELLINGTON SMITH, of Lee, 



At the Fiftieth Annual Fair of the Housatonic Agricultm-al Society, at Gi-eat Barrington 

 on Friday, October 2, 1891. 



J/r. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : Your Society having in the past 

 honored by inviting to address you at your annual gatherings, Governors and 

 clergymen, senators and lawyers, Members of Congress, and professional men, 

 your "committee, this year, selected a member of that class whose interests are 

 so closely identified with yours, and as a representative of the manufacturers I 

 thank you for the courtesy. I do not propose to talk to you about religion, or 

 politics, the tariff, or how to manage your farms. You are already well in- 

 formed on these subjects. There is an impression abroad that farmers are, as a 

 class, raoredisco'.tented than those in other callings, have a harder lot, and are 

 miore inclined to grumble at the results of their business enterprises than peo- 

 ple generally. Perhaps this is illustrated by what I read a few days since in one 

 of our great dailies: '"A gentleman driving through the country met a farmer . 

 and asked him how his crops were. He replied "bad, very bad; been too dry." 

 The gentleman replied : •• Wiiy, y>)ur neighbor near here says his crops are 

 bad because it has been too wet." The farmer replied : "Well, his farm is a mighty 

 sight bigger than mine." 



Perhaps, if I can show you from uiy business experience and observation, 

 that there is a sharp competition in nearly all business callings, depreciation in 

 values, lo;>ses and failures to a greater extent than in farming, you may feel 

 better contented and resolve to fight life's battles with renewed courage and 

 hope. 



I began my business career when fifteen years old as clerk in a country 

 store, worked from six in the morning until nine at night and received as salary 

 $50 a year and my board. I did not need any quieting powders to put me to 

 sleep when night came. The firm for which I worked failed, one of the part- 

 ners started again but failed twice afterward, owing to bad debts and compe- 

 tition. I then tried a small manufacturing business but it was not a success, 

 then went to Xew York and engaged as travelling salesman. The firm I was 

 with failed, oiie of the partners started again manufacturing and has failed 

 twice. I commenced the paper business after two years experience travelling 

 and have had in it a fair share of success, but it has only been by persistent 

 hard work and by overcoming many troublesome obstacles. Nearly every 

 town in our country has its history of manufacturing and mercantile failures, 

 and those who have made the matter a study state that over 80 per cent, of 

 those who engage in business, at some time in their career fail. Farmers show 

 no such per cent, of failures. Your calling is also one of the healthiest in the 

 world and I have lived long enough to learn that Health is better than Wealth. 

 You produce healthy boys and girls and men and women. 



The sleepless nights, the worry and anxiety of conducting large business 

 enterprises, the losses by fire and flood and bad debts, you are largely free from. 

 Let me give you an experience of a friend with a strike of his workmen. He 

 was a large stove manufacturer and was informed by his foreman that the 

 moulders wished to see him. He went to them and asked if they were not well 

 paid for their work ; they replied they were ; he then asked if they were not well 

 and properly treated; they replied that they had no complaint to make on that 



